The past week of fishing on the South Holston and Watauga Tailwaters as well as the Holston Proper has been as hto as the weather. We have been breaking records for high temperatures each day, whew!!!!
I had the privilege of taking the Bailey Family out for two great days of fishing, one on the Holston Proper for smallies and the other on the Watauga Tailwater for trout. They were a great family who enjoy doing things in the great outdoors together. The smallmouth were on poppers for me and my folks most of the day, nothing like a great topwater bite. We have a new wounded minnow pattern that had the bass going up in the air and coming down on the bait. After I fine tune this fly design I will make a video on how to tie it.
The next day it was off to the Watauga Tailwater. The bite was good right from the boat ramp, my folks got right into catching doubles. As the day went on we got into a dry fly bite as well as some good deep big ugly nymphing. The Watuaga is such a beautiful scenic river and catching some great trout throughout the day just made this a great trip for the Bailey family. I look forward to many more trips with them in the future.
On Monday, Memorial Day we paused to remember those who sacrificed for us. Thank you too all those who have given their all from the Revolutionary War to present day battles.
I had the great honor to take Vietnam era veteran Ed and his son John from Southwest Virginia on a float on Memorial Day down the Holston Proper. The smallies were feeding on the top as well as crawdad pattern flies on the bottom. It was fun watching Ed using his 4 wt rod going after those hard fighting bronzebacks. Be sure to keep and eye on my YouTube channel for a video of him fighting a nice nearly seventeen inch long smallie.
The next three days were father and son, Bryan and Hunter, on their annual week long trip to fish East Tennessee. Day one was floating the Watauga Tailwater and Hunter picked up where he left off last year. He got a good number of good browns on terrestrials on this float, while his dad was getting all nice rainbows on midges. What a great day with some great guys.
Day two was the Holston Proper for some great smallmouth bass action. The weather had given us a little rain the afternoon and evening before so the river had a little color and the carp where in a feeding frenzy along the banks so the edges were stained out about eight to ten feet. With those conditions we used the sinking lines and Clouser Minnows on the Temple Fork Outfitters Clouser Series 8 wt’s. This system of the Rio Lake sinking lines and Clouser rods make for easy casting and presentation getting the bass to hit the flies with gusto. The Clouser Hybrid series of flies were the hot ticket, they were so good even the dragonflies wanted to bite them. After a great riverside shady lunch of grilled burgers and Karen’s homemade BBQ Beans and Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin cookies it was back to more fishing.
Day three was on to the South Holston to go after some of those legendary brown trout this great tailwater is known for. We put on as the water was coming over the Weir labyrinth and waited a few minutes for the water to settle out before getting into the first feeding lane. The bite was on from the start and got better with every cast. It was Zebra midges, Scuds, and the G-Man getting it done that day. The South Holston is fishing the best I have seen in years and the river is loaded with some really hard fighting fifteen to seventeen inch browns.
The Cicadas are out and about, the fish are eating them with abandon, if you want to get in on this hot action with big cicada dry flies, give me a call. These rainbows that are feeding on these Cicadas are averaging in the fifteen to twenty inch range. Come get you some.
It has been a exceptional week of fishing here in East Tennessee. The weather has been up and down, cold rain and only in the fifties one day, then bright bluebird sunny days and near eighty the next. That hasn’t affected the fishing at all, the smallies on the Holston Proper as well as the trout on the Watauga and South Holston don’t seem to mind the big weather swings. They are hungry and the bugs are coming off good, so they have plenty of food source to feed up on. The Holston Proper was hatching caddis, white mayflies, and hendricksons. The smallies were in a feeding frenzy going after all those bugs. Poppers were the right fly when they were sipping bugs on the surface, they would put a good bend in the TFO Clouser Series 6wts. Here is Linda Heller with a good one taken on a chartreuse popper.
The wind picked up some as the weather was changing so we went to Clouser Minnows. The feeding activity was very good under the surface on the new style Clouser Minnows that Mr. Bob Clouser brought along on this trip. He spent three days floating with me testing some new designs that you will be able to purchase through his website. They are made with new synthetic materials with plenty of flash and movement to mimic dying minnows. Even the smaller fish were hitting it with a vengeance.
The fish were taking these new flies very well. The primary colors that Mr. Clouser was using were called Walleye and Baby Bass. Watching Bob and Linda work these flies was such a treat for me. It was all about keeping it moving and accuracy on casting the flies to the proper spot, no matter if it was on a backhand or forward cast.
Bob Clouser and Linda Heller also enjoyed a day floating the Watauga fishing streamers for the big ones, it was a fun day. The sun was little to bright for the big boys to come out and play, but it had been 7 seven or eight years since they both last fished the Watauga so it was a great day of remembering the fish stories from the past.
The week finished out on the Watauga with caddis popping off and getting some great fishing on dry and dropper rigs with a tan caddis and blood midge droppers. A couple of great guys from northern Georgia enjoyed a fun day floating the Watauga.
Now the weather folks are calling for snow tonight and Monday with heavy winds, so its off to the tying bench to get more Clouser Minnows and trout flies tied up to get ready for the busy next few weeks with clients.
Be sure to check out my Troutfishers videos on Youtube. I will be uploading some new ones this week showing Bob Clouser fighting some nice smallies on the Holston Proper.
My good friend Mr. Bob Clouser and the folks at Temple Fork Outfitters have put together a chart to help you understand what fly lines to use compared to the weight of the flies you will be throwing. This has been very helpful in matching the various techniques we sue in guiding, making the rigs we use very easy and accurate to cast. Hope this helps you understand how to rig your current rods, but also to help you with any additional rods you might be considering to purchase for new ways to fish.
CHART
We must understand that a fly line is used to move weight forward to the end of the cast, whether it be a hook, small dry fly or a heavy weighted streamer or nymph.
Fly lines are measured in weight by grains and this grain weight is used to move weight forward. For example; a 5 weight fly line weighing 140 grains is not capable of pulling the same weight thru the cast as a 210 grain 8 weight does. There are many variables to consider while casting such as wide open loops, chuck and duck, over powering or lobbing.
This chart is designed upon the ease of the cast plus normal tight loops that will cut the wind with ease. An oval back cast along with the use of the body is a must when casting weighted flies.
We will start with a 5 weight fly line, anything under that is specially designed to cast small light flies and is not suited for any type of weighted fly.
Lead Eye Weights most suitable for these line weights.
Line Ounce of weight
5 weight = 1/120, 1/80, 1/50
6 weight = 1/120, 1/80, 1/50
7 weight = 1/120, 1/80, 1/50
8 weight = 1/120, 1,80, 1/50, 1/30
9 weight = 1/120, 1/80, 1/50, 1/30, 1/24
10 weight =1/120, 1/80, 1/50, 1/30, 1/24
The above listing of course is not written in stone but if the formula is followed, long easy casts can be made. In many instances a heavier eye weight than listed can be used but it will test the caster and the capability of the rod and line.
Note” The above suggestion for choosing the right weight a fly line can move forward with ease has it variations of course, most variations comes with the style of casting being used. The most proficient style developed by Lefty Kreh where the body is involved in the cast will make casting weight more efficient.
Bob Clouser
I want to take this opportunity to thank each of you for fishing with me this past year. It was a good year. The South Holston gave us great Sulphur hatches and the Watauga was productive with the Caddis and Crane Flies.
I have been blessed to have such a dedicated group of customers. I greatly appreciate each of you for choosing me as your guide.
I will be doing four shows this year:
Fly Fishing Show in Raleigh NC, January 29th & 30th
Great Southern Fishing Show in Atlanta GA, February 19th & 20th
Kentuckiana Fly Fishing Show in Louisville KY, February 26th
Troutfest in Townsend TN, May 14th & 15th
I hope you can attend one in your area. Be sure to stop by and visit me.
I am currently booking trips so don’t delay to make sure you get the days you want. The Caddis Hatch occurs on the Watauga in April. Sulphurs on the South Holston are best from mid May thru October and Smallies on the Holston Proper from early April to November.
I am offering special pricing of three separate (3) full day float trips for the price of two (2). Full payment for this offer is required by February 28, 2011. Trips can be scheduled on available dates of your choice any time during 2011. This offer does not apply to multi-boat or corporate trips.
The Winter Float Trip Discount of $235 for a 6 hour float trip is still in effect for trips taken before March 13, 2011.
We also have special rates in effect for 2011 for the Trophy Trout trips on our private waters, call or email for details.
With Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day all coming soon, my gift certificates are a great way to tell them how much you love them.
