Most People Don't Realize A Premier Fishing River Flows Right Through Tennessee

Fishing is one of the American South’s classic pastimes, once a survival practice that has become a good old time in Tennessee. There’s nothing quite like the calm, cool of the morning, a sunrise just bleeding over the horizon as a line is drawn through the water, heavy with fish. The Clinch River is best-known for its stretch through Virginia, but it has a solid arm at home in the Volunteer State. Fishing enthusiasts, be encouraged! The Clinch River is a premier fishing river, and it’s easily accessible here in Tennessee.

Dieter Weinelt - Flickr

The Clinch River runs southwest from the state of Virginia through the Great Appalachian Valley and Tennessee. In total, the river measures a whopping 300 miles or 480 kilometers. It eventually joins the Tennessee River in Kingston.

US Army Corps of Engineering - Flickr

There are two dams on the Clinch River and both are located in Tennessee. The TVA, Tennessee Valley Authority, built both the Norris Dam and the Melton Hill Dam.

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There are a handful of state parks that surround the river both in Virginia as well as Tennessee. If you are in the Volunteer State you can capitalize on the beauty of Big Ridge State Park, Norris Dam State Park, and Chuck Swan State Forest. Each park has numerous hiking trails and outdoor recreation activities for enthusiasts.

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The Clinch River is known as one of the "premier trout streams" in the United States, and fishing is the best in late fall, late winter, and early spring. Quite a few folks throw a line all year, though, so don’t worry if your trip doesn’t coincide with prime fishing conditions.

Dieter Weinelt - Flickr

The river is known for its biodiversity, and along with being a trout fishing haven, it is also known for fostering freshwater mussels and pearls. Mussels were utilized extensively by local Native Americans, and the water creatures were eventually used by later settlers for hog feed. At one point Tennessee was one of the top 6 states in the nation for pearl production! The creation of the river dams put a damper on the mussel industry, but Muscle Shoals was named in honor of the former economic enterprise. Nowadays, the mussels of Tennessee can live out their tiny lives in peace.

ruthdaniel3444 - Flickr

The Clinch River is beautiful and perfect for an early morning on the water. If you're seeking a moment away from the requirement of the workweek, this stunning spot is waiting on the eastern edge of Tennessee.

You can learn more about the Clinch River right here, folks. If you’re seeking a beautiful place to enjoy the beauty of a day, then you don’t want to skip this stunning Tennessee gem.