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 […]
Extreme Wet Weather and Flooding in the Smoky Mountain Region
It’s been incredibly wet during the short bit of 2020 we’ve experienced. January saw nearly twice the monthly precipitation and by the 5th of February we already reached our February average. This week has seen some extreme weather around the area with impressive flooding and property damage around Townsend. The good news is that […]
Wet Winter Conditions Continue
January isn’t quite over yet and we’ve already nearly doubled the average rainfall for the month here in East Tennessee. The Smokies have seen an alternate of wet days, then sunny days with snow along the crest of the mountains. Streams continue to see-saw between sort of high and really high. Fortunately this week has […]
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 […]
Simple Steps to Better Winter Nymph Fishing in the Smokies
Fly fishing with nymphs has always been a little bit of a mystery for anglers. You cast a fly you can’t see to a fish you can’t see, so it’s completely understandable when the concepts are hard to master. The most basic element to success when fishing with nymphs is finding the appropriate depth. There […]
Cool Weather and Ideal Water Levels Across East Tennessee and the Smokies
In early October we were in the throes of exceptionally low water levels in the Smokies. They weren’t record low flows, but were certainly flirting with the category. After weeks upon weeks of high flows last winter and spring we had great flows through the summer, but the bottom fell out in September and this […]
Autumn Women In The Woods Fly Fishing and Glamping Weekend
Our weekend kicked off with a welcome reception on the deck of a luxury tent! We sat by the river on a covered deck, sipping our favorite drinks and met like-minded women who like to travel and fish. Most people think of camping as roughing it in the woods. Glamping takes it up a few […]
Another Great Trip to TroutHunter on the Henry’s Fork
We’ve been hosting western fly fishing groups since 2005 at several locations in the greater Yellowstone region. We’ve been going to TroutHunter in Island Park, Idaho every September since 2011 so it felt like a homecoming when we returned last month with a group. We’ve come to think of the owners, guides, fly shop staff, […]
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 […]