optical communicationsFished with Pedro [ Dave Miller] yesterday afternoon for 2-3 hours. Sulphurs came off fairly well. Fished ate comparaduns with gusto. We have the ones in the shop that work well.

What was so good about yesterday was the quality of the fish. We caught a lot of fish. A 10″ brown was the smallest. All others were 12″ and better. many of them were 14″ with several going 15″ or so. caught a 16″ wild rainbow that was pure terror. The cooling of the water has really put the power in the wild fish. My goodness, they are on fire.

All the browns in the river are wild. And we only caught 3 rainbows. 

What a day! Enjoyed it Dave,

Tight Lines,

RodC

We have two Winston Bllx’s. Both are in perfect condtion. They are factory rods, with lifetime warranty cards. $520.

ландшафт 

I meet up with Tom and his wife at the shop around 8am, and we headed down to the river. We started out and Tom found a hole full of trout. He was really catching them on nymphs then a few Sulplurs started coming off and Tom was getting them on the dries. After a morning of fishing me and Tom decided to put the boat in. We caught a few fish on nymphs, but we mainly went looking for risers. The Sulphurs started coming off good and the fish were rising to them. Tom was hooking up and getting hits really on Sulphur dries. We fished risers the rest of the afternoon.

We had a great day on the water and the Sulphurs came off which is really alot of fun.

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

Tight Lines,

Matt Champion 

South Holston River Fly Shop

423-878-2822

Tom Snyder and his wife came down from PA to fish with us a few days on the South Holston and Watauga Rivers. Kevin took them on a float on the Watauga River on the first day, and I took them on the South Holston the second and third days of the trip.

After a good day of fishing on the Watauga River with Kevin I meet up with them on the second day, and we headed to the river for a little wade fishing before the water came up. When we got to the water there was not much going on so we started with a dry and dropper. We picked up a few fish on the dropper then Tom found some fish rising, and they were willing to rise to his Sulphur dry. Then around 11am the Sulphurs started coming off pretty well, and the fish were rising to the duns. We were able to catch several off the risers our Sulphur dries. Then we decide to get a bit to eat then put the boat in the water.

After putting the boat in the water we caught several fish on nymphs, before the Sulphurs started coming off. We found a few fish rising, but there were not as many fish rising as there had been. We were able to catch some fish, but the fishing was not as good as it had been in day before.

It was a good day on the water. If you would like a Guide Trip give us a call at 423-878-2822.

Tight Lines,

Matt Champion 

South Holston River Fly Shop

423-878-2822

Ed Peterson came down to fish the South Holston River with me for a half a day. We headed out in the morning before, and we had a great day of wade fishing. The day started out with fish eating nymphs and they were really taking our split case nymphs. We really caught fish on the nymphs until about 10:30  when the Sulphurs started showing up. Then the trout started picking off some off the duns that were floating on the water. We had bugs on the water untill the water came up. When the water came up on us we call it a day about 1pm. It was a great day on the water, and the fishing was great to.

Tight Lines,

Matt Champion 

South Holston River Fly Shop

423-878-2822

Sulphurs still coming off on low and high water. The sulphurs are just getting cranked up good when the wheels are getting turned on. 11:00 – 12:00 is Dry Fly time. And will stay that way til water hits. Then some days they continue on strong on high water.

The split case nymph is still doing it’s job well. Otherwise, fish are eating it good. Then the sparkle dun or comparadun is the way to go.

Earlier in morning , the ‘ Little stripper” is catching fish well. As are  terrestrials.

Up high , the black flies are pouring off. So, the usual black fly larvae and #24 black fly dry is catching fish real well.

There are not many people on the river, at all, during the week days. So if you want the river to yourself, come on up. It will be yours. And fish are acting appropriately. Which means, they are pretty easy to catch.

Tight Lines,

Rod C

Spent a week in the afternoons with Dave , the lover of fine cigars.  I accomplished one of the ” Bucket List” goals[ Laugh til you cry. Did it two days in a row- that in itself was worth all the paddling. When was the last time you did that?],  and got a bad case of ” anchor elbow.” Don’t know if you have to be 58 years old to get this affliction , or other high water paddlers get it. But I got it. Some would call it “tennis elbow’. But since I don’t play tennis anymore, pulling anchor and rowing a bunch had to make my arm swell and hurt like @@@@ to hold a cup of coffee.  Anyway back to Dave and the newly named Dammit Fly. And for Dave last week, the name was very appropriate. He missed at least 25 in a row before we had 2 hours under our belt. All I heard was ‘ dammit’ and there was another fish tormenting Dave. He missed so many fish last week on this fly , it wasn’t funny. But it really was funny; side splitting funny. Laugh til you cry funny. Even if it made my arm swell and ache , it was worth it. Very theraputic.

As far as bugs are concerned, sulphurs came off good last week with the wheeels on. This past weekend , TVA backed off the generators and guys and gals caught fish on sulphur dries all day long. As has been the history this summer. When TVA changes the gneration drastically as it did last weekend , it has taken the bugs several days to adjust. Sulphurs have been very slow on high water this week.  Bet you today, Friday, with the later afternoon generation and the lower humidity , the sulphurs will flourish. I sure wish Dave would call and ask me to float with him. I need a good laugh!

Stay tuned , Dave is going to post a picture of the Dammit Fly .  But in stead on on a size 18 hook, he is going to tie it on a size 2/0 . That way he might actually side stripe a trout with it.

Tight Lines,

Rod Champion