It’s May and you’ll find all kinds of bugs hatching wherever you go around East Tennessee and the Smoky Mountains. There are some Hendricksons still hatching plus some huge March Browns on the bigger streams. In the evenings the yellow mayflies are showing up in several species. All you really need to know is they usually show up late and #16 is about the right size.
In general a #14 Parachute Adams, #16 Elk Hair Caddis, or #16 Beadhead Pheasant Tail Nymph will have you covered most of the day. You might want to try some big Tellico Nymphs or other #8-10 stonefly pattern since we’re seeing their husks on the rocks and occasionally see them buzzing along the streams.
Over on the tailwaters you can expect to see some Sulphurs on the Clinch River late in the afternoon into the evening. The caddis have been a little behind schedule over on the Holston, but coming along.
In short, if you haven’t been on the water yet this spring there’s much left to wait for. We’ll see you out there!
Trout Book says
Very nice picture of that yellow mayfly sitting on top of the water!