The South Holston River tailwater below the South Holston Dam is widely regarded as one of the finest trophy trout fisheries in the eastern United States, producing brown and rainbow trout of exceptional size in consistently cold, clear water drawn from the bottom of the reservoir. Guide services based in Bluff City and Bristol provide expert half-day and full-day wade and float trips for visiting anglers. The river's technical dry-fly fishing opportunities attract expert fly fishers from across the country.