Middle Fork Holston River Fishing
A river through Smyth, Washington and Wythe counties.
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What a Virginia angler should know about the Middle Fork Holston River
The Middle Fork Holston River crosses Smyth, Washington and Wythe counties. Rural Retreat lies roughly 5 miles away.
Hatchery trout go into 2 stocked reaches of it. About 29 km of it is classed as wild trout water.
Virginia DWR waterbody pages, Stocked Trout Reaches and Cold Water Stream Survey layers and Boating Access Locations; USGS gauges; read November 6, 2026.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 DWR notes on fishing the Middle Fork Holston River
The headwaters of the Middle Fork Holston River are located near the Smyth-Wythe County line in Southwest Virginia. The river flows approximately 56 miles through Smyth and Washington counties and connects with the South Fork Holston River to form South Holston Reservoir. The river has many different sport fish species for all types of anglers. In the upper sections of the river near the towns of Atkins and Marion there are two designated stocked trout areas.
How DWR says to reach Middle Fork Holston River
Float 1: In summer 2004, fisheries biologists floated a section of the Middle Fork Holston River from the town of Chilhowie at the bridge crossing on Route 763 (Smyth County) to the bridge crossing on Route 714 (Washington County). This section is approximately 5.8 river miles in length and consists of runs and long pools.
These sentences on Middle Fork Holston River belong to Virginia DWR.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
The fish DWR records for the Middle Fork Holston River
The Middle Fork Holston River list repeats DWR names; generic labels stay unlinked.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026. Virginia DWR Cold Water Stream Survey trout streams (reach class I to IV, length, species present), read November 6, 2026.
Getting onto the Middle Fork Holston River
No DWR launch sits on Middle Fork Holston River itself.
Casting from shore by Middle Fork Holston River
Virginia launches flanking Middle Fork Holston River
- Rural Retreat Lake boat rampRural Retreat Lake, 5 miles east
- Hungry Mother State ParkHungry Mother Lake, 8 miles west
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Trout reaches on the Middle Fork Holston River
| Reach | Locality | Category | Species stocked | Heritage Day | National forest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Fork Holston River Upper B | Smyth | B (stocked 5 times between October 1 and May 15) | rainbow | ||
| Middle Fork Holston River Upper A | Smyth | B (stocked 5 times between October 1 and May 15) | rainbow |
Middle Fork Holston River carries 2 reaches on the stocked trout layer, category category B.
Virginia DWR Stocked Trout Reaches and Stocked Trout Lakes layers (category, species, heritage day), read November 6, 2026.
What the cold water survey found in the Middle Fork Holston River
| Reach code | Class | Length | Species present |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03MFH-01 | VI | 29.04 km | rainbow |
On Middle Fork Holston River, survey classes run VI.
Virginia DWR Cold Water Stream Survey trout streams (reach class I to IV, length, species present), read November 6, 2026.
Designated stocked trout waters require a trout license October 1 to June 15; urban waters November 1 to April 30 (as printed).
Catchable trout deliveries to the Middle Fork Holston River
| Date | Water as listed | Category | Species |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 19, 2026 | Middle Fork Holston River (Marion) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| October 19, 2026 | Middle Fork Holston River (Chilhowie) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| October 15, 2026 | Middle Fork Holston River (Upper) | B | Rainbow Trout |
| May 30, 2026 | Middle Fork Holston River (Chilhowie) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| May 30, 2026 | Middle Fork Holston River (Marion) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| May 5, 2026 | Middle Fork Holston River (Upper) | B | Rainbow Trout |
| May 1, 2026 | Middle Fork Holston River (Chilhowie) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| May 1, 2026 | Middle Fork Holston River (Marion) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| April 18, 2026 | Middle Fork Holston River (Chilhowie) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| April 18, 2026 | Middle Fork Holston River (Marion) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| April 4, 2026 | Middle Fork Holston River (Upper) | B | Rainbow Trout |
| April 3, 2026 | Middle Fork Holston River (Chilhowie) | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout |
The schedule shows 2026-27 3 dates; 2025-26 21 dates; 2024-25 21 dates; 2023-24 21 dates on Middle Fork Holston River.
Virginia DWR trout stocking schedule (date, county, water, category and species as listed; DWR prints no numbers or sizes), read November 6, 2026.
Virginia creel and length for the Middle Fork Holston River
| Species as printed | Applies to | Creel | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth, Smallmouth Bass | statewide | 5 per day in the aggregate (combined) | No statewide length limits |
| Alabama, Spotted Bass | statewide | No statewide daily limit | No statewide length limit |
| Landlocked Striped Bass and Landlocked Striped Bass X White Bass Hybrids | statewide | 4 per day in the aggregate | No fish less than 20 inches |
| Striped Bass | Anadromous (coastal) striped bass above the fall line in all coastal rivers of the Chesapeake Bay and Crane Lake (City of Suffolk) | Creel and length limits shall be as set by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission for recreational fishing in tidal waters | no length limit printed |
| Striped Bass | Striped bass in the Meherrin, Nottoway, Blackwater (Chowan Drainage), North Landing and Northwest rivers and their tributaries plus Back Bay | No possession | no length limit printed |
| Walleye, Saugeye | statewide | 5 per day in the aggregate | No walleye or saugeye less than 18 inches |
| Sauger | statewide | 2 per day | No statewide length limits |
| White Bass | statewide | 5 per day | No statewide length limits |
| Chain Pickerel and Northern Pike | statewide | 5 per day | No statewide length limits |
| Muskellunge | statewide | 1 per day | No muskellunge less than 40 inches |
| Bluegill (bream) and other sunfish excluding Crappie, Rock Bass (redeye) and Roanoke Bass | statewide | 50 per day in the aggregate (combined) | No statewide length limits |
| Crappie (black or white) | statewide | 25 per day in the aggregate (combined) | No statewide length limits |
| Rock Bass (redeye) | statewide | 25 per day in the aggregate with Roanoke bass | No statewide length limits |
| Roanoke Bass | statewide | 25 per day in the aggregate with rock bass | No statewide length limits |
| Perch (yellow and white) | statewide | No statewide daily limit | No statewide length limit |
| Trout | statewide | 6 per day | 7 inch minimum size |
| Channel, White, and Flathead | statewide | 20 per day | No length limits |
| Blue | statewide | 20 per day | No statewide length limits |
On Middle Fork Holston River, statewide rows hold where no exception speaks.
- Fishing in the stocked trout waters near Atkins and Marion require anglers to have a trout license in addition to a statewide freshwater fishing license from October 1 to June 15th. All other sections of the Middle Fork Holston require a statewide freshwater fishing license and statewide creel limits apply by species.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older. Designated stocked trout waters also need the $23 trout license from October 1 to June 15.
Statewide creel and length limits as printed (page updated August 17, 2026), 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (eRegulations, linked from the Virginia DWR regulations page), read November 6, 2026. Virginia license fees in the 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (licenses run one year from purchase unless noted), read November 6, 2026.
The Middle Fork Holston River next to nearby creeks and rivers
| Stream | Distance | DWR access sites | USGS gauges | Stocked reaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Fork Holston River | this stream | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| West Fork Reed Creek | 7 miles northeast | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Staley Creek | 8 miles southwest | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Cressy Creek | 10 miles south | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Lick Creek | 10 miles north | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Laurel Creek | 11 miles northwest | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations and Stocked Trout Reaches, USGS gauges; read November 6, 2026.
Just off Middle Fork Holston River, by road
Another Virginia impoundment after Middle Fork Holston River
- Rural Retreat Lake5 miles
- Hungry Mother Lake9 miles
- Hales Lake11 miles
- Lincolnshire Lake19 miles
Filling the bait bucket close to Middle Fork Holston River
- New River Sports-Wythevillebait and tackle shop, Wytheville, 16 miles
- Sportsman Marinamarina, Abingdon
- Virginia Creeper Fly-Fishingbait and tackle shop, Abingdon
Places to stay near Middle Fork Holston River
- Rural Retreat5 miles, Wythe County
- Marion9 miles, Smyth County
- Wytheville16 miles, Wythe County
The Virginia counties and cities along Middle Fork Holston River
- Smyth Countycounty seat Marion
- Washington Countycounty seat Abingdon
- Wythe Countycounty seat Wytheville
Virginia streams near the Middle Fork Holston River
- West Fork Reed Creek7 miles
- Staley Creek8 miles
- Cressy Creek10 miles
- Lick Creek10 miles
- Laurel Creek11 miles
Reels from Piscifun for the next trip to Middle Fork Holston River
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Lakes, tidewater and stream riffles close to Middle Fork Holston River, in pictures
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Photo: LookoutBelle, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Jason Riedy, CC BY 2.0
Sorting out the Middle Fork Holston River, question by question
Where does the Middle Fork Holston River show up on a Virginia road map?
Head for Smyth, Washington and Wythe counties, about 5 miles from Rural Retreat.
Is there a DWR ramp on the Middle Fork Holston River?
Try Rural Retreat Lake boat ramp, roughly 5 miles off.
Which fish does DWR tie to the Middle Fork Holston River?
Expect black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed and redbreast sunfish, per DWR.
Are there wild trout in the Middle Fork Holston River?
DWR stocks 2 reaches of it, coded category B. Designated stocked trout waters require a trout license October 1 to June 15; urban waters November 1 to April 30 (as printed).
How many bass may go home from the Middle Fork Holston River?
The statewide digest row for largemouth and smallmouth bass reads: 5 per day in the aggregate (combined); No statewide length limits.
What does DWR charge to fish the Middle Fork Holston River?
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older. Designated stocked trout waters also need the $23 trout license from October 1 to June 15. Anyone not yet 16 is excused from buying one.
Where do I check flow on the Middle Fork Holston River?
No live gauge covers it.
What tackle store is handiest for the Middle Fork Holston River trips?
New River Sports-Wytheville (about 16 miles away) heads the list.
Wet-wade the Middle Fork Holston River before the leaves turn
Every 2026 fee is one click away.