With a guide
Guides and charters near Smith Shoals
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 Smith Shoals
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 Smith Shoals
Smith Shoals is a public boat launch on South Fork Holston River in Sullivan County, Tennessee, run by the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Beulah Church Drive, Kingsport, TN
Smith Shoals is 8.4 miles south-east of Kingsport, the nearest town with its own page here. The closest other public access is Boone Dam on Boone Lake, 2.0 miles to the south-east. For bait, Academy Sports + Outdoors in Kingsport is about 6 miles away.
Coordinates 36.45996, -82.45968
What you can catch
Fish you can catch at Smith Shoals
South Fork Holston River holds these, according to the county research behind this site and TWRA’s own species notes.
What you can keep
Fishing limits at Smith Shoals
What you can keep from South Fork Holston River at Smith Shoals. TWRA sets 3 rules just for South Fork Holston River. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.
| Fish | Daily limit | Length | Where or when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trout | 7 | 16–22 in protected slot, one over 22 in | South Holston Dam to Boone Dam, all trout |
| Trout | 7 | 16–22 in protected slot (rainbow and brown), one over 22 in | Below Boone: Boone Dam to Louis Milhorn Bridge (Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir) |
| Smallmouth bass | 5 black bass combined | 13–17 in protected slot, one over 17 in | Below Fort Patrick Henry Dam down to the North Fork confluence |
| Largemouth bass | 5 black bass combined | No minimum | Statewide |
| Spotted bass | 5 black bass combined | No minimum | Statewide |
| Crappie | 15 | 10 in minimum | Statewide |
| Bluegill | No limit | No minimum | Statewide |
| Rock bass | 20 | No minimum | Statewide |
| Walleye | 5 | 16 in minimum | Statewide |
| Blue catfish | No limit under 34 in | Only one over 34 in | Statewide |
Other rules on South Fork Holston River
- Nov 1–Jan 31 closed to all fishing: Hickory Tree Bridge up to Bottom Creek, and from the downstream point of Boy’s Island (below Weaver Pike Bridge) up to the top of the first island above Webb Road Bridge.
- Snagging prohibited year-round from South Holston Dam to the Hwy 390 bridge at Bluff City.
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 Fork Holston River around Smith Shoals
What the water at Smith Shoals actually looks like. Drag or swipe through. Every picture opens that water’s own page.
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 Holston LakeOpen the South Holston Lake page →Ryan Rice at en.wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0
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 domain
South Holston LakeOpen the South Holston Lake page →Tennessee Valley Authority / Public domainNext one along
More South Fork Holston River access near Smith Shoals
The closest other public access points on South Fork Holston River, measured straight line from Smith Shoals. Each one opens its own page with directions.
Smith Shoals water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie.
Other water close by
Other fishing near Smith Shoals
Public access on other water within 20 miles of Smith Shoals, including Boone Lake, Ft Patrick Henry Reservoir and Patrick Henry Lake. Handy when the wind is wrong on South Fork Holston River or the ramp is busy.
Bait on the way
Bait and tackle near Smith Shoals
The closest shops to Smith Shoals that this site has checked. Academy Sports + Outdoors in Kingsport is nearest, about 6 miles away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.
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Where to next
Around Smith Shoals
Smith Shoals is one access point. These pages cover the rest of the water and the rest of the county.