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 […]
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 […]
Water Water Everywhere And Not A Drop To Fish
For the first time we can remember there isn’t a tailwater that’s worth fishing for trout here in East Tennessee. High water in the reservoirs has TVA dams spilling water. This is a relatively uncommon event and usually happens at one or two dams, but not all of them. Norris Dam spilling water on the […]
Drying Out
After a week of heavy rain in East Tennessee we’ve finally had a few days of dry, sunny weather and have more on the way. Our mountain rivers and streams have fallen to merely “high” but the tailwaters are running exceptionally high right now. Local reservoirs came up as much as 30′ in just a […]
Cold in the Smokies and High Flows on the Tailwaters
We’re looking forward to some mild weather that’s been forecast for East Tennessee this week. It’s been pretty cold up in the Smokies even though the weather has been relatively mild for January. Water temperatures in the Smokies haven’t topped 40 degrees in some time. That means that while fishing isn’t an exercise in futility, […]
Back on the River
The combination of holiday get togethers and foul weather kept us off the water far more than is usual, but we still managed to get out a little bit over the past couple of weeks. It’s winter which means cold and wet in the Smokies. Water levels have been anywhere from average to high, which […]
Good Fishing Continues Well Into December
Right now it feels like the Mayan Apocalypse. Here in Townsend we’re seeing sustained winds over 20 mph with gusts over 40. If you’re reading this in Kansas you might be chuckling at out concern, but when you live in a heavy forest it disconcerting to see some many trees bent half way over! Yes, […]
Our Predictions for 2013
The end of our 2012 guide season has essentially arrived. We actually have a few more guide trips on the calendar for December, but we have fewer trips between now and New Year’s Day than we typically do in a short week at other times of the year. Now that there’s some time for reflection […]
Tailwaters Getting in Shape
There’s a steady rain falling here in East Tennessee as I write this and cooler weather is on the way. That’s OK, though. If it’s going to rain, it might as well do it while you have to be at work, right? Plus it was a beautiful, warm weekend. The weather was unseasonably warm, the […]
Pleasant Conditions Look to Extend Into December
Now that our schedule has freed up we’re pretty grateful for the nice weather we’re seeing plus more in the extended forecast. Overnight temperatures are frosty, but we’re still seeing afternoon temperatures in the 50’s with a few days even pushing on past 60. Dry fly fishing isn’t a given anymore, but there are still […]