It’s March 1 and the month is roaring in like a lion here in the Smokies as a light snow is falling. Snow is not a newsmaker in late winter, but the fact that your Tennessee fishing license just expired is. I always thought it was a […]
So You Think You’re a Real Fisherman
Fly fishers are among the proudest of outdoor enthusiasts. We can always tell when we arrive at a trailhead if anyone else if fishing just by looking around for Sage or Orvis stickers and TU specialty license plates. We all wear caps that show off our favorite brands or fly shops or guides services. Heck, many […]
What’s Your Favorite Off Road Vehicle?
A simple question – What’s your favorite off road vehicle? It depends on your definition of “off road”. This is our first choice for an off road vehicle Sure, it’s a little slow and the “horsepower” is often unreliable (depending on external factors like current, heat, and how many days in a row it’s been […]
Hatches Building in the Smokies While Water Dropping on the Tailwaters
This weekend was one of those typical early season events that we always seem to forget, then remember that’s usually how things play out. There were plenty of bugs, but just a few rising fish. Looks like the fishermen are just a little ahead of the fish. It’s still February, the water is in the […]
Signs of Spring
We’ve had a relatively mild winter and it looks like spring will be a few weeks early. Clingmans Dome Road in the Smokies, one of the highest roads in the eastern US from 5000′ to over 6000′ elevation, will be opening this weekend. It’s usually covered in snow and ice until April. Sign of spring: […]
A Close Up Look at a Hatching Mayfly
We took this video of a hatching Blue Quill in the Smokies. This is a pretty small bug, only about #18, so it appears larger on your screen than it actually is. This is is filmed in real time and is not a time lapse. It’s pretty amazing how fast this mayfly get its wings […]
Hatches Are About To Start in the Smokies
It looks like another early spring will soon be upon us here in the Smokies. There was snow falling on the rivers and streams in the Smokies only a few days ago but a relatively mild winter seems to have the insects ready to get started hatching and the fish seem to sense it. Up […]
Quick Pic: Brown Trout in the Current
Fish are certainly moving in the streams up in the Smokies. Hatches aren’t rolling yet but nymphs are moving and fishing are pretty active in the afternoon. Water temperatures are in the mid to upper 40’s and water levels are essentially where we expect them in mid February. The relatively mild winter we’ve had will […]
It’s All Coming Together
We’re beginning to see signs that spring fishing is almost upon us here in the Smokies. It’s been a relatively mild winter, but bouts of high water interspersed with cold snaps have kept us deprived of good fishing. It looks as if all that may change soon though. We had some rain last night and […]
Stream Levels Fine, Tailwaters Not So Much
Mountain streams in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina have receded to levels considered average for early February. Many anglers consider this a tad on the high side but we’ve always preferred the water around this level. Remember you can always find current stream levels on our site. We’re starting to get that nervous tick […]
