Healing Waters

Nov 4, 2025

TVA sponsors Tug on the ‘Taug trout fishing tournament for Veterans

In the South Holston, tributaries run into rivers, and the rivers run with fish.

Huge hatchery-raised trout shimmy between underwater slabs of golden rock and waving green grasses.

Lined up in boats just below the South Holston weir dam on a sun-soaked September day, Project Healing Waters participants sat ready to fish this world-renowned river.

They were here as part of the inaugural Tug on the ‘Taug fishing tournament on the Watauga and South Holston tailwaters.

The event was also the culmination of fly fishing, tying and rod-building workshops that gradually built partnerships between wounded military Veterans and guides.

“We’re here to create healing journeys and camaraderie,” Josh Christian, representative of event-host Project Healing Waters, said. “We’d like to thank TVA for being a key resource in a key partnership to create this connection with the community.”

Anglers catch fish

Hidden gems

When the signal to start finally came, guides raised anchor and the current whisked boats downstream.

Veterans scanned the water for seams where fast water met still – the lines where trout swam and sipped the surface eating bugs.

“These are gems,” Anthony Summitt, TVA senior land manager, said.

He gestured to the riverbank and beyond, where 7 miles of multiuse trails wound through the trees and, past a pollinator area, an accessible fishing area welcomed anglers.

It’s a popular spot.

Each year about 50,000 people visit the South Holston and Watauga tailwater areas for recreation, bringing almost $7.5 million to the local economy.

“This is a destination worldwide, renowned as a trout fishery,” Summitt said. “Events like Tug on the ‘Taug align with TVA’s service-based mission, connecting people that have committed to serve their country with these resources.”

Weirs on river that add oxygen

The fishing’s good

Capt. Wes McCracken, a Coast Guard Veteran and volunteer guide, nosed his raft through the rapids, reading the waters with a physicist's eye.

“Look for the V,” he said, launching the bow of the boat over clear waves. Behemoth, upturned slabs of rocks lurked just underneath.

TVA’s River Operations team had released water to create ideal boating conditions. All along the river, guides steered Veterans through the waves and then to calm pools.

Fly lines flashed in the sun.

Eagles and ospreys called overhead.

“Fish on!” fly casters called. While Veterans wound their reels in, the guides bent over with a ready net to hold the flopping trout.

Each Veteran could "keep" – that is, record the length of – five trout on each of the tournament’s two days. At the end, the person with the longest fish lengths would win and all the fish would swim free.

TVA manages these coldwater tailwaters as trout fisheries, working in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and, across the state line, with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to release new batches of trout each year.

“I’ve never seen the fishing this good,” one Veteran called, holding out a trout before sliding it back to the river.

“It's just so serene,” Greg Dixon, Veteran and Project Healing Waters member, said. “You're able to tie a fly, put it on a rod that you built yourself and then cast it to catch a fish. It’s extremely satisfying.”

Group participating in Tug on the 'Taug

Building ‘Battle Buddy’ connections

Since 2005, Project Healing Waters has created what one veteran described as “battle buddy” connections between Veterans in 164 programs across the nation. It’s brought approximately 7,000 Veterans and about 6,000 volunteers to fly fish in the great outdoors.

This day brought participants to the solace of silent waters below and the open sky above.

But for many Veterans, the connections forged here began years ago – and they’ll endure for decades to come.

“For me, that’s the takeaway,” Shannon O’Quinn, TVA water resources program manager, said.

“This is a partnership that allows Veterans to fish on TVA-managed tailwaters into the future. Project Healing Waters and TVA’s rivers are intimately linked.”