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October 12, 2010
Fall is in the air and the leaves are revving up their brilliant colors. We are seeing yellows and crimson reds this week. The fishing has been up and down dependent upon the weather fronts coming through the area. The Watauga and South Holston seem better in the mornings before the sun gets high in the sky. The Holston for smallies is the opposite, it needs the high sun to heat the water and the action is good in the afternoon.
I introduced some new fly fisher persons to their first trout and also spent some time with longtime clients. Here are some samples from the week.
 
 
 
 
October 2, 2010
September 19, 2010
This was a week of trips on the Watauga Tailwater near Elizabethton, Tennessee. The Watauga has really turned around with the cooler temperatures as Fall approaches. We saw cranflies, cream and grey midges, blue wing olives, and some caddis. The fish were flashing and feeding about two to three feet down and with the clear water the clients could see them go after their presentations. There was nothing of trophy size caught, but the numbers were exceptional for each day. Had brothers Chris and Doug from Louisville, Kentucky and they had plenty of double hookups throughout the day. One pocket was holding plenty of fish and Chris got a double hookup as Doug got a single, made for a cool picture.
 
 
I had one day with some good clients and friends, Tim and his son Noah from Raleigh, North Carolina. Noah is an exceptional young man with some serious health risks but truly enjoys spending a day with his Dad fishing for trout. The day was one that will hold a great memory for the both of them. Noah landed so many fish and seeing that big smile on his face each time the fish came to the net makes you realize what the day is all about.
 
 
The upcoming week will be spent on the trophy waters in Southwest Virginia. Be sure to check back and see all the “PIGS” that will be brought to the custom built “Nes’s Net’s”. The trips are booking fast for these trophy trout trips so be sure to give me a call or an email to get your trip scheduled on these excellent waters.
September 10, 2010
Well we are finally cooling down in the southern Appalachian mountains of East Tennessee. The nightly temperatures are getting down into the upper forties and lower fifties and daytime highs are mid seventies to low eighties with mild cooler breezes throughout the day. The smallmouth are doing very well and the big brown trout are moving upriver to get to the spawning areas. We are also seeing some nice stripers being caught on the lower South Holston Tailwater near the town of Bluff City.
The private trophy trout waters in Southwest Virginia are really coming alive. We fish these waters all winter long. There is nothing like fighting a 5 to 12 pound trout while there is snow coming down. If you want to get one of these big fish to the net and get your “Fins & Grins” shot give me a call and lets get you on the schedule.
 
 
I have also been working on some streamers that we will be throwing during the high water on both the Watauga and South Holston Tailwaters during high water generation as the TVA draws the lakes down this fall. Here are some samples, they aren’t new designs but my interpretation of these patterns.
We are going to offer the same “WINTER FLAOT TRIP” discount we offered last year. It proved to be good for all of you and I thank those who took these trips. The price will be the same $235 for a 6 hour float trip, on either the Watauga or South Holston (SoHo dependent upon generation). This starts after Thanksgiving weekend and runs through March 13th, 2011.
Give me a call or email and let me take you fishing.
September 1, 2010
This week started off on the Holston Proper for smallies with the managing editor of Turkey Country magazine for the National Wild Turkey Federation. It was a hot day with bluebird skies. The fish were active early in the day, then when the sun got high in the sky they really slowed down. Then as the shadows grew long with the late afternoon sun the bite came back alive. There is nothing like a big river smallie from the Holston Proper tugging on your line. Here are a few shots from the day.
Then it was floating the Watauga, the TVA has started earlier morning generations and it has changed the way we have to fish, put on early and come of mid afternoon. It was nymphs until noon and then the Cranflies and BWO’s until the river came up from generation.
Yesterday was the South Holston on high water. The TVA is generating at least 12 hours a day now, so it is long floats down the South Holston using big stuff. A long time client and friend, Jerry from Statesville, North Carolina, had a memory filled day. He and his son Adam waded before the water came up and caught a bunch of fish using the Zebra Midge before getting in the boat. This was the first float down the South Holston for my new Clackacraft driftboat. We nymphed along the soft seams and got a couple of doubles before going to the big stuff. It was an exceptional day with some great fish brought to the net. Check out the pictures to see just how good the day was.
 
 
August 18, 2010
Had a great float on the Holston Proper. The topwater bite on a Gartside Gurgler was on the money. Plenty of grass in the river and floating around, but the fish were feeding well. Got to love the explosion as the fly hits the water.
August 15, 2010
This week has been excellent with trips on both the Watauga Tailwater in Elizabethton and the South Holston Tailwater near Bristol. The Watauga has some really good hatches coming off from late morning through the evening and the fish are feeding very aggressively on them. There are Craneflies, tan and cream Midges, Flying Ants, Sweatbees, and still some sulphurs. It is so cool for the clients to watch these fish come to the surface attack their fly. Here are some pictures to show the week we have had.
 
 
This was a cool double on the Watauga, both father and son threw into the rising fish in unison, having both fish strike as the fly hit the water and landed the double to make this memory filled picture.
Don’t forget about booking your private water trip to Southwest Virginia to go after some of those once in a lifetime memories. Here are some fish from previous trips.
 
 
Tightlines and wet nets!!!
August 6, 2010
What an excellent week for fishing on the East Tennessee tailwaters. The Watuaga is getting low and clear, typical summer water, but the fishing was good. I took Reba and Todd B. on Reba’s birthday float. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Reba. She had an excellent day of fishing along with learning more about the river system so when she and Todd float their raft they can have better results on the Watauga Tailwater.
Then there was a fishing school for Aarron F. He wanted to take up the sport of fly fishing so we went to the South Holston for casting, knot, water reading and then catching a few fish. He was amazed at the amount of fish in the water around him taking the sulphurs and blackflies off the surface. He is going to ETSU full time and needed some way to relax and get his mind off things and fly fishing is just the sport for that.
I had father and son Carl and Ethan E. on the South Holston. Ethan is a beginner to fly fishing but took to it quickly. His father has spent considerable time fly fishing around the world and I feel Ethan will be going with him from now on. The South Holston gave up plenty of those beautiful butter belly browns to their fly imitations. It was great to see their smiles as they caught those browns on nymphs and sulphur dries during the high water float trip.
This has been and incredible summer of fishing, but it is still not over. Give ma a call and lets go fishing like these folks did.
August 1, 2010
The weather is hot and the fishing is good. This week was a fun week to take folks on their trips. The TVA is back to afternoon generation and the sulphurs are coming off really thick during high water. The South Holston browns are feeding hard on the sulphurs and sometimes it is so hard to pick out your fly among all the naturals.
Here is a shot of all the sulphurs floating on the river, truly incredible.
I had a fun day on the Watauga Tailwater with newcomers Scott and his son Cameron. They were new to fly fishing and took to the cast and catching very quick. I enjoy seeing the smiles on the beginners faces as they get the bite, fight the fish, then to the net for the grip-n-grin shot.
 
Then it was a couple of clients on a return trip down the Watauga Tailwater. Bob and Anthony are good friends who enjoy fishing together on the mountain streams of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina. Anthony played college football at Ohio State in the early eighties. He was a nose guard and his last game was the 1985 Rose Bowl.
Well lets go float the South Holston on the afternoon generation and see if those native browns are ready to take one of my flies for a meal.
July 27, 2010
It was a great day on the South Holston with a new clent who brought a old client/friend along. Trip S. called and set up a trip based on a recommendation from TJ Roy, the manager of the Orvis store in Charlotte, North Carolina. He told me he was bringing one of his friends named Adam. When they pulled into the meeting place it was Adam M. from Raleigh, I have done several trips with him and his wife. We started the morning floating the lower South Holston and then after lunch waded the upper stretches of the river near the Weir labyrinth. It was great to watch these guys work the water getting those beautiful browns and rainbows to the net. There was a sulphur hatch where we were from about 1:30 pm until 5:00 pm. The guys caught fish on many different techniques from deep nymphing, midge dries, soft hackles and finished the day with sulphur dries. It a great day with a new and old client.
Here is the email that Trip S. sent after the trip:
Randy,
I have been out with my fair share of guides in and around North Carolina and Tennessee. I can honestly say I have never learned more, had more experiences on the water, caught more fish, laughed more, or had a better time than with you today. I really appreciate your knowledge and ability to teach and coach, Today was a truly memorable day and I look forward to many more.
Best Regards,
Trip S.
Director of Sales
WBT AM/FM, WLNK FM
Greater Media Charlotte
One Julian Price Place
Charlotte, NC 28208
(704) 374-3596
Here is a few pictures from the day.
 
 
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