The Smoky Mountains managed to miss out on the extreme heat experienced by so much of the nation this summer, but fall has certainly arrived. This past week the tops of the Smokies received the first frost of the season and we’ve even had one wake up temperature of 39 on our porch in Townsend. […]
Classic Spring Fly Fishing in the Smokies
It’s been a phenomenal spring season here in the Smoky Mountains. The forest is greening up more and more everyday and the slopes are carpeted with wildflowers. Bears have gone from absent to relatively common. And of course, dry fly fishing has come on strong… Water levels have been very good. We’ve seen very little […]
Fall Fishing Season Draws to a Close
Somehow we’ve looked up and it’s almost Thanksgiving. It’s been another year with long weeks but a short season. We still have some trips on the calendar but our busy season is behind us. This fall was exceptionally colorful with some great weather. The biggest drawback came in the form of low water conditions and […]
Fall is Around the Corner
To be clear, there’s not much difference between the weather we’ve experienced this week and numerous days last summer. Overnight lows here in Townsend have been in the 60’s and afternoon highs in the 80’s. However, there have been no high 80’s nor any sign of 90’s in the forecast and we’ve even seen a […]
Wrapping Up a Busy Fall Season of Fly Fishing in the Smokies
2021 has flown by and another busy guide season is drawing to a close. We’ve finally arrived at the time of year when we cease guiding full day trips. We guide afternoon half day trips as long as conditions are favorable, but don’t get out in the morning while trout are sluggish. Most of the […]
Work In the Smokies to Be Aware of Before Heading to the Stream
There are a few infrastructure projects going on in the Smokies right now that could affect your fishing plans. Hopefully you can make plans accordingly. The most important will effect anyone heading to Abrams Creek in Cades Cove. The Abrams Falls Trail is undergoing restoration to repair severe erosion and will be close each week […]
Spring Fly Fishing Has Begun in the Smokies
After several months of alternating wet, dreary weather or bitterly cold weather we’ve finally hit on a streak of warm, sunny weather here in the Smokies. We’ve started to see decent hatches of mayflies in the afternoons and catching some fish on dry flies. Expect most of the activity to occur in the afternoon, but […]
Summer Fly Fishing Is In Full Swing in the Smokies and East Tennessee
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 […]
A Wet Start to 2020
We’re experiencing exceptionally mild weather here in East Tennessee as we kick off 2020, but that isn’t necessarily adding up to great fly fishing opportunities so far. As is so often the case here in the Smoky Mountain region, mild temperatures in the winter also come with abundant rainfall. At the moment stream flows in […]