Water levels have fallen on the mountain streams, but the tailwaters closest to us are still cranking. The Clinch and Holston are both running two or more generators. Even the Hiwassee which is pretty fishable in the winter is running hard. The South Holston and Watauga are the hot spots in East Tennessee right now. […]
Fly Tying: Learn to Tie and Fish the Skull & Bones Midge Pupa
Midge pupa are an extremely important food source for trout, particularly those in tailwaters. Midges are among the most common of aquatic insects and they hatch year round. In many instances they are one of only a few insects that trout eat during the winter months. Many fly fishers and fly tyers are turned off […]
Cold Weather Persists, Creek Levels Improve, Tailwaters Still the Place to Be
The cold weather has continued here in the Smokies and we’re on the verge of a case of cabin fever. The weather hasn’t been so bad that fishing isn’t possible, but we’re working hard to get two books ready to go to print. We’ll keep you posted on that. I’d rather go fishing instead of […]
Changes in the Weather
Thanksgiving weekend has come and gone and the guide season left with it. It’s snowing pretty hard right now in Townsend, but nothing’s sticking. Regardless it’s a strong reminder that the guide season is essentially over. It’s always the same every fall. September is a period of relatively light guiding as the kids are back […]
Fishing Update; We Give Thanks
It’s been a little while since our last fishing report. The reason isn’t because we haven’t been fishing. In fact, we’ve been guiding almost every day and have had little opportunity to sit down and type up a report. Smokies Improving Fishing in the Smokies is getting better but cold weather will keep it mostly […]
What a Week! You Should’ve Been There
It’s been an eventful week of fly fishing and guiding here in the Smokies and on the Clinch River in east Tennessee. Fall provides the best chances to put a fly on big brown trout and this was the week. I caught this fish on Little River this week The weather, fall colors, and fly […]
First Snow in the Smokies, Great Dry Fly Fishing, & Good Fishing Continues on the Clinch
We’ve been on the water almost every day which is why we haven’t posted a report in a while. East Tennessee and the Smoky Mountains have reached peak fall color and the fly fishing has been great for the most part. There was a lull in the fishing earlier this week after the first snowfall […]
Clinch River Continues to Fish; Report from Hazel Creek in the Smokies
We’re in the middle of our busy October guide season. The weather has been beautiful and the leaves have really started to change rapidly this week. Water conditions have remained low in the Smokies, but some rain early last Friday helped things out and more rain is in the forecast for this week. The fly […]
Clinch River Fishing Well; Trout Rising to Olives in the Smokies
We’ve floated the Clinch a few times this week and it has been fishing very well. Both generators are down at Norris Dam and TVA is sluicing a steady flow of 420 cfs. That is, they have a gate cracked to keep a steady flow. The result has been great for fishing. While water is […]
Our Wrap Up from the Madison River and Slide Inn
We’re finally home and while I always get a bit misty when I leave Yellowstone country, it’s very nice to have the beautiful Smoky Mountains and colorful trout to return home to. Every year is different on the Madison. September is a time of dynamic weather in Montana when you can get a sunburn one […]