Dam operators post the next day's generation schedule each afternoon. Knowing when generators are running — and when they're off — is the difference between a great day on the water and a wasted drive to a blown-out river.
Loading schedule…
The South Fork Holston River in the Tri-Cities area of Tennessee is controlled by two TVA dams — Boone Dam and Fort Patrick Henry Dam. The section between and below the dams offers tailwater trout fishing influenced by both facilities. The South Fork Holston is an often-overlooked tailwater that provides good trout fishing close to Johnson City and Kingsport.
Tailwater rivers below hydroelectric dams are controlled fisheries — the river's character changes completely depending on whether the dam is generating power. When generators run, water rises, currents accelerate, and wading conditions range from difficult to dangerous. When generation stops, the river drops to a low-flow state ideal for wade fishing.
Dam operators post the next day's generation schedule each afternoon — but finding that schedule means navigating agency websites and PDFs that aren't designed for anglers. TailwaterAlerts translates that data into a clear, hourly email you can read in 30 seconds.
The TVA posts generation schedules on their website, typically between 2 and 4 PM CT for the following day. You can check the TVA schedule directly, or sign up below and TailwaterAlerts will email you a formatted, easy-to-read version the moment it posts.
The South Fork Holston is influenced by two dams, and generation at either can affect wading conditions. Flow from Fort Patrick Henry Dam is partly determined by what Boone Dam releases, creating a layered schedule that changes daily. Low-flow windows are the best time to wade, but require understanding both dam schedules — which TailwaterAlerts delivers in a single email each evening.
TailwaterAlerts checks the generation schedule every 5 minutes starting at 1 PM CT. The moment the schedule posts, you get an email with a color-coded hourly breakdown and the best wading window highlighted. One email per day. Free. No app required.
Your river is pre-selected below. Add others if you fish multiple tailwaters.
This river is fed by 2 dams — both are pre-selected below.
This is free and always will be. If it saves you a wasted drive, buy me a coffee.