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Fishing Reports
Spring/Early Summer 2006 East Tennessee including the GSMNP
May 12, 2006
Posted by Randy Ratliff
Kingsport, TN 37663 USA
Email: troutfishers@charter.net
Current Report
ell its time for another
fishing report and some
updates on what has been
going on with our guide
service.
We have been asked to join
the Tennessee Wild Side
Online Pro Staff. We call in
weekly fishing reports that
are available to be listened
to in streaming audio. You
can check it out at
http://www.wildsideweekly.com
/Default.aspx . We are
honored to be asked to join
their program. There is also
a television show that goes
along with this and we have
been told that we will get
to do a show in the future.
The R. L. Winston Rod Co.
has also asked us to join
the Pro Staff as exclusive
Winston guides. This means
that we will be outfitted
with the various makes of
Winston rods for our clients
to use. If you are thinking
of purchasing one, spend a
day with us on a guided trip
using Winston Rods and see
which one you like. Winston
also has a special promotion
going on right now. It is
called the Winston Sampler
Contest. The Grand Prize
winner gets a six pack of
Winston Rods, so stop by
your local Winston rod
dealer and test cast one
today. Here is a link for
more information on the
contest
http://www.winstonrods.com/ca
st_a_winston.cfm
With the high cost of fuel
making many of you change
your vacation plans, just
remember we have many things
for all family members to do
and we are a short drive
from where most of you live.
Why not plan a backyard
vacation and come spend some
time in the mountains with
us. Give us a call and we
can send you a packet of
information on what is
available to do in our area.
Why not recommend a fly
fishing trip as your next
corporate or group outing.
We are seeing more companies
and groups contacting us to
take fishing trips. Remember
we supply all equipment all
you need is a fishing
license, hat, sunscreen, and
polarized sunglasses to
enjoy some excellent
fishing. Give us a call and
let us plan your next
corporate or group outing.
You can reach us at 423-360-
1468 or www.trout-
fishers.net , give us a call
and book your great outdoor
experience today.
Here is how the rivers and
streams have been fishing:
Eastern Tennessee
The Great Smoky Mountains
National Park and East
Tennessee mountain streams
We are at average rainfall
for the year so this means
that the streams are full
and flowing. We have had
some periods of heavy rain
and this kept us off the
water for several days, but
the rains have slowed and
the streams are running
clear and fishing great. We
have one small stream that
has a naturally reproducing
brown trout population. It
was fishing very well this
week letting me know we are
going to have a good summer
on the small streams. We are
seeing Yellow Sallies, Light
Cahills, Caddis, Red Quills,
and large Stoneflies. The
Sulphurs are just starting
to come off. The water
temperatures have been
running middle to lower
fifties. Here are some flies
to use while here, Parachute
Adams, Thunderhead, Yellow
Stimulators, Hares Ear,
Princes, Tellicos, and
Copper Johns.
The South Holston Tailwater
It has been wader friendly
as they fill the lakes to
summer pool levels. The TVA
should start the daily
generations which will allow
for float trips just as the
Sulphur hatch goes into full
swing. There have been some
good fish caught this spring
and several in the trophy
class range. We have been
fishing BWOs and Midges
with a few Sulphurs thrown
in. The standard tailwater
fly selection will work
right now, Bead Head
Pheasant Tails, Copper
Johns, Princes, Elk Hair
Caddis, Sulphur Comparadun,
Grey Midges, Scuds, Blackfly
Larvae, and Sowbugs.
The Watauga Tailwater
The grannom caddis (large
tan) hatch this year was
truly spectacular. We had
hatches around 10am, 2pm,
5pm, and then the fog of
caddis flying upstream in
the evening to lay their
eggs. We floated the river
everyday during the hatches
and caught many nice fish.
The black caddis (size 18)
are still hatching. The
river is going over to
summer patterns. The TWRA
did their shocking check the
first of March and say in
there report that the river
is the best they have seen
it. There shocking produced
large numbers of good sized
fish per hour. There was a
nice 29.8 inch brown
weighing 10.7lbs. Check out
the report here
http://www.chattanoogan.com/a
rticles/article_83737.asp
The Clinch Tailwater
The fishing has been a
little slow on the normal
midges and small nymphs. The
midges and other bugs are
not hatching very well so
the best bet is to throw
streamers and bigger flies.
This did seem to help as
fish started becoming
active. When the sulphurs
start hatching the river and
fish should get back to
normal.
The Holston below Cherokee
Midges seem to be the
primary hatch with the
occasional caddis coming
off. The fish that are being
caught have mainly been
rainbows. They are eating
well and they are putting up
a good fight when caught.
The lake is still filling
but once it reaches full
pool the TVA will begin
daily generations.
Nolichucky and Holston
Rivers (smallmouth)
In early April there seemed
to be no real pattern as to
where the fish were located
on our float trips. The
smallmouth seemed to like
the pools below ledges if it
had good water flow better
than any other spots in the
river. The water temps were
running in the upper 50s to
lower 60s on average. Now
the fish are getting into
there springtime feeding
mode and the fishing is
picking up. Come chase the
all-time best fighting fish
pound for pound with us.
Western North Carolina
The Tuckaseegee River
The river has been fishing
well no matter if they are
running one generator or
none. When they go to two
turbines it works up too
much silt and trash. The
caddis hatches are really in
high gear and the are coming
off in large quantities.
Dont forget about about the
BWOs as well.
The Nantahala River
The fishing is good, but the
crowds can be a little
overwhelming. Most of the
fish being caught are from
the lower Delayed Harvest
section up to the Gorge. Use
flies with some flash or
bright colors. Pink Hares
Ears are the hot ticket.
Cherokee Reservation Streams
They are fishing very well.
I got a report that a nice
9lb rainbow was taken on the
Oconoluftee right in the
middle of town behind the
fly shop in the first week
of April. The tourist
activity will be picking up
so you may want to go a
little farther out on the
reservation to fish. Big
Cove Road is really good in
the late spring and early
summer.
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