MIDDLE TENNESSEE FLY FISHERS

Elk River TN

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​Elk River TN

The Elk River is a little known tailwater located in Tennessee below Tims Ford Dam and is about 195 miles long. It's relatively small and easy to wade. The cold tailwater hold trout for about fifteen miles below the dam. The trout all were stocked at one time. There aren't any stream-bred trout known to exist in the river but there are plenty of holdovers. Catching a good size brown trout is very possible.

Unlike most tailwaters in Tennessee, wading is the best method of fishing the Elk River.


You can float the river too. If you do, you would be better off with a canoe/kayak or small personal pontoon type boat. Be very cautious about the discharges. When water is being released the stream is dangerous to be wading or in a small boat or canoe/kayak.

Access is rather limited but there are access points right below the dam. Downstream there's a TVA access at the Farris Creek Bridge and access at the Old Dam Ford. It’s a 9 mile float to Farris Creek which makes for a long day of paddling. Make sure to start very early.

This river is full of scuds but it also has a few mayflies and caddisflies. There are plenty of midge larvae in the river and imitations of their larva, pupae and the adults will work year round. Fly fishing the Elk River tailwater with streamers is a good way to catch the brown trout.
Fishing Access Type:
    Boat with safe conditions
    Kayak with safe conditions
    Wading with safe conditions
Fishing Access:
    
Elk River at the Dam
        Map
    Farris Bridge
        
Latitude: 35.19684 Longitude: -86.278551
        2201-2299 Farris Creek Bridge Rd, Belvidere, TN 37306

        Map
    Old Dam Ford

        Coordinates: 35.12405700, -86.33227100
​        Map
Fishing Style:
    Nymph
    Dry Fly
    Spinner Fall
    Midge Larva
    Midge Pupae
​    Terrestrials
​    Streamers
Equipment:
3wt rod to 6wt rod
Flies: Hatch Chart
Water Flow: Data
Species: Brooke, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Small Mouth Bass
Misc. Information: Fishing License
Lodging:  https://www.atriversedgetn.com/contact
Picture
Click on the logo to visit the MTFF Facebook.
Picture
Click on the logo to visit the TWRA Stocking Schedule.
Picture
Click on the logo to visit the TVA Water Release site.
© 2019 MIDDLE TENNESSEE FLY FISHERS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRIVACY POLICY
  • Home
  • About
    • Charter/Misson
    • Meeting Times
    • Purchase Membership
    • Officers
    • Sponsors
    • Member Documents
    • Member Roster
    • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • Calendar
  • Rivers/Streams/Lakes
    • River Guides
    • Barren Fork River
    • Bennet Springs
    • Buffalo River
    • Bedford Lake
    • Caney Fork River
    • Elk River TN
    • Chattahochee River
    • Collins River
    • Couchville Lake
    • Cumberland River
    • Davidson River
    • Duck River
    • Duke's Creek
    • Fires Creek
    • Hatchery Creek
    • Hiwassee River
    • Holston River
    • Little Red River
    • Lone Branch Park
    • Missouri Trout Park
    • Nachoochee Bend
    • Nantahala River
    • Noontootla River
    • Norfork River
    • Oconaluftee River
    • Old Hickory Lake
    • Rainbow Point Soque River
    • Raven Fork River
    • Riverside Soque River
    • Smith Creek
    • South Holston River
    • Spring River
    • Tellico River
    • Tims Ford Lake
    • Tuckasegee River
    • Upper Raven Fork
    • Watauga River
    • White River
  • Education
    • Knots >
      • Albright
      • Arbor
      • Blood
      • Davey
      • Double Davey
      • Dropper Loop
      • Duncan (UNI)
      • Improved Clinch
      • Nail
      • Perfection
      • Surgeons
  • Outings
    • 2025 Outing List
    • Duck-Elk-Nice Mill - Feb >
      • Duck River RSVP
      • Duck River - Sign Up Sheet
    • Cherokee NC - Feb >
      • Cherokee RSVP >
        • Cherokee Sign Up Sheet
    • Elk River Cleanup - Mar >
      • Elk River Cleanup RSVP
      • Elk River Cleanup Sign Up Sheet
    • Hiawassee-Tellico - April >
      • Hiawassee RSVP Template >
        • Hiawassee Sign Up Sheet
    • White River Ark >
      • White River RSVP
      • White River Signup Sht
    • Couchville Lake >
      • Couchville Lake RSVP
      • Couchville Sign Up Sheet
    • Durango Colorado Outing >
      • Durango RSVP
      • Durango Sign Up Sheet
    • Cumberland >
      • Cumberland RSVP
      • Cumberland Sign Up Sheet
    • Salt Water - Oct >
      • Salt Water RSVP
      • Salt Water Sign Up Sheet
    • Montauk State Park >
      • Montauk RSVP
      • Montauk Sign Up Sheet
    • Social Event - Dec >
      • Social Event RSVP
      • Sign Up Sheet
  • Outing Information Form