An Overlooked Elk River Gem in Middle Tennessee
On The Fly Freshwater
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September 2025
Article and photos by Jimmy Jacobs.
Although there is just a hint of fall coolness in the early morning during this part of September across the South, afternoons still can be sweltering. The summer heat continues to hang on, making fishing both difficult and uncomfortable on many waters. Additionally, most of our mountain streams are flowing at their lowest levels of water for the year. None of that makes the prospects for trout action stand out.
Fortunately, our tailwater fisheries below hydroelectric dams fill the void of good places to challenge trout at this time. The cold water released from the bottom of reservoirs keep the fish active even during the heat of late summer. One such situation is found on the Elk River below the Tennessee Valley Authority’s 10,400-acre Tims Ford Reservoir in south-central Tennessee.
Fishing below Tims Ford Dam.
The river, which was known to Native Americans as the Chuwalee, is a relatively small flow by tailwater standards. The stream averages only about 50 feet in width throughout the trout-holding section, with some spots spreading to 80 feet. Along this course the river is composed of mild riffles separated by slower pools, some of which drop down to depths of 10 feet. Much of this run is bordered with gravel bars, while the floor of the river has a gravel and rock bottom. Those conditions combine to make it a great place for wade fishing.
According to Alex Bybel, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Rivers & Streams Biologist for Region 2, one oddity of the operation of water releases on the Tims Ford tailwater is its emphasis on warmwater management. That is based on the presence of endangered boulder darters 40 miles downstream around the city of Fayetteville. Those fish are found almost exclusively in the Elk River and cannot tolerate water that is too cold.
As a result of that management, the section of the river that can support trout year-round is relatively short. From the dam at the reservoir, the best trout water runs for roughly 12 miles down the flow to the point that Beans Creek enters from the east.
Along this stretch, the river is managed as a put-and-take trout option. Releases of fish take place from March to December each year. The bulk of those trout – 38,000 annually – are rainbows of 9- to 12-inch lengths. Minimal to no reproduction or carryover of these fish from year to year takes place in the Elk.
Brown trout are the only species known to regularly carryover year to year in the Elk River.
An additional 20,000 brown trout are added to the flow annually. These trout are in the 6- to 8-inch size range. The hardier browns are able to grow and carryover in the river, thus providing some bigger trout for anglers to challenge. Since 2016 special regulations have been in place on the Elk, allowing the harvest of only one brown trout per day per angler. That fish must be at least 20 inches or longer to be legal.
Cutthroats have been stocked in the river since 2022.
Around 3,000 brook trout are stocked and, beginning in 2022, 3,000 cutthroats. Neither of those species are known to carryover. Finally, 700 spent, brood trout of mixed species and lengths of 18-plus-inches are added annually.
Statewide in Tennessee, the TWRA considers a catch rate of 0.7 trout per hour to be good. For the Tims Ford tailwater, recent surveys have found the rate there around or above 1.5 fish per hour.
Access to the river is good and easy at the TN 50 bridge.
This tailwater is not noted for supporting a prolific aquatic insect population. As a result, insect hatches that occur are not particularly dependable or heavy. When picking flies to use, your best bet is fall back on a few regionally reliable dry fly options. During the spring, sulphurs in sizes 12 to 16 are an option, while the summer is the time to use attractor patterns in the same size range. During the fall and winter months midges or Blue-winged Olives are good options.
A variety of nymphs, such as Princes or Pheasant Tails are dependable. Also, Olive Wooly Buggers are recognized as a go-to pattern on this stream.
As for access to the tailwater downstream of Tims Ford Dam, there are some very good options, but they are limited in number. At 0.3 mile below the dam, the Tennessee Highway 50 bridge crosses the river. At this location there is a paved parking area and walkway down to the water. Additionally, a long gravel bar stretches down river under the bridge. This is a good place for bank or wade fishing and starting a float trip downstream.
The gravel bar downstream of the TN 50 bridge.
Farther down at Farris Creek Bridge is another good access point. This is 8.5 miles down the river where Farris Creek Road crosses. Again, gravel bars provide good wading access. This can be the end of a float down from Highway 50, or the start for another float.
The access point at Farris Creek Bridge.
The final access is at Old Dam Ford at 14 miles down from the dam. This site is actually below the end of year-round trout water, but offers a spot to end a float from Farris Creek. Also, there are likely to be trout present here in the fall through early spring.
You might note that both the floats available are 6 miles or longer, which represent a long day on the water if you are fishing them thoroughly. And, since this is a tailwater, you have to be aware of water releases from Tims Ford Dam. Those can be check by visiting the TVA website.
