By Tabitha Evans Moore
Editor & Publisher

Most people who drive across the Highway 50 bridge below Tims Ford Dam don’t give the water below much thought. They probably should.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) began its spring trout stocking program this month, and the Elk River tailwater — running roughly 15 miles below Tims Ford Dam through Franklin County and along Moore County’s western edge — is among the beneficiaries. The most recent stocking of the Elk River came on March 17. Stocking continues monthly through December, with rainbow and brown trout the primary species.

Statewide, the spring program releases more than 400,000 trout across 80-plus locations, making it one of the largest freshwater stocking efforts in the Southeast. The Elk River is one of the program’s more compelling destinations — and one of Middle Tennessee’s best-kept fishing secrets.

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A river that shouldn’t exist — but does

The Elk River trout fishery is, in a sense, an accident of engineering. When Tims Ford Dam was completed in 1970, cold water from roughly 100 feet below the lake’s surface began flowing through the dam and into the river below, transforming what had been a relatively warm-water stream into a prime trout habitat where none had existed previously.

For approximately 15 miles below the dam, rainbow, brown, and brook trout await anglers whether they wade, fish from a boat, or cast from the bank. The river runs narrow — roughly 50 feet wide with gravel bars and intermittent deep pools, making wading the preferred method for most anglers. Float trips are possible by canoe, kayak, or small pontoon, though anglers are cautioned to watch for dam discharge releases, which can make the water dangerous quickly.

Brown trout in the Elk River typically run two to four pounds. In 2020, an angler pulled a 30-inch brown that likely weighed around six pounds, and 10- to 12-pounders have been reported.

An economic driver in Southern Middle Tennesee

Trout fishing is not just a pastime in Tennessee — it’s an economic driver. More than 256,000 anglers fish for trout in Tennessee and Georgia waters each year, generating an economic impact of approximately $45 million and spending about $73 for every $1 invested in the hatchery program. The Elk River, as one of the state’s accessible tailwater fisheries in a region better known for whiskey than wading, draws anglers from across Middle Tennessee and beyond — anglers who buy gas, eat lunch, book cabins, and spend money in communities like Lynchburg and Winchester.

What you need to know before you go

A trout license is required in addition to a standard Tennessee fishing license. The daily creel limit on the Elk River tailwater is seven trout in combination, with special regulations on brown trout — only two brown trout may be kept per day from March 1 through September 30. Anglers are encouraged to check current regulations on TWRA’s website at tnwildlife.org before heading out, as dates and limits are subject to change.

Access points include the area just below the dam at Highway 50, a TVA access point at Farris Creek Bridge, and access at Old Dam Ford. The next stocking date for the Elk River has not yet been published. TWRA updates its schedule regularly on their website, which you can access by clicking here. •

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