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Fishing Reports
East Tennessee, Western North Carolina, Southwest Virginia
February 22, 2006
Posted by Randy Ratliff of Troutfishers Guide Service
Kingsport, TN 37663 USA
Email: troutfishers@charter.net
Current Report
Here are reports on how the
rivers and streams are
fishing.
Western North Carolina:
The Tuckasegee and Nantahala
Rivers have been fishing
well, with reports of nice
size trout being caught.
Most of the fish seem to be
holding in the tails of the
pools and runs, with the big
rainbows being caught in the
faster sections of water.
Watch for the water to rise
on the Tuck usually around
noon. Check generation
schedules before heading
out. Remember to downsize
your flies during this time
of winter.
In the mountain streams an
extended warm spell has
produced excellent winter
fly fishing. All Delayed
Harvest waters are fishing
well with good numbers of
fish being caught in short
amounts of time. The streams
are clear with good flows.
Most of the fish are holding
in the deep pools. You will
find some surface activity
taking place in the
afternoons. Nymphing is the
most productive method for
good numbers of fish
throughout the day. Make
sure to concentrate on areas
where the sun is hitting the
water.
East Tennessee:
In the Great Smoky Mountains
National Park, the brown and
brook trout have finished
their spawn, and the
rainbows are starting to get
colored up for their
spawning ritual. The mild
weather is allowing for
better winter fishing in the
Smokies. The primary method
has been nymphing, but there
has been some dry fly
activity as well. Be
attentive to the possibility
of an afternoon hatch.
The South Holston tailwater
closed spawning areas are
now open (Feb 1). The
fishing activity has been
slow for wade fishermen. The
BWO hatches have been
sporadic but should get
better as they continue
through April. This time
last year the hatches were
heavy and fishing was
excellent. We are still
seeing a few sulphurs
hatching throughout the
river. Scuds, midge pupa,
and blackfly larva are the
primary underwater feeding
activity. Using a double
nymph rig while wading has
been the best producer. The
dry fly activity is limited
to a short time period in
the mid afternoon. The TVA
has been doing some extended
generations allowing float
trips. We have been fishing
with sinking tip lines while
floating and pulling medium
to large streamers. This has
been very productive with
some nice sized browns and a
few rainbows as a reward.
The Watauga has been slow
due to the stained water and
high flows from the recent
heavy generation schedule,
rain and snow melt. They
have also drained Wilbur
Lake to do dam repairs and
the influx of this extra
water has changed the
rivers winter personality.
Midge nymphs are the key to
the river right now. The
BWOs are slow to hatch and
there will be an occasional
sulphur come off.
The Holston below Cherokee
Dam is fishing decent. There
are plenty of recently added
stockers willing to take the
standard selection of flies.
The streamer fishing is good
when they are generating one
level. As spring draws near,
the size of fish caught will
increase. This section of
the Holston River seems to
promote accelerated fish
growth more than the other
tailwaters.
The Clinch is fishing well
on low and high water. The
best opportunity for wading
has been around Miller's
Island and up by the dam in
the Weir Pool. It can get a
little crowded on the
weekends if the generating
schedule is in favor of the
waders. When floating with
one level of generation, you
can use a double or triple
nymph rig ticking the bottom
or throw streamers on
sinking tip lines. Both
methods have been very
productive on recent float
trips. There are several
sections for floating and
the one you choose is
dependent upon the length of
generation.
The Holston and Nolichucky
Rivers for smallmouth have
been in cold weather mode.
The fish are in the deeper
wintering holes but a few
can be found in shallower
water on sunny days. Bigger
fish and an increased catch
rate can come from the
middle of the river. The big
fish are becoming more
aggressive in their feeding
habits and are beginning to
show the very early stages
of the pre-spawn period.
Southwest Virginia:
The Whitetop Laurel/Mt
Rodgers mountain trout
streams have been fishing
well. The mild winter
weather has created some
periods of greater fish
activity with the warming
water temperature during the
sunny mid afternoons. The
water levels have been wader
friendly the past several
weeks. Nymphing is the
primary method of fishing
with patterns in size range
of 10 to 18. It's also time
to carry some Blue Quill dry
fly patterns as it is
typical to see good hatches
from now through next month."
The New River smallmouth
fishing has been very good
the past few weeks. The fish
were staging near ledges and
boulders causing current
breaks and aggressively
feeding. They are showing
the early signs of the pre-
spawn as well. The falling
or rising water from the dam
releases have been the
primary trigger for the peak
fish activity.
We will be offering
something special this year
for our small stream wade
trips. We will have bamboo
rods in four popular tapers
for use during these wade
trips. Have you thought
about getting a bamboo fly
rod, but not sure if they
are for you? Why not book a
day of small stream wade
fishing and have the
opportunity to test these
rods to help you make a
decision.
Call and book your great
outdoor adventure today.
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