We’re certainly in the middle of a wet thunderstorm season here in East Tennessee, receiving heavy downpours somewhere everyday. This has kept the trout streams in the Smoky Mountains full and the fish are happy. We’re still experiencing water levels similar to March and April and it’s a nice change after two previous years of […]
A Look Back at Spring Fishing & Our Summer Fly Fishing Forecast for East Tennessee and the Smoky Mountains
The big news is that the drought is officially over. In fact, we’re currently running a rainfall surplus here in East Tennessee. This has not only brought our stream levels back to normal, but also has implications for fly fishing on the tailwaters. Smoky Mountain Streams Spring hatches started strong with Quill Gordon mayflies in […]
Best Fly Fishing in the Smokies in Several Years
We’ve been hard at it, guiding almost every day. In fact, we usually have a couple of trips out on the river. We took a few days off about a week ago to put a booth in at the Townsend TroutFest, but other than that we’ve been on the water. Water levels in the Smoky […]
Back from Hazel Creek But the Busy Guide Schedule Continues
We had what may have been our best trip to Hazel Creek. The weather was beautiful, the company was great, and the food was awesome. We had sunny weather with temperatures in the 70’s every day and great nights in the 50’s. The skies were exceptionally clear and the sky was filled with stars. Oh […]
OK… Enough of the Cold, Dreary Weather
It’s been a couple of days of cold, gray, and wet days on the rivers and streams. The fishing has been decent, but more sporadic through the day than consistent. Fishing in the Smokies has been best in the afternoons and water levels are workable. Nymphs are the way to go in the mornings, but […]
Great Day of Fly Fishing on the Oconaluftee
Today was a beautiful day for fly fishing in the Smokies. I met Rick Shelton who’s fished with me for several years over on the Oconaluftee this morning. Water temperatures were mild and trout were feeding aggressively in spite of melting snow on the crest of the mountains. Rick caught some beautiful rainbows and browns. […]
Wet Weather and a Cool Down
We’ve had a few days of active weather here in the Smoky Mountain region of East Tennessee. One front after another has come through and things have been a bit on the damp side. But that’s good! After two years of drought you won’t catch us complaining. Some relatively heavy rain passed through over the […]
Great Week of Fly Fishing in East Tennessee and the Smoky Mountains
It’s been a great week of fly fishing here in the Smoky Mountains and East Tennessee. Charity, Tim, and I have been on the water in several locations and the fishing has been pretty good everywhere we’ve been. Our guide season has started and at least one of us will be on the water almost […]
Spring Hatches Kick Off; Excellent Stream Flows in the Smokies
Fly fishing for trout is pretty good all over East Tennessee right now. Streams inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park are fishing great, water levels are excellent, and tailwater flows are pretty good. In short, life is good. No doubt Tom at Trout Underground will believe those of us fortunate enough to live a in […]
Happy Tennessee Fishing New Year!
It’s March 1 and time for new fishing licenses here in Tennesee. Have you gotten yours yet? Be sure to get them because the fly fishing is about to heat up here in East Tennessee and the Smoky Mountains. Of course it has to stop snowing first! There wasn’t much snow here in Townsend. We […]
