Tim’s Ford TN Spring 2023

This outing is conditional depending on the weather and water release schedule. However this is a good target due to the scheduled stocking beginning at the end of March. Camping can be good this time of the year.

​The Elk River is a little known tailwater located in Tennessee below Tims Ford Dam. It’s relatively small and easy to wade. The tailwater hold trout for about fifteen miles below the dam. The trout all were stocked at one time. There aren’t any stream-bred trout known to exist in the river but there are plenty of holdovers. Catching a good size brown trout is very possible.

This river flows through what most of the state of Tennessee is know for – hills. It winds and meanders its way around with fairly smooth, moderate flows. The country around the river is all farming country although there are some cattle along the river in some areas. Unlike most tailwaters in Tennessee, wading is the best method of fishing the Elk River. Of course, as with any tailwater, the flows have to be suitable. There’s a link on your left that will provide the scheduled TVA discharge times of the Tims Ford Dam on the Elk River.

Access is rather limited but there’s access points right below the dam. Downstream there’s a TVA access at Farris Creek Bridge and access at the Old Dam Ford.

This river is full of scuds but it also has a few mayflies and caddisflies. There’s plenty of midge larvae in the river and imitations of their larva, pupae and the adults will work year round. Fly fishing the Elk River tailwater with streamers is a good way to catch the browns.