Mark, Jim, Drew, Shane and Jonthan came down from the Pittsburg area to fish with us on Monday. They wanted to float so we packed up and headed over to the Watauga River in East Tennesee. They meet Me(Matt Champion), Kevin Lowe and Hugh Hartsell here at the shop and we headed over to the Watauga River. We got all the boats in the water and started down the river. I had Mark and Jim in my boat while Shane and Jonthan fished with Kevin and Drew floated in Hugh’s boat. The fishing was a slow at first we fished though the first few hole with just a few hits. Then I pulled up beside a nice run to fish some nymphs though. Mark floated his nymph rig down though the run and caught a nice Rainbow Trout about 16″. After a hard fight we got the fish to net and took a couple of pictures the watched her swim off. Then it was Jim’s turn to hook in to some fish on the fly he fished the nymph rig down through the runs and holes missing or hooking a fish every now and then. As the weather warmed the fish seemed to get more active, and after lunch Jim was catching fish good on the nymphs. Then a BWO hatch started and the fish really started turning on. Both Jim and Mark were catching fish well, and the guys in Kevin’s boat were hooking up on fish with on Dry’s. We got to the Caddis Riffle and decide to get out and wade some everyone was getting hits and hooking up. Jonthan caught a nice 17″ Rainbow on a dry and dropper what a nice fish.

As we floated down the river the fish really started to feed well. It seemed like they wanted something moving, and we were catching fish on all kinds of streamers. We were caughting a good number of fish, and so were the guys in Kevin and Hugh’s boats. Shane in Kevin’s boat hooked a big Brown Trout that jumped and throw the hook. As the sun was setting Jim hooked in to a big Rainbow I hate to say how big it was, but it was a big fish. The hook just popped out, and we didnt get a good look at him.

Man the fish on the Watauga River are fat and healthy.

The Watauga is fishing great right now, and the Black Caddis is starting up. It is a great time to be on the water. We had a great time fishing with these guys.

Thanks to Kevin and Hugh for helping me out on this trip.

If you would like a Guide Float or Wade trip give us a call at 423-878-2822.

Tight Lines,

Matt Champion

Champion Outfitters Guide Service