getting my mojo back

[Woolly Bugger]

#25 -- ?? gas $2.89 70, scattered clouds and occasional showers punctuated with a thunderstorm.

The Smith hasn't been treating me well, so I've abandoned it for a while. I decided to go where the fish are and drove over to East Tennessee. I stopped in at the South Holsten Fly, the lights were, but the door was locked. The shop rat was on the phone and came around the counter to unlock the door. I waited for him to finish his conversation before asking what was up on the water. He said it was still too early for sulfurs and that the river was in transaction from BWOs to Sulfurs, and depending on the amount of sunshine there could be a sparse BWO hatch in the afternoon but that all of the action was over on the Watauga with the caddis hatch. Then he went on to complain how there were 60 boats on the Watauga today, and that there were fly shops with nine-dollar beers popping up, not to mention Orvis taking over the local lodge and 100 guides in the area pimpin out the river. I told him I remember when it was a rare occasion to see a drift boat at all. I had intended to pick up some flies at the shop, but his demeanor left me cold, and I just walked out the door and drove on down to the river.

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The water was low and there were some sippers working the flat water. Probably midging, I'll just let them be and I waded up to a riffle. I couldn't see any bug in the air, but a few fish were rising in spurts, so I went with a dry fly. It only took a few minutes before I landed the first of many browns.

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I brought a half dozen to hand before things slowed down a bit and I added a dropper which attracted some more browns and a couple of rainbows. Then the pulse hit and shut everything down for a bit. Alex called and complained that they were going to shut the water off at Philpott and he had trips scheduled through the weekend. I sat on the bank, had a snack and waited for the fish to adjust to the increased flow. I was too long before they stabrted taking emergers, of what insect I do not know) so I tied on a soft hackle. That was the ticket. I caught fish after fish, most of which were in the fun size, although I lost a big boy at the net when the hook pulled free and another large fish whose bulldogging head shakes broke the knot. I caught so many fish that I stopped counting, but safe to say it was north of three dozen.

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Once the water receeded I noticed a few larger fish working below me, and I moved into positon, still swining the wet fly. I caught a few more and then began concentrating on a couple of the larger fish. But I wasn't getting any hits.



The birds started working above the water, but I couldn't see any bugs, too small for me, but big enough for the birds and fish to feed upon. I finally checked my fly, it was missing! I had been fishing on credit for the past 15 minutes! I was getting ready to tie on a replacemnt when I heard thunder boom over the ridge, and rain began pelting me as strond gusts of wind about blew me off balance. I donned my rain jacket and began the slog back to the car. I was done for the day.


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[Phil]

Nice! Slayin em

[OldKent]

Great report, thanks! Like you, I have been disappointed in the Smith...was up there a couple of days ago again...perfect Spring overcast weather, no wind, in the 70's...not ONE rise...maybe saw one bwo the whole time...looking at my notes I don't ever remember such paltry insect activity this time of April.

Strangely, I have fished everywhere in the region with the exception of the South Holston, and need to give it a shot. Any recommendations for someone who knows nothing about it, and loves fishing dries?

[driver]

Solid. Im Jelly.

[Woolly Bugger]

Any recommendations for someone who knows nothing about it, and loves fishing dries?

Caddis on the Watauga right now, sulfurs coming in a couple of weeks on the South Holston. Midges are always around too.

You need to know the damn dam schedule, you can generally fish through a one hour pulse, but more than that and you'll need to get out. https://www.tva.com/environment/lake-levels/South-Holston  There is also an app. South Holston Dam for the SoHO and Wilber dam for the Watauga.

[Dougfish]

Bravo, boss man.
 

[rbphoto]

. Midges are always around too.

Ain't that the truth!

I miss fishing.
 

All the rivers around here are blown out, as are the ponds I like to fish.

Good on ya'!

[driver]

. Midges are always around too.

Ain't that the truth!

I miss fishing.
 

All the rivers around here are blown out, as are the ponds I like to fish.

Good on ya'!

Wow, we can only get a sprinkle of rain every couple of weeks. the local flows barely have any water.