Holston River Fly Fishing Report June 2026
Current River Conditions (Blaine, Tennessee)
Lake elevation is sitting at 1061.2 following a significant rainfall event over the weekend that brought flooding to low-lying areas around Knoxville. TVA is continuing to push much-needed flow through the system, and that’s doing exactly what it should — keeping the lower river noticeably cooler as we move deeper into June.
Caddis are still present up and down the river, but the sulphurs are taking over as the dry fly of choice right now. If you’ve been waiting for the Holston’s dry fly bite to really come into its own, this is the window.
Strategy: How to Fish the Holston River in June
With the flows TVA is running, focus your nymphing in the seams and transition zones where faster water dumps into slower pools. The cooler lower river temperatures are keeping fish active and in feeding lies that might otherwise shut down by mid-June. Work the sulphur hatch in the afternoons and evenings — match the dun first, and if you’re getting refusals, drop down to an emerger pattern in the film.
The caddis aren’t gone yet either. Don’t leave an elk hair caddis or a CDC Caddis out of your box — if the sulphur hatch is slow to fire, a caddis dry or soft hackle swing can keep you in fish while you wait for the evening show to start.
Top Fly Patterns - Holston River
Dry Flies
Puff Daddy Sulphur (Sizes 16–18)
Sulphur Parachute (Sizes 16–18)
- CDC Caddis in Tan and Olive (Sizes 16-18)
Nymphs
Tungsten Bead Head Pheasant Tail (Sizes 16–18)
Jig Tungsten Beaded Frenchies (Sizes 16–18)
- Tungsten Beaded Zebra Midges in Black and Olive (Sizes 18-20)
- Quasimodo Pheasant Tail (Sizes 18-20)
Emergers
La Fontaine Sparkle Pupae in Tan and Olive (Sizes 14–16)
- Sulphur Breadline (Sizes 16-18)
Pro Tip: Let The Hatch Transition Work For You
We’re in that sweet spot right now where caddis and sulphurs are overlapping on the Holston. That’s actually an advantage if you pay attention to it. Early in the day the caddis activity will often get the fish looking up first — use that to your benefit. As the afternoon begins and the sulphurs start coming off, the fish that were hanging back or feeding on nymphs will move into dry fly or emerger eating mode. Slow down, watch the water, and make the switch when the hatch does. If the rise is splashy or the fish is jumping put of the water, chances are it is chasing a moving bug. Slow subtle head rises or visible bubbles, that is almost certainly a dry fly take.
A Note from the Guide
This past week I was fortunate enough to get invited to fish the Catch the Cure Fly Fishing Tournament right here on the Holston River. It’s an annual event that benefits Advancing the Cure for Cystic Fibrosis, and it’s the only event of its kind on this river all year. My guys and I had a great time on the water — we didn’t take home the trophy but we fished hard and the cause made every cast worth it. If you’d like to donate to help fund research for a cure, the link is below
Questions? Call or Text: 865-936-1557 or drop us a line through our Contact Page.
Real Time Updates: View our current Fly Fishing Reports to see what is happening on the Holston River right now.