I was on the S. Holston everyday last week and the fishing has been very good. We have been having good Sulphur hatches on both Low water and High Water, the fish are rising to them. With all the Sulphurs coming off the fish are fat and healthy. They are differently keyed in on the Sulphurs. They are eating nymphs before the hatch starts, and then they are switching over to duns when the hatch gets going.

On high water there have been really good Sulphur hatches and the fish have been rising to them. As a matter of fact until the last couple of days I have not fished a nymph on high water. We have just been fishing dries. The last couple of days there were not as big of Sulphurs hatches on high water so we had to go to fishing some nymphs when the hatch stopped, and the fish jumped all over the nymphs.

Great time to be fishing.

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

Tight Lines,

Matt Champion

South Holston Guide Serive and Fly ShopИдея за подарък

I love every minute of it. I know I am suppose to nymph fish for big fish… I know.. I know..But you see , I am a dry fly guy at heart. I do not know the last time I put on a nymph. I will fish a soft hackle during the small pulse.. But on the first smack…on goes the dry.

Today , the sulphur hatch started a little later in day than usual. but when it came , it came.  Bam, Bam, smack.. sip. All of a sudden bugs were everywhere and trout were taking them in many different ways.  For 45 minutes, it was  smack on my fly every cast .  When I left , bugs were still on the water.  I had to leave, it was Matt’s turn to wet a line.

Before the hatch, I skated up a bunch on a dry fly, including a dandy, fat rainbow about 18″ or so.  The or so, is because he shook loose about a hard battle. Good for him, he didn’t need my hands on him anyway.  I wouldn’t have measured him anyway. For some reason that has never mean’t much to me. There again, not a big fish mentality.

Don’t get me wrong, I catch good fish. I just don’t catch the monsters.  I guess if I fished everyday I would.. maybe.. but as it is, if it rises, I will cast to it. I love to see heads.. especially trout heads sipping dry flies.  There again it is your day, fish however you want. Just keep it fun.

Tight Lines,

Rod Champion

Bob Wolf and Mike from Asheville have fished with Matt for the last few days.  They have been in Sulphurs almost all the time.  On low water,  Thursday,  there was a very large hatch .  Then in the evening , on high water, the bugs were on the water again.  That has pretty mcuh been the story all week.

This afternoon on high water, the bugs were really out in numbers.  And fish were rising and eating them. These fish are fat as can be from the heavy bug menu.

So if you are looking for a primetime float and like to dry fly fish , it is THE time to do it.  Or if you like to dry fish on low water, now is THE time to do it.

In Summary: If you like to dry fly fish. And you like to see Suphurs on the water and fish sipping them. Then you will love this river, now.  It doesn’t get any better than this.

Tight Lines,

Rod

this is a true story.. thought you might enjoy it.

A soldier home from Irag came into the store Saturday. He had been fishing all day and had caught 0 fish for his efforts. He walked into the store with a spinning rod in hand . On the rod was a heavy weight and a chartruese curly tail jig attached.  He walks in , we greeted him and he said ” I am not doing very good. I am 35 years old and have only caught 3 fish in my entire life. I have caught nothing all day long.  I want to catch some fish. Can you help me?”  To say the least he was frustrated.  The answer from us was sure .

Matt hooked up with the Okuma begginers combo and took him outside and worked a little on casting.  Since the soldier had never used a spinning rod much , he picked up casting quickly. Matt tied a soft hackle on and sent him to the grates.  Well about 3:30 the soldier comes back to the store with 3 trout on a stringer.. two rainbows and 1 brown trout.  We are true catch and release guys but how could one scold a soldier on the 4th of July.  He was all smiley this time on entering the store. So we congratulated him on his fine catch and explained to him that that brown trout was a wild fish. And the browns are what  keep this river alive. So please try to let the browns go, and only keep those stock rainbows. He nodded in agreement . We explained how it took the water several hours to reach some spots down stream. He now, merrily went on his way down stream.

There are many 4th of July stories, but as a shop keeper , this was a special moment.  The soldier caught as many fish as he had caught his entire life, in one and a half hours on a soft hackle and a fly rod. His entire demeanor changed from angry to happy. It does not get any better than that.

And for you experienced fly people. The Sulphurs are on the water , strong.  This past week has been as good of dry fly fishing as I have EVER seen. And to boot, it is on low water.  And when the wheels are turned on, the river has been ” Yellow”. If you like bugs on the water and fish sipping them down,  you will love the South Holston, now.

God bless America and all it’s soldiers that  have and are fighting for our freedom.

Rod Champion