We’ve been wet wading for a week and water conditions have been perfect (finally!!) in the Smokies. Charity and I have both been guiding quite a bit as folks with cabin fever (not Covid-19) have been getting away to the mountains. We’ve been fishing a lot of dry and dropper set ups, but most days […]
Spring Fishing is Popping in the Smokies Amid Travel Concerns
We’ve heard it over and over, but we’re in strange times. We should avoid going out and stay away from crowds as much as possible. Our kids are on an extended spring break and our work schedule has absolutely been impacted. The annual Orvis Guide Rendezvous to be held in Roanoke, Virginia this weekend was […]
Do Floods Wash Away the Trout? Answers for fly fishers during a wet year
We’ve had an exceptionally wet season already here in East Tennessee and the the Smoky Mountain region. By the end of February Knoxville had a rain surplus of over 10″ that continues to hang in there. Rivers and streams ran high for weeks and we saw some historic flooding in many areas. Fortunately the creeks […]
Hot, Dry Start to Fall
We’re in the middle of one of our slower months for guiding in the Smokies as it’s after Labor Day but before fall color season. So far this has been one of the hottest Septembers on record with most days 90 degrees or warmer in Knoxville. It’s been pretty dry as well and we’re starting […]
Remembering Steve Claxton, the Mayor of Hazel Creek
It’s with deep sadness that we relate the news that Hazel Creek legend Steve Claxton passed away last weekend. Steve was a lifelong resident of Bryson City, North Carolina and often referred to as the mayor of Hazel Creek. He was the linch pin to the success of our camps there. We got to be […]
Wet Weather in the Smokies is Keeping Stream Levels Optimal for Fly Fishing
We’ve been in a bit of a wet weather pattern for over a year now. That’s had mixed results on the fishing in East Tennessee and the Smoky Mountains. River fishing on the large tailwaters has been spotty at best because of high flows. Typically we’re in a pretty predictable pattern in June. We usually […]
Spring Turns to Summer
Another busy spring seems to be transitioning into summer. We started wet wading last week as warm, sunny days have made it quite comfortable to leave the waders behind. Dry fly fishing has been excellent and water levels are about as good as we’ve seen them in a long time. After an exceptionally wet autumn […]
Spring Fly Fishing is Rolling in the Smoky Mountains and East Tennessee
Our guide season is well under way and so is the fly fishing here in the Smokies and East Tennessee. A lot of folks have been concerned about water levels after record rainfall through the fall and winter months, but things have finally come in line and not a day too soon if you ask […]
Spring Fly Fishing Has Arrived in the Smokies
Depending on the day we’re either referring to the current situation as “early spring” or “late winter” fishing, but we’re definitely seeing hatches and eager trout in the Smoky Mountains. After a relatively long period of wet and mild weather we’re back in the midst of cold conditions. A few lonely snowflakes occasionally drift past […]
High Water Across the Southeast
It’s been a long winter…. Usually when you hear that you’ll hear references to icy cold temperatures and snow measured in feet, but this year in East Tennessee has incredibly wet. We’ve had some cold weather and a little bit of snow, but we’re about to lose our mind with all the rain we’ve seen […]