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Thanks to your help during the 2025 Tail Water Round-up, the large portions of the Watauga River has been nearly cleared of debris. However, the Watauga Bluffs State Natural Area will need several more clean-ups to remove the debris which was deposited on a relatively small, low-lying section. As a result, we are changing our First Saturday Fishing Days to include a clean-up portion so that we can make incremental improvements, one month at a time. EVENT:
Meet at Watauga Bluffs State Natural Area at 8 AM on the First Saturday of each month, where participants will be outfitted with gloves and trash bags. Participants will walk the trail down to the river (less than one half mile from parking area), clean up for an hour or two, then enjoy the rest of the morning fishing the waters near the bluffs, where there is great wade fishing when there is no generation. If there is generation scheduled, we will still do the clean-up, but folks may wish to find a different place to fish afterwards.
Trash bags will be placed near the river below the rapid such that drift boats can easily access the bags from the boat ramp just downstream.
DIRECTIONS:
The address for Watauga Bluffs State Natural Area is 3511 Steam Plant Rd, Watauga, TN 37694. Google Maps will provide accurate navigation here, but other GPS navigators may not.
To get here from I-26 in Johnson City, take Watauga Ave exit and then take E Watauga Avenue northeast towards the town of Watauga. Travel 1 mi on E Watauga, then turn left onto N Broadway at the Walgreens then immediately turn right onto E Unaka Ave. Travel 3.5 miles then turn left onto Steam plant Rd (just before the Persinger bridge over the Watauga river). Follow steam plant road 0.5 miles and the parking lot will be on the right. Steam plant road will take you under the Persinger bridge and then over the railroad tracks on the right. The parking lot is small, so carpool if at all possible.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Watauga River Bluffs State Natural Area, Johnson City, Tennessee, United States
