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South Holston Reservoir 21 mi
Photo: LookoutBelle, CC BY 2.0 
Flannagan Reservoir 40 mi
Photo: Jason Riedy, CC BY 2.0 
Clinch River 57 mi
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region, Public domain 
New River 43 mi
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Virginia rivers and streams
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North Fork Holston River Fishing
Smyth County holds this river.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Jason Riedy, CC BY 2.0
Smyth County
The North Fork Holston River, the short version
The North Fork Holston River is a Virginia river running through Smyth County. From the mapped point, Saltville is about 1 mile distant.
The DWR access layer has 1 access site here. Check 2 USGS gauges for today.
1DWR access site
2USGS gauges
1species DWR names
1locality
Virginia DWR waterbody pages, Stocked Trout Reaches and Cold Water Stream Survey layers and Boating Access Locations; USGS gauges; read November 6, 2026.
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Gauge numbers posted for the North Fork Holston River
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| N F Holston River Near Saltville, Va | 54 cfs, 0.78 ft gage height | Nov 8 7:25 pm |
| N F Holston River Near Gate City, Va | 205 cfs, 1.85 ft gage height | Nov 8 7:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 8, 2026 7:32 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
At North Fork Holston River, the panel shows unreviewed USGS data.
| USGS site | Name |
|---|---|
| 03488000 | N F HOLSTON RIVER NEAR SALTVILLE, VA |
| 03490000 | N F HOLSTON RIVER NEAR GATE CITY, VA |
USGS instantaneous values, provisional.
Species
What swims in the North Fork Holston River, per DWR
Every fish shown for North Fork Holston River has a DWR source.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Access
Launch sites on the North Fork Holston River
| Site | Recorded attributes | Owner | Location (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saltville boat ramp on North Fork Holston River | concrete ramp (no dock), 1 ramp, freshwater | Town of Saltville | From E. Main St. in Saltville, L. on Goverment Plant Rd (100yds), R. on River Rd. |
More DWR launches near North Fork Holston River
- Laurel Bed Lake boat rampLaurel Bed Lake, 6 miles northwest
- Blackford Bridge boat ramp on Clinch RiverClinch River, 13 miles northwest
- Hungry Mother State ParkHungry Mother Lake, 13 miles east
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Limits
Digest size and creel, North 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 |
The statewide digest rows above apply on North Fork Holston River unless an exception names it.
- From the town of Saltville downstream there is an exceptional smallmouth bass fishery. It routinely produces smallmouth up to five pounds. Sunfish, rockbass, carp, and channel catfish fishing are also good. This river is still under a health advisory from mercury contamination. Fishing is allowed, but the fish must not be consumed.
- A 20-inch minimum size limit is in effect for smallmouth bass in the North Fork Holston River from the Route 91 Bridge, upstream of Saltville, downstream to the Tennessee State line. All smallmouth bass less than 20 inches must be released. One smallmouth larger than 20 inches may be kept per angler per day. This regulation should protect and enhance the trophy smallmouth fishery that has developed in this river.
- Population samples collected in 2003 and 2004 revealed very good numbers of smallmouth in several sections of the river. Trophy smallmouth bass were collected in most of the sections sampled. Smallmouth abundance is about average compared to other Virginia rivers. However, the proportion of smallmouths from 14 to 18-inches long is much higher than in most other rivers. Sunfish, channel catfish, flathead catfish, carp, and suckers were also collected. A couple of new angler access sites have been developed near the town of Saltville.
- Bass
- 20 inches minimum
- 1 fish/day
- All bass less than 20 inches must be released.
- –>
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Special limits written for North Fork Holston River
| Water as printed | Species | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| North Fork Holston River–Rt. 91 Bridge upstream of Saltville, Va. downstream to the VA-TN state line | Largemouth, Smallmouth Bass | No largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 20 inches, only 1 per day longer than 20 inches |
Water-specific exceptions as printed, 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (eRegulations, linked from the Virginia DWR regulations page), read November 6, 2026.
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older.
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.
Compare
Five Virginia streams close to the North Fork Holston River
| Stream | Distance | DWR access sites | USGS gauges | Stocked reaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Fork Holston River | this stream | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Big Tumbling Creek (Clinch Fee Fishing Area) | 5 miles west | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Little Tumbling Creek | 5 miles northeast | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| South Fork Holston River | 15 miles southeast | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| Staley Creek | 16 miles east | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Big Cedar Creek | 16 miles west | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations and Stocked Trout Reaches, USGS gauges; read November 6, 2026.
Nearby
Around North Fork Holston River, within a Virginia drive
Other Virginia reservoirs close to North Fork Holston River
- Laurel Bed Lake5 miles
- Hungry Mother Lake13 miles
- Beartree Lake17 miles
- Hidden Valley Lake18 miles
Where to buy bait before North Fork Holston River
- Bottom Dwellers Tackle Incbait and tackle shop, Cedar Bluff, 8 miles
- Virginia Creeper Fly-Fishingbait and tackle shop, Abingdon, 16 miles
Virginia towns close to North Fork Holston River
- Saltville1 mile, Smyth County
- Glade Spring7 miles, Washington County
- Chilhowie8 miles, Smyth County
The localities North Fork Holston River runs through
- Smyth Countycounty seat Marion
Other Virginia rivers near the North Fork Holston River
- Big Tumbling Creek (Clinch Fee Fishing Area)5 miles
- Little Tumbling Creek5 miles
- South Fork Holston River15 miles
- Staley Creek16 miles
- Big Cedar Creek16 miles
Piscifun
Piscifun spinning gear for a day out on North Fork Holston River
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Photos
Shorelines around North Fork Holston River through a camera
Photo: LookoutBelle, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Jason Riedy, CC BY 2.0
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region, Public domain
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Answers
Questions on the North Fork Holston River before the truck is loaded
Where does the North Fork Holston River flow in Virginia?
Look in Smyth County, about 1 mile from Saltville.
Where do floats start on the North Fork Holston River?
DWR maps one: Saltville boat ramp on North Fork Holston River.
Which fish does DWR name in the North Fork Holston River?
DWR names smallmouth bass.
Is the North Fork Holston River trout water?
DWR trout layers skip it.
Which bass rule applies on the North Fork Holston River?
The statewide digest row for largemouth and smallmouth bass reads: 5 per day in the aggregate (combined); No statewide length limits. An exception covers part of it.
Does a freshwater license cover the North Fork Holston River?
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older. No license is needed under 16.
Is there a live gauge on the North Fork Holston River?
2 USGS gauges report it above.
Which shop is on the way to the North Fork Holston River?
Stop at Bottom Dwellers Tackle Inc (about 8 miles away).
Strap the kayak down for the North Fork Holston River
Check the digest before you go.