Somehow we’ve looked up and it’s almost Thanksgiving. It’s been another year with long weeks but a short season. We still have some trips on the calendar but our busy season is behind us. This fall was exceptionally colorful with some great weather. The biggest drawback came in the form of low water conditions and […]
Fall is Around the Corner
To be clear, there’s not much difference between the weather we’ve experienced this week and numerous days last summer. Overnight lows here in Townsend have been in the 60’s and afternoon highs in the 80’s. However, there have been no high 80’s nor any sign of 90’s in the forecast and we’ve even seen a […]
Summer Fly Fishing in the Smokies
It’s been a while since we’ve posted a fishing report, primarily because we’ve been so busy guiding. As always, summer fly fishing can be more difficult than spring or fall but that’s largely a function of where you go. Most of the easiest access waters will be crowded with picnickers and might have marginal water […]
Spring Fishing Has Arrived in The Smokies
We’ve had the usual March weather roller coaster in the Smokies but are happy to report that spring fishing is well underway. There have been regular hatches, the first black bears have been sighted out from hibernation, and turkeys are starting to gobble. All are definite signs of spring! Fishing will continue to be solid […]
Wrapping Up a Busy Fall Season of Fly Fishing in the Smokies
2021 has flown by and another busy guide season is drawing to a close. We’ve finally arrived at the time of year when we cease guiding full day trips. We guide afternoon half day trips as long as conditions are favorable, but don’t get out in the morning while trout are sluggish. Most of the […]
We’re In the Hottest Weeks of the Summer
The dog days of summer have arrived and it is hot here in East Tennessee! Fortunately it’s not so hot in the Smokies as it is in the surrounding valleys, but that’s little consolation with the thermometer readings over 90. This doesn’t mean you need to stop fly fishing, but it does mean you need […]
Typically Warm and Wet Summer Weather in the Smokies
We’re in the middle of a busy guide season here in the Smokies and the fly fishing is generally what we expect in summer. The trout aren’t necessarily easy to catch, but if you’re in the right place they are pretty cooperative. Temperatures have been just about spot on average for summer and we’ve had […]
Smokies Fisheries Population Counts Show Effects of Floods
We’ve been on the water volunteering with the national park fisheries biologists this summer. As always we try to pass on anything we’ve learned. One thing that is quite clear from looking at the fish populations is that winter floods of the past few years have had a noticeable impact. We participated in a population […]
Typical May Weather Producing Some Great Fishing
We’re at the point in the season where we’ve already seen a few hatches come and go, but we’re in the peak of insect emergences on our streams. We’ve had to cancel or postpone a few trips due to some stormy weather or high and muddy water, but that’s a fact of spring fishing in […]
Work In the Smokies to Be Aware of Before Heading to the Stream
There are a few infrastructure projects going on in the Smokies right now that could affect your fishing plans. Hopefully you can make plans accordingly. The most important will effect anyone heading to Abrams Creek in Cades Cove. The Abrams Falls Trail is undergoing restoration to repair severe erosion and will be close each week […]