People caught fish well this week end. Sulphurs did come off in many places well.  This is what customers told me. I had to work.. Sulphur dries and emergers [ including split case nymphs] were the ticket for some. For others midge pupae got it done.  Stomach pumpings showed fish were full of midge pupae.

Tight Lines,

Rod Champion

TVA has begun backing off there generating some this week.  And those that have come to fish have flat been catching fish… by the bunches. One customer said today that it is like bream[ blue gill] fishing. No one has been fishing on low water so it has been easy.  Buck said he and Robert have caught over 400 trout in the last 3 days.  That is a bunch of fish.

Matt and I have been running over to the Watauga late evening and have been catching some monster stripers on the fly rod. Well monster to us.. 20 and 30 lb. fish.  That is the hardest pulling fish … Matt caught a big one this evening. That fish pulled our boat over 100 yards .. unbelievably strong. As a side kick , Matt kicked in a 27 1/2″ Brute of a Brown trout yesterday. Guarantee you it was close to 8 lbs. He kicked in a 22″ brown today. That boy can catch fish in a mud hole.We will post some of the pictures as soon as we can get them off cell phone.

Come see us. You will be glad you did.

Tight lines,

Rod Champion

* I have two new in box Dyna King  Treker Vises. These are true in line rotary vises. There is no quality machine like the Dyna King Vises. Retail $229- first person gets one of these for $170. And I guarantee he will love it. I have tied on one for years.. the best. And of course Lifetime Warranty. You can see them at www.dyna-king.com

This past week , dry fly fishing has been as good as it gets on the South Holston . Sulphurs are flat on the water. And the good fish are eating the.

If you have a boat, now is the time to use it here. If you don’t and want to dry fly fish, give us a call. The Prime Time Float is really on.

Dry Fly Fishing in the middle of August. It is quite a unique phenomenon .  Come experience it.

Tight Lines,

Rod Champion

          Sometimes when you have had enough or you are bored and need to relax, get in the drift boat and float down the river.  Not only will it put your mind at ease, you may end up catching a nice brown trout while your there.   Well, that was the case this past Sunday while Matt, Eli, and I (Monica) took a “prime time” float simply to get out of the house. 

            We put in on the Holston below the Weaver Pike Bridge.  Of coarse Matt (who is a fly fishing guide) rigs our rods up, and we were ready to set stream.  I made a few cast on a spinning reel, to get me warmed up.  Matt suggested I take control of the fly rod and see what I think about fly fishing.  It was my second time fishing with a fly rod so he had some coaching to do.  I am experienced enough to know you set the hook when the indicator is under though. So on my third or fourth cast my indicator went under, I set the hook and low and behold I had something strong on the other end of my fly rod.  I had no idea how to reel in a fish on a fly rod.

            Matt dropped the anchor and he stood right with me while I landed that fish.  He told me to keep the fly line tight, when it started fighting  give him some line.  So I would keep it tight, he would fight.  I would give him line and then I would have to fight him back in.  This went one for about six or seven minutes and I finally wore him out enough to get him over to the boat.  Right before me was a nice twenty-two inch brown trout.  I have always asked Matt “when am I going to catch a big fish?” and finally I got what I have been looking for.  We took a couple pictures, let my son hold him and released him back to the water. He was pretty too. 

            It wasn’t until the next day I realized that I had actually caught a nice trout.  Matt was thrilled.  He coached me through the entire trip and it also let him know is expertise is still right on queue.  Those two hours will be my worthiest until our next float.  Hopefully we will have the chance to float again this Sunday.  I am ready.  If you ever want a guide trip down the South Holston or Watauga River’s call Matt Champion at the South Holston River Fly Shop in Bristol, Tennessee.  423-878-2822.

                                                 Good Luck,

                                                            Monica Eller

The last three days the Sulphurs have poured off on high water.. And fish are flat smacking them.. come float with us. You will truly enjoy it.

Tight Lines,

Rod Champion