They are still coming off . There were sulphur spinners in the air yesterday- 11-28-07. Fish still eating Sulphur Comparaduns- Size 16-18.  Sulphurs from around 11:00 til.. they stop. Sulphur Comparaduns with a Split case nymph or other Sulphur nymphs during this time.

Then around 3:00 , fish seem to switch to midges. Blakes stripper in 20-24 looks like the stomach pump samples I got. Fly sure is catching fish at this time.

Around 4:00-4:30 Dark Caddis’ [ Hugh Hartsel calls them the December caddis] and Black flies are getting eaten. Stomach pumping shows shows the switch to these bugs AT this time of day. A Loop Winged Midge and a December Caddis work well for this. Size 22  in a Morgan’s Midge,  a dark caddis or soft hackle work very well for this action. I have samples of the Winter Caddis in the shop.

The above flies at the stated times caught fish very well for me Monday and for our guides thru out the week.

Tremendous dry fly and dropper fishing is going on.

PLEASE watch where you are wading right now. Look for cleaned out areas in the gravel runs.  These areas are not hard to spot , if you look for them. If you step in them, you have killed a bunch of wild brown trout eggs. So please be careful.

Thanks ,

Rod Champion 

Ronnie Joe Whaley passed away a week or so ago. He and some men were coming back from Arkansas fishing, when Ronnie Joe got sick.

Ronnie Joe was one of the best Fly Fisherman to ever fish this river, period. He was an accomplished fly tyer as well . He would pump a stomach and go to his Red Ford truck and tie the match to of his findings., then proceed to catch fish. Ronnie Joe always caught fish.  It seemed as if a reach cast was just part of Ronnie Joe. I can still see him now in that quiet water above the grates throwing reach cast to those tough fish.

Ronnie Joe was as generous as he was down to earth. He did not hide his patterns. If it caught fish and you wanted to see it, it was yours. He was extremely free with his knowledge and he was full of knowledge. A friend of mine and Ronnie Joe,  Ernie Roberts said: I was fishing across from Ronnie Joe . He was catching fish like crazy and I wasn’t . I asked him what he was catching them on. He flung the fly across the water and said” cut it off and fish it.” That was the kind of man Ronnie was. This winter, he was fishing the black fly hatch up high. I was out of size 22 hooks. heck, Ronnie Joe goes to his truck and gets out a box of TMC 2488′s and gives them to me. He had every size of 2488;s available , right there in that rruck.

Ronnie Joe must have been in his early 70′s . He would fish all day long. He would be the first to get there and the last to leave , everyday. He was the hardest fishing man I have ever seen.

Ronnie Joe Whaley will truly be missed by many, many people. He was one tough, and very kind man.

By what I can tell, this man truly LIVED life.

Rod Champion

11-27-07

Tom Graham and Maitland meet me at the shop on Saturday for a half day of fly fishing on the South Holston River. Tom has been fly fishing for a long time while Maitland has just picked up the sport. They meet me here at the shop about 12pm and we hit the water. When we got to the water the pulse had just cleared out and the water was still up with a good flow. I got Tom rigged up and before I could even get Maitland rigged up Tom had a couple of fish on. So I took Maitland down below Tom and we hooked up right away with a nice Rainbow. The water was cold and the fish were hot man did they fight hard. I worked on Maitland’s casting and mending an he was into fish. Tom was working the water ahead of while and hooking up really on Blake’s Little Stripper. The fish started slowing down so we moved up stream to a nice run. When we got to the run the fish were rising well so I put Maitland on a Blue Winged Olive Comparadun with a midge dropper he hooked up on a couple of fish right off the bat on the dry. I moved down and switch Tom over to a dry and dropper rig also, Sulphur Dry with midge dropper. Tom got several hits on the midge dropper and caught one hard fighting Rainbow. As Maitland worked his way up the run I spotted a hugh Brown sitting in the top of the run Maitland had already fished over the fish several time, but we just could not get him to take. As the sun disappaired behind the mountain the fish stopped feeding and the temp dropped quickly. It was a great day on the water with both Tom and Maitland. With good fishing to boot.

 If you would like a Guided Trip give us a call at 423-878-2822 or e-mail us at foreverflyfishing@yahoo.com

Thanks,

Matt Champion 

Champion Outfitters Guide Service

I spent the day with Bobby, an oral surgeon that had come across the mountains of NC
to see what the South Holston River has to offer. Bobby arrived at the shop at 9:30 so we suited up
and headed out to get started. There was a “Big Pulse” Earlier in the morning so when we arrived at the
water it was very high and still on it’s descent. While we waited for the water to drop. We worked on
casting, the reach mend and the importance of fishing across and down. The water eventually did
drop and the topwater action got heated in a hurry. The “big pulse” kicked up a variety of bug life.
Within the first hour we saw “off the chart small” midges, Blue Wing Olives, Pale Yellow Sulphurs,
and black flies.  Bobby caught fish on a little olive emerger that I tie and the fish seemed to
really key on Blake’s Stripper throughout the day.  I had discussed with Bobby some of the entymology
of the river during our hike in.  I just didn’t figure he would have seen all the different species on the same day.
Through the early afternoon before lunch we hooked up with quite a few
fish, brought to had several fish, and long distance released the rest. Bobby was amazed at the “numbers of fish” that are in the river.
At 2pm we decided to have a break for lunch. Then moved on down river to another spot where we finished out the day.
All in all it was great day to be out on the water.

If you would like a Guided Trip give us a call at 423-878-2822.

Josh McFadden

Champion Outfitters Guide Service

 Tying Instructions for Midges. Especially good if you scroll to mid page and down . Rick Takahashis’ Patterns  are here:

http://www.customflys.com/flyswaps_2002.html

Matt and I took our day off and went fishing. It was a beautiful day with a high close to 70 degrees. The fishing was pretty darn hot too. We got out about 12:00 and fished til 5:00. Not much surface activivty . Few bugs were seen this day. But Blake’s Little stripper in size 22 caught a bunch of fish. Matt says as we left the truck; ” Crap. I forgot the camera.” I should have known that was prophetic. 20 minutes into the river, I heard a BIG splash. Turning my head just in time to see the second of 4 straight jumps, I saw this real big Brown trout tail walking in front of Matt. Matt says” you’ll need to help me on this one.” Matt and this Big Girl were tugging each other as hard as they could. Matt is an expert at fighting big fish on light tippett. And he had this behemoth on 6X Flourocarbon. Which actually is very strong if you know how to do it. And Matt does. This Brown was every bit of 25+”. She was pretty green still as I got there.  Oh my, this trout was bigger than my entire net, handle and all.  After some work by Matt and the bronze beauty, we rleased her to the depths from winch she came.  Man, what a fish. And to think, that is just the beginning of it all for the next 2 months. The big browns are moving , looking for good gravel to make their beds.

Matt proceeded to catch a nice 17″ Brown right after that.

To this point, I had been catching fish well, but the 12″ vareity. Which is just fine,  if your son wasn’t catching Big fish 20 yards below you. I still was loving it. Size isn’t everything[ I was mumbling to myself]

I moved up to a flat in the back of  knee deep hole. Slow water, the wind blowing ,  a perfect scenario for brown trout. Fishing a Dry and a dropper- Blake’s Little stripper size 22, on a 7X tippet proved to be a dynamite rig for this situation.  Ross Purnell’s Midge Article said that you have to be dead on the fish to get him to eat a midge. That fish were not going to move, hardly an inch, to eat a midge. So I put Ross’ opinions into practice. I worked every little square inch. And it paid off . I caught [ but not photograhed - ouch] a good 20″ Brown. She was wide with orange and gold everywhere. And fought like crazy.  7X Flourocarbon and a Winston Bllt are a good combination.  Absolutely Beautiful Fat Wild South Holston brown trout.

Next time, I hope, we will take the camera, so you will believe we are not lying. You know the old wives’ tale about fisherman. But this was no lie. Honest Indian.

Father 3-4 pound Brown. Son, 6-7 Lb. Brown…………

One of these days, I am going to catch up with that boy.

If you want to try it, let us know.

Until next time, God bless each and everyone of you.

Rod Champion

This is a link to an article by Ross Purnell in Flyfisherman Magazine. Thought you might like it . This he river is flat eat up with them:

http://www.flyfisherman.com/rmwest/rpmidges/

Rod

I was  not here this weekend but this is the common theme I heard about it. This report is from a Guide and friend of ours, Josh McFadden:

Well I arrived at the water a little after 10. Came rigged up with an egg and nymph dropper. A few half hearted takes and that’s about it. Then the sun was gone for the day at about 11. That’s when the Blue Wing Olives Poured Off. I fished a small olive dry for 3 hours solid in the afternoon until about 2:30 or so. It was on. Big heads taking dries. I had this particular stretch of water to myself. Passed a few guys getting there. But they never moved. It was sight fishing
small dries to rising fish all afternoon. It was almost like you could pick out which one you wanted. I want that one…… Zing… Fish On. It was hot and heavy like that for a good 3 hrs. I feel badly that no one came with me. Because Every Blue Wing Olive for the whole year hatched and died in front of me today. It was awesome. I really needed a day like this after a few weeks of 8 inch browns. No real monsters. But good fish a plenty. Several Stocker Rainbows, Few Wild Rainbows the Rest we’re better sized browns. Brought a solid 20 fish to hand, LDR’d A bunch, Leadered Several Good Fish didnt’ want me to touch em I suppose. Suprisingly I didn’t miss many fish today. When they went for it …. they took it. Good Times
Sorry only two fish pictured here. I got several shots of these.
Too busy putting on more frogs fanny to take many pictures

Big Fish Blake said the same thing.

RodC

If I could give only one piece of advice to Tailrace fisherman , it would be to fish across and down. Resist the urge to throw straight up while dry fly fishing. If you do, you better throw a good curve cast. You might get away with it some, like when it is windy or raining, but most of the time it will not work. Not only will the fish refuse the fly, but it will put him down completely.

Get in position with your feet: Get above fish and fish across and down on them. Then throw a curve cast , getting you leader looped upstream of the fish and the fly above the fish. Thus you will get a natural drift to the trout . And the fly will be the first thing the trout sees.. and on top of that ; drag free.  This is imperative. The fly must be the first thing the fish sees. Not the tippet. And on top of that , drag free.

Constant mending is so important in keeping a good drift of the fly as it goes on it’s journey across and downstream from you. Mending is flipping the belly of the fly upstream in order to prevent an unnatural drift of the fly. You keep flipping the belly upstream til you are finished with your drift. Then quietly swing the fly around and do it again.

For tough fish in quiet water , which the Holston is full of. Do the same process for dry and dropper fishing. Or just plain nymph fishing. It will improve your catch tremendously.

In fast runs you can get away with throwing up on fish with a nymph rig. But across and up is better than straight up.

Straight down on fish is a dynamite way to catch good fish. One good way is to cast down stream and pull the line back toward you in the air. This leaves a lot of slack in the line, thus giving you a drag free drift to the fish. And also accomphling the other must : getting the fly to the fish before anything else.

There are many ways to do the above. Find some good methods for you and get good at them.

So work the angles , it will help you out… a lot.

Take Care,

RodC

This past week end , there were mixed reports. Many siad the Sulphurs came off good enough for the fish to take dries. The BWO activity wasn’t as big as during the week , many said. One thing for sure: there were Midges.  And midges can humble you.  As Malcholm R. said about Sunday.

Sunday, I got the pleasure to fish with Blake[ Big Fish]Boyd. He actually has a last name. Blake is an avid fly guy. By avid, I mean he fishes everyday. Seems Blake  was a successful member of the  business world and at the old age of 51 decided he had enough. The South Holston river took his heart . He now is a ” Trout Bum” in the true sense of the word. Blake says he loves the simple life and all the many friends he has made.  It seems East Tennesse takes to him as well.

Blake truly enjoys the river and the browns that are so dominant. You have heard of his Big Fish Beetle catches. But there is more to Blake than terrestrials. He is a very creative fly tyer who has put a new twist to an old midge pattern. And it flat works. Matt whacked them on it Saturday and Blake busted them all week on it. I was lucky enough to catch some on it Sunday as well. And fishing was much tougher Sunday, but his midge worked very well for tough conditons.

Blake has put a good twist to an older dry fly pattern as well.  He calls it a PDV. Watching him fish it was a true joy.  He skates, twithes and lets the mini seams of the river move this dynamic dry fly. Fish were doing sumersalts after it. I can’t wait to fish it during a hatch. Skating dries is an old passion of mine. And Blake’s PDV is as light on the water as can be.

So now you know how CEO’s become Trout Bums.  They come to the South Holston river and get hooked along with many, many brown trout.

Thanks for the day Blake. May the winter bring you plenty of BWO hatches.

tight Lines,

Rod C

Got to fish a couple of hours this evening. Actually from 3:30- 5:30. It was about as good of dry fly fishing I have seen. And I have seen a bunch.  From the time I got there til I left, heads were popping up everywhere. BWO’s , Midges and some Sulphurs thrown in , were on the river. If any you guys left before 4;30, you missed a treat. Golden heads were everywhere. You could tell they were Browns by  their head color  a good distance away. It really was a pleasure being there. You would see a head , throw to do and that head would lift for your fly. Then they went to the the subtle sip.. a mere ring. If you don’t enjoy that, you might as well get a bass boat. After all these years, I still very much do.

Started with a variety of nymphs to test some flies. They all worked.  The Thorax BWO nymph was darn near every cast. The fish would also expel it as quick as they ate it.

The sun popped out and spinners were on the corners. BWO’s and Sulphurs. That is when the heads popped up-  Whole heads.! The 20-22 BWO Sparkle Dun was plain deadly. [ not actually deadly- I have not intentionally killed a trout in 30+ years.}  Did I tell you Midges were everywhere also. Am sure a JuJubee Midge would have effective- like every cast effective- but the BWO was tyed on.. ands that is what I stayed with.

I sure hope David Miller stayed til 5:30 . You would have loved it David.

Paul Jayne said the Bakerville man caught 2 good Browns on an egg pattern. One was 26″ So , it is getting time for the big boys.  I will probably will be silly and just fish the hatches all winter. Am bad about that.

Beetle Juice Blake said midges were  swarming on his section of the river. A 22 midge was boom, boom, bomm . ect.

So the river is ON.  Fall is here and the heat is gone.

Sounds prety good , doesn’t it? …. It is.. come join the fun.

Tight Lines,

Rod Champion

It was cold and very windy. Gust up to 30 mph.  Should have bundled up by a fire… Nope, Matt and I took our day off and went fishing. The burp from 10:00 – 11:00 put the Sulphurs and BWO’s on the water. Between gust, the dry fly fishing was supreme.  BWO Sparkle Duns in size 20-22 were the trick. Browns were everywhere. If there  was water , there were browns and they were eager to sip the Matthews Sparkle Dun.  Whether it be a Sulphur or a BWO, the Sparkle Dun has produced every time fished this year.

Matt finally dropped a BWO thorax emerger off the Sparkle Dun and caught several nice fish.

There are Two sections closed to protect the Spawning Areas form now til Febuary 1. This totals close to 2 miles of river.  Which means there are 15 miles or so left open for fishing. And it is ALL good.

If you do not know where these areas are, you can call us , we will tell you.

And PLEASE watch out for CLEANED out gravel areas on the river. Watch these closely and stay off them. The Browns are beginning to spawn and these gravel areas are prime spawning areas. Once you step on the beds, it is dead. If the eggs have been layed, then stepped on , they are dead. . So please be careful. ALL Browns in this river ARE wild.

If you would like a Guided Trip give us a call at 423-878-2822

Thanks All,

Rod Champion