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
