With a guide
Guides and charters near Baumgardner Access
Captains who run South Holston and Watauga, with their own phone numbers. You call and book with them directly.
South Holston River Company
Brown and rainbow trout, smallmouthsouthholstonrivercompany.com
Watauga River Guides
South Holston River Fly Shop
Brown and rainbow troutCall 423-878-2822southholstonriverflyshop.com
What to bring
Tackle for Baumgardner Access
Three picks from the largemouth bass checklist that work for the fish here. Affiliate links: buying through them pays this site a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Spending more? The bigger purchases, compared side by side:
How to get there
Getting to Baumgardner Access
Baumgardner Access is a public boat launch on South Holston in Sullivan County, Tennessee, run by the Tennessee Valley Authority.
998 Painter Creek, Bristol, TN 37620
Baumgardner Access is 8.7 miles east of Bristol, the nearest town with its own page here. The closest other public access is Painter Creek Marina on South Holston Lake, 0.5 miles to the west. For bait, South Holston River Fly Shop in Bristol is about 6 miles away.
Coordinates 36.58586, -82.03320
What you can catch
Fish you can catch at Baumgardner Access
South Holston holds these, according to the county research behind this site and TWRA’s own species notes.
What you can keep
Fishing limits at Baumgardner Access
What you can keep from South Holston at Baumgardner Access. TWRA sets 6 rules just for South Holston. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.
| Fish | Daily limit | Length | Where or when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth bass | 5 combined with largemouth | 15 in minimum | Largemouth: no length limit |
| Spotted bass | No limit | No length limit | South Holston rule |
| Catfish | 20 | Only one over 34 in | South Holston rule |
| White bass | No harvest | — | South Holston rule |
| Walleye | 5 | 18 in minimum | Includes tributaries |
| Bluegill | 50 | No length limit | South Holston rule |
| Largemouth bass | 5 black bass combined | No minimum | Statewide |
| Crappie | 15 | 10 in minimum | Statewide |
| Rock bass | 20 | No minimum | Statewide |
Other rules on South Holston
- TN and VA rules. Max 15 limblines per angler. A South Holston Reservoir License lets TN residents fish the Virginia portion.
From the 2026–27 Tennessee Fishing Guide (TWRA), in effect 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2027, checked 25 September 2026. Rules change, so check the guide before you keep a fish.
14 public boat launches in Sullivan County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.
What it looks like
South Holston around Baumgardner Access
What the water at Baumgardner Access actually looks like. Drag or swipe through. Every picture opens that water’s own page.
South HolstonOpen the South Holston page →Ryan Rice at en.wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0
South Fork Holston RiverOpen the South Fork Holston River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0
Boone LakeOpen the Boone Lake page →Tennessee Valley Authority / Public domain
South HolstonOpen the South Holston page →Tennessee Valley Authority / Public domain
South Fork Holston RiverOpen the South Fork Holston River page →Dacoshi / CC BY-SA 3.0
Boone LakeOpen the Boone Lake page →Tennessee Valley Authority / Public domainBaumgardner Access water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie.
Other water close by
Other fishing near Baumgardner Access
Public access on other water within 20 miles of Baumgardner Access, including South Holston Lake and South Fork Holston River. Handy when the wind is wrong on South Holston or the ramp is busy.
Bait on the way
Bait and tackle near Baumgardner Access
The closest shops to Baumgardner Access that this site has checked. South Holston River Fly Shop in Bristol is nearest, about 6 miles away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.
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Where to next
Around Baumgardner Access
Baumgardner Access is one access point. These pages cover the rest of the water and the rest of the county.