Category: Tailwaters

Excellent Weather, Spring Hatches, and Spawning Rainbow Trout »

Spring weather is certainly here, but there is still a good deal of snow on the ground in shaded areas of the Smokies. Regardless, the sun was shining, the weather was warm, and the tailwaters even had favorable generation schedules.
We’re still waiting for the hatches to get started in the Smokies, but the rainbow trout [...]

Spring Hatches: Watch for These Important Trout Stream Insects in Tennessee and North Carolina »

Spring is arguably the best time of year for fly fishing. The reason is that there are more insects hatching on the rivers and streams than any other time. The smart fly fisher knows this and comes to the water prepared. Here are the insects we watch for on the tailwaters and streams in the [...]

Great Weather but Slow Fishing on Our First Float of the Year on the Holston »

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The weather last weekend was absolutely beautiful here in East Tennessee. Even better, TVA cut generation back dramatically at Cherokee Dam. Charity and I hitched up the drift boat and headed for the Holston!
We should really know better by now, but I don’t think we do. Here’s the set up: It’s been [...]

Warmer Weather and Tailwater Generation Schedules Combine for Good Conditions »

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By now everyone knows that we’ve been in the grip of winter for quite a while now. This has been the coldest and snowiest winter in recent memory. We’ve had only a few days without any snow here in Townsend. We’re low enough that the snow hasn’t been too much of an [...]

Spring Fly Fishing Forecast the Smoky Mountains and East Tennessee »

It’s still winter but many of us are already planning our fishing in the months ahead. We get numerous emails and phone calls over the winter from people planning trips. Many of those folks are trying to hit a particular hatch, good flows on the tailwaters, or the best conditions for an extended backcountry fishing [...]

Mild Weather Has Provided Good Fly Fishing in the Smokies »

We had some high water last weekend, but water levels are very good right now. Water temperatures have been in the low to mid 40’s and the trout have been surprisingly active. We haven’t been out on the water in the morning, but fishing has been excellent from about noon to 4 PM.
We’ll see if [...]

A Look Back at Our Favorite Pictures from 2009 »

We’ve covered a lot of water in 2009! Here are some of our favorite moments from the mountains and rivers captured with a camera. We hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed being there!

View from the fly tying desk on a cold day last January, Townsend, TN

Little River rainbow trout, Great Smoky Mountains

A [...]

Water Levels Variable But Better Conditions This Week »

It was a tough week for fly fishers throughout the Smoky Mountain region. If water levels were negotiable the temperatures were freezing and if the weather was mild the streams were at flood stage. Then there were the hurricane force winds! Wind gusts over 100 mph were recorded in the Smokies during a powerful storm.
Thankfully [...]

Great fishing conditions but not many fishermen on the water »

Water and weather conditions are absolutely perfect, but there aren’t many anglers out on the water. That’s probably typical considering most people are getting back into the swing of getting the kids to school and it’s the week before Labor Day weekend. The water will surely be more crowded once the weekend arrives.
Charity and I [...]

Unseasonably Cool Weather Makes for Excellent Fly Fishing Across East Tennessee and The Smoky Mountains »

The weather across East Tennessee and Western North Carolina barely cracked 80 degrees over the weekend. We managed to fly fish in a variety of locations for a variety of fish species and it was excellent everywhere.
Generation at Cherokee Dam fell off significantly over the weekend so we hitched up the drift boat and headed [...]