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.
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The Watauga River tailwater in Hampton, Tennessee is fed by two dams — Watauga Dam and the smaller Wilbur Dam immediately below it. The result is an exceptionally cold, freestone-like tailwater that holds wild rainbow and brown trout in a scenic Appalachian setting. The Watauga is a sleeper fishery that rewards anglers willing to read the schedule and time their visits.
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 Watauga tailwater is influenced by both dams, and flows can change based on generation at either facility. When Watauga Dam generates, levels below Wilbur can rise significantly. Low-flow windows are ideal for wading, but they can shift based on which dam is running. Monitoring both dam schedules — which TailwaterAlerts delivers in a single email — is the only reliable way to plan a wade fishing trip.
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.
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