Dave Miller and I floated the South Holston River in East Tennessee yesterday, Sunday, September 6. The Sulphurs came off good on high water. Actually Dave and I had a darn good afternoon dry fly fishing. We were lucky enough to get a number of 15+” fish. Just like Jack Prater did the other afternoon with Knox. ” We caught nothing under17.” So we actually did not do as well as Jack. I told Jack, I thought he had quit drinking. Ah , such is the way of the river and it’s people. { now please do not take this as Jack drinks. Because he doesn’t. Edith would not let
him. Of course she will not let him smoke either….. ]

Looks like TVA is backing off it’s runningf this week some. They are projecting 900 CFS instead of the 1400 they have been generatring. This should be at least 5 less hours. If TVA does not begin running til 1:00 or 2:00 in the afternoon, you should come and fish the sulphurs on low water.
Happy Labor Day.
Rod

Matt guided Ryan Curley and his friend yesterday on the South Holston River in East Tennessee. It was a full day float. During the a.m. float, they caught fish well on nymphs and streamers. Matt guestimated around 30 in the morning . The afternoon float brought the Sulphur hatch on. So it was dry flyfishing . It was foggy, but that did not keep the Sulphurs away. They hatched well. Matt said the dry flyfishing was good and about the same number of fish wewre caught in the afternoon as in the a.m.. I think Ryan caught some fish on streamers in the afternoon also.
My son , Matt, has become of a fly tyer. I was the one always tying the bugs. But Matt has become an adapt streamer tyer. He is whacking out some pretty funky articulated streamers for both trout and striped bass. And they have been very effective. I don’t know how many striped bass he has caught on them this year- a bunch. And yesterday , one was pretty darn effective on trout. I would like to think he learned this stuff from me. But as usual, Matt is ahead of me even when he first begins something. Having paddled him around a right good bit this year, I have seen how good a fisherman this man is. I can watch and emulate his retreive with exact opposite results. He catches fish and I mean big fish and I don’t. Well, sometimes I luck in to a few, but that young man catches them; one right after another.
That is just the way he has always been. God gave him a gift. It is just natural to him.
His gift is like the one I ran into as a young tennis or basketball player. I was a good player. But when you crossed paths with a gifted player, the light went on. No matter how much I practiced, I could never acheive the talent those guys have. God gives certain talents to certain people. The good news is that we don’t have to be an extra gifted person to enjoy this sport. This is a very subjective sport. We do it because we enjoy the outdoors . And we enjoy a “ring” from a trout rise. Or a head popping up and sipping a mayfly dun. And yes, even the me’s of this world catch fish. And can actually get pretty good at it. And since fishing is a non competitive hobby, it is not me aagainst Matt. It is just me trying to catch a trout on my terms. You know what I mean?
Maybe this means, it is time for Matt to give me streamers; a little payback for all those past years…..naw, I want to catch fish on my versions of streamers. Isn’t that what tyers do. The ” if it ain’t mine, I am not going to fish it ” deal.
See you on the water.
Rod Champion

Matt and John [ two of our guides] had the day off so they went fishing themselves. Sun was hot, but sulphurs did come off.
Matt said dry fly fishing was actually pretty darn good. Presentation was still and will always be the key. But if you got a good drift , they would eat the comparadun. The guys caught several 16″ rainbows on drys. The overall trip was productive.
Tight Lines Jim,
Rod Champion

For me anyway. The Sulphur hatch on the South Holston River was long and heavy this past Sunday. TVA ran form 10-11:00 a.m.. That triggered the Sulphurs. I left at 3:30 and they were still on the water. It rained hard Saturday night and the river was muddy on one side , murky down the middle and fairly clear on the other side. These conditions + a big sulphur hatch made for the best dry fly fishing I beleive I have ever had. Of course I think that everytime it is very good. But this time the overall size of the fish was nothing but sensational. I don’t believe I have ever caught as many 15+” fish on dry flies during a 3 hour period as happened Sunday. As they say, all the stars had to line up. And they were.
I looked up and down the river many times. It looked like a Blue fish blitz at the beach. Everybodys rod was bent over. And there were plenty of people but there was more than enough fish to go around. Darnest thing you will ever see. Fish on everywhere. Guys were swimming emergers , fishing dries, doing dry dropper rigs and who knows what else. And they were all catching fish. Pretty good stuff.
Well , you can feel fall around the corner now. Soon these hot days will give way to the cooler ones. The big browns will start moving and the sulphurs will begin phasing out to the BWO’s. Until then, the sulphurs will more than be enough to cure your thirst.
Please hit our online catalog spot. Us small timers need and want your business more than Cablelas and the likes. And we will tell you about what is happening on the river. They won’t.
So I hope you choose to use us some. We will get a good coupon program going to pay you for your patronize.
As southerns say” You are much appreciated.’
Rod Champion

Actually rained on and off all day on the South Holston River. But it was a warm enough day for the rain to not bother you. As Bill Fiesler said; if he rose and you covered him, he ate. He , being the trout. And that was exactly how it played out. The sulphur hatch started late. It began somewhere around 3:00. Sulphurs like sunshine. And just the hint of it will bring them on. And when the hint happened Saturday, the sulphurs emerged. Actually it was good dry fly fishing for a couple of hours.
Matt and John had two couples on the primtime afternoon float. John Ross and Rick[ if I put his last name I will butcher it] had their mates for the float. Today is Rick’s birthday, so he was given the trip as a birthday present. It ended up being quite a present. Rick finished the day with a measured 28″ long and 15″ girth wild Brown trout. An 8 to 10 lb. beast of a fish. A picture of this beautiful creature will be posted next week. Happy Birthday Rick!
We have a couple of books on our web page that will interest you. TYING AND FISHING TAILWATER FLIES by Pat Dorsey is about na good a book as there is on Tailwater fishing. It shows 500 step by step photos for 24 proven patterns and how to fish them. A 192 page Hard Back cover book with rich color photos of flies and fishing on tailwaters like the South Holston River. This definetly a one of the best books for our kind of fishing there is. It cost $39.95 , but remember our August coupon.
Also we have tons of Simms shirts and T- shirts on sale on our web page. The Guide Superlite shirt normallt runs for $99 ; we have it on sale for $58. It is the lightest , most comfortable shirt you will ever wear. Just go to our on line catalog or call us .
As Carol Fiesler says” Happy Trails.” Got to love those lady cowboys who flyfish.
Rod Champion

That is why you must check schedule in the a.m. .
I hate it to. I was planning on fishing the Sulphurs on low water , myself.
But , we take what we get. We live and die by TVA.
Well , not really. It is only fishing. The power of Life and death is not controlled by TVA. Just the fishing part of it.

TVA is running full generators from 3:00 p.m. til 7:00p.m on Friday. Shoulds be a dandy low water sulphur dry fly schedule.

TVA has been generating a continous 660 cfs all week. The dry fly fishing has been very, very good. The bigger fish have been up and eating. Sulphurs have poured off in the afternoons . A customer said the spinner fishing was good yesterday, also. Matt and I floated yesterday afternoon. We watched a father and son duo from Asheville flat catch fish. Their rods stayed bent over the whole time we were behind them. They caught a bunch of nice fish.
Midge pupae, sulphur nymphs, sulphur emergers, sulphur dries, sulphur cripples and sulphur spinners have been the ticket. There is kind of a theme here…Sulphurs.
Don’t know how long TVA will be sluicing. They are working on the generators . Check the schedule for sure to see their running schedule. And check again in the a.m. to make sure of the days schedule.
And , please check our new online catalog.
Tight Lines,
Rod Champion
423-878-2822

Hello Everyone,
This is Rod and Matt’s webmaster for South Holston River Fly Shop.

I was in their shop yesterday to finalize some product and was given the go ahead on making the new shopping cart LIVE.

I noticed they collected email addresses from customers in store, so we set up some discounts for the shopping cart that can be emailed to their customer base for this grand re-opening of the shop cart.

But what’s even better news for you is we found a feature that will offer discounts to REPEAT customers ONLY as well! Now that’s cool! We don’t have an online newsletter sign up (yet), so just slip them your email addresses asking them to write you on their list. foreverflyfishing@yahoo.com After you checkout once, the system will track you as a repeat customer for future discounts. Be sure to create an account and bookmark the page.

Without Rod or Matt knowing, I’ve set up a discount for you bloggers. Since it’s Sunday night, I cannot actually get their permission yet, so they may take it off and keep it strictly for their email list. So type in AUGUST-BLOG-DISCOUNT when you check out and receive 10% off before they slap me on the hand and make me take it down!!!

Have fun shopping and fishing!
Tina

TVA is running from 2:00- 9:00 p.m. today. Hopefully that is the way it will be all week. Always check at tva.gov or 800-238-2264 the evening before you come. If they keep the schedule this way, sulphurs should hatch goods on low water. You should have 2-3hours of dry fly fishing before the water hits.
Rod

Monday thru Thursday, TVA did not cut the water on til 2:00 p.m.. So the low water sulphur fishing was good, actually very good. Some 16’s, but mainly 18-20’s. Then in the afternoons Sulphurs continued their hatching til 5:00 or so. The fish rose well and ate comparaduns well in the afternoons. The bugs have started bigger- 16’s – and by the time the float is over the sulphurs have dropped in size to 18’s. All afternoon trips caught fish on dry flies well.
On Sunday, TVA did not release water til 3:00 p.m.. I got to fish Sunday. I usually only get to fish the sulphurs on high water , because of the shop. But Sunday , was different. The hatch was big and steady. The bugs were 18 with some 16’s mixed in.
We got 3 hours of dry fly fishing. I caught fish on an 18 comparduns , 18 emergers fished dry and as the hatch went on fish really ate a 18 cripple. Good fish ate the cripple. I watched Steven catch fish real well on 18 hairwing comparaduns. He had a good day. Allen caught them on cripples fished dry, then a comapradun[ I think] as the hatch went on. The fellow down below me caught some very nice fish on a Swisher and Richards no hackle dun. It is a deadly pattern here or anywhere else.
A grand day on the river it was.
Advertisement time: I have 2 St. Croix Avid 9′ 4 wt.- 2 pc. rods that have been fished once. They look like they have never left the store. They come with lifetime warranty card and of course factory rod. These are Factory built rods. They retail at $270-
SAle- $195 . They are medium fast rods with a good soft tip for landing fish on small tippet.
Just give us a call at 423-878-2822.
Thank you,
Rod Champion

If TVA holds it’s same schedule, there should be plenty of time to fish the sulphur hatch on low water. The last two days, TVA has statred running at 2 p.m. on the South Holston River. They are projecting the same for next three days. So you should have good hatches on low water and then the sulphurs should continue on high water.
The nymph, beetle and streamer bite has been good also.
As always , check the TVA web site or phone n umber in the evening before and the moring you are coming to verify schedule.
Rod

You can see the reels at www.waterworks-lamson.com
These reels are as good as they get. These are new in Box – latest models. Konical drag system; Sealed components[ no sand or anything can ever get into internal parts]: Lifetime warranty and light as a feather. Plus extrememly good looking.
These reels will be loaded with appropiate backing and any Scientific Anglers’ Mastery line of your choice- either a GPX or Trout Line. For $30 more we will make it a Scieintific Anglers’ Sharkskin line.
The Reels plus line loaded and ready to go are:
Litespeed 1.0- 2-3 lines- $279
Litespeed 1.5- 4,5 lines- $289
Litespeed 2.0- $299
Litespeed 3.0- $399
No Sales Tax out of Tennessee .
$10 shipping UPS in USA.
You can call us at 423-878-2822
or email- foreverflyfishing@yahoo.com
Thank you,
Rod Champion

Litespeed 1.0 – 2-3 lines-

Got a little worried saturday when the Sulphurs did not show themselves on low water. This was the first time in a couple of month’s they haven’t been there. Every other day, they have started hatching an hour or so before the water hits and continue right on heavy until 6:00 or so.
But Saturday , they were a no show on low water.
But Sunday they reappeared in large numbers. And on high water the hatch was heavy. So what causes bugs to back off for a day like that. It was overcast and rainy.. did that do it? We have all seen the pour off in the rain and snow before. I don’t know but ” they are back”.
If you have read on the internet about an argument about fishing a certain peice of water . The area they are talking about is BELOW the last trail on the TVA proerty we all call the culdasac. It goes for about a 1/2 mile down thru there. The culdasac is not affected at all. Most of you have heard of it from a year or so ago. It is a very small part of the South Holston River that affects a very small portion of fisherman. Most of you have nor ever will fish there. This river is VERY open to public fishing. The landowners are as good to all of us as can be. So no problems for you guys to come fishing and fish where you always have. Because thank goodness the Sulphurs are fine and the fish are fat.
God Bless,
Rod

TVA did not generate more than one hour on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of this past week on the South Holston River. The Sulphur hatches were once again huge and lasting for 3-4 hours. As usual the sulphurs came in waves. It would be heavy, then back off for a litlle while. Then come back heavy. Both sizes 16 and 18 were on the water at different times. The dry fly fishing was “Awesome”. I know that is not the correct word to use by a man my age. But it seems to fit the fishing on the South Holston River.
This week , TVA is beginning good schedules for week day fishing during the summer. It is generating from 1-8 p.m. Monday and I expect them same or close to it for a few days. That gives good wade fishing til 4:00 or 5:00 p.m depending on where you are on the river. This schedule is also very good for primetime afternoon floats to dry fly fish the sulphurs on high water. Because they do hatch big time there also.
As Red Skelton would always say” good night and may God bless”.
Rod

Thgat is what the schedule says tonite. Always check ina.m.. But it looks like TVA is going to give a tremendous weekend schedule. Just in time for “you’ to fish a big Sulphur hatch. It came off big time on high water today. It shoulds be the same on low water tomorrow and Saturday and I bet you Sunday.
See you on the river,
Rod Champion

SULPHURS Big Time on the South Holston River in East Tennessee! A huge Hatch of Sulphurs Sunday on low water. And Big Hatches all week on high water. It is a site to behold! Tons of bugs and fish rising everywhere.
I love low water hatches and fishing them. But my real love is watching fish come from the bottom to the top and slowly sip a dun on high water. Matthew Guinn and I floated Saturday afternoon. The ONE that sticks in my mind was a brown of 16″ or so . We were fishing a slick[ if there is anything like that at 2,500 cubic feet per second flow]. We had seen the brown come and sip two sulphur duns of the top. And that is exactly what he did to the comapradun of ours. I can see it in my mind right now. A thing of beauty it is.
Matthew, or Matty as some of you call him, really caught fish extremely well on dries on high water. I think I have finally converted him to the love of dry fly fishing over nymph or streamer fishing. Ask him.. see waht he says.
This river we call the South Holston is one great river. And our Lord has truly blessed us for getting to fish it like we do. And by allowing us to meet such quality people as we do in the shop and on our guide trips. We are truly blessed. We thank each of you for your business. I am very serious about that.
Rod Champion

TVA Backed it’s generation down today on the South Holston River. They began generating at 3:00 today, which means plenty of time to fish the Sulphur Hatch on low water. They are projecting the same type schedule for the next two days also. Tomorrw is the same one.
As always check in evening before fishing and check the morning you are fishing to make sure of schedule.
So now you have 2-3 hours of Dry fly sulphur fishing. That is about all one could ask for in the summer.
Thank you Tennessee Valley Authority for giving us Fly Fisherman a good wading schedule.
Rod Champion

The hatches on high water are even larger than they are on low water. I got to float the South Holston River yesterday and the dry fly fishing was very good. Sometimes the bugs were too thick. You could not even see your bug in the mass of Sulphurs. It is a sight to behold. It is worth the price of admission to see such an event. Once the mass slowed down and fish could actually find our bugs, it was on! There is nothing more beautiful than to watch a wild brown trout come form the bottom of the river and sip you dry fly. And that is exactly what it is like on high water. You are up over the fish and can see everything from a drift boat. It is a sight you will not forget.
Come join us.
Rod Champion
South Holston River Fly Shop
423-878-2822

The bad news first. It is Hot. The good news is the Sulphurs are pouring off in the heat. As big a hatch everyday as you will ever see. More good news; the hatch is beginning around 12:00 and hanging around till about 7:00. More good news: The Sulphurs will be here til around November. The dry fly fishing is fantastic .
Hope to see you,
Rod Champion

The Sulphurs have beeb hot and heavy here on the South Holston River this past week. You have dry fly fishing on low water and high water. This past week , with the weather cooler the sulphurs seem to have come off a little later in the day; 2:00 and continuing on with high water. Both 16 and 18’s are on the water. The fishing has been tremendous.
Matthew Guinn and I were waiting to fish a spinner fall Saturday evening. Matthew spotted a ton of japenese beetles in the grass by the water. So beetle fishing should really be good.
Schedules look like they are going to be good for both wading and afternoon floats . So come join the fun.
Tight Lines,
Rod Champion

And am hoping all week. TVA is running from 4:00 P.M. – 11:00 P.M. today on the South Holston River.
That gives you guys many hours of sulphur dry fly fishing.
My guess is, that will be the way it is all week. Beautiful, cooler weather is expected all week also.
Tight Lines,
Rod