It looks like John Coley has some competition. John caught the best brown trout we’ve guided a fly fisher to in the Smokies last week. Today Charity was the guide and Julie Wattenbarger caught a superb fish on a Prince Nymph on the Oconaluftee River well upstream of Smokemont Campground.
That's a nice brown anywhere, but particularly for the wild streams of the Smokies
This fish was also about 17″ long, like John’s. I’d like to give John a few style points for catching his on a dry fly, but the color on this one gives a few extra bonus points. Charity says this fish blew up about two feet out of the water when it was hooked so that’s worth something too. I hate to make a judgement between two really good fish so I’ll call it a draw.
This fish ate a #10 Prince Nymph. It’s my favorite variation on the pattern tied with a red hackle collar and a bright red thread head.
Enjoy it, Julie. Fish like this one don't bite often.
The view from Newfound Gap on our commute to work this morning
John Coley says
I’ll defer to the ladies. I think hers takes the prize. Nice going, Julie!