Foscoe Fishing Company Blog - Fishing Reports

Foscoe Fishing Company offers the most complete report of fly fishing conditions in western North carolina and Eastern Tennessee. Our professional reports are updated regularly with water flows, recommended flies and equipment, and special fishing tips for the most important fly-fishing destinations in Blue Ridge Mountains. Plan your next fishing trip knowing you’ll arrive without any surprises and discover some new fishing destinations in the area.

Local & TN Fishing Report

Local waters continue to fish well with the good water levels.  Afternoon thunderstorms have kept rivers flowing greatfor this time of year.  Nymph fishing continues to be good using a variety of stone-fly patterns ranging from size 8-16 as well as caddis larva patterns in the 12-16 range.  The usual searching patterns like pheasant tails and hares ears in sizes 12-18 should work as well. Even though there are not an abundance of aquatic bugs hatching this time of year there are always terrestrials floating down the river.

I watch beetles, grasshoppers, inchworms, spiders, caterpillars, bees, hornets, ants and many other terrestrials happen there way into the river everyday.  All of these are great food for trout through the summer.

The TN Tailwaters (Watauga, S.Holston), have been fishing well. Terrestrial patterns are working with thousands of June Bugs and Japanese beetles littering the river.  As well as many other non aquatic bugs. Nymph fishing has been good in the afternoons on the Watauga with small mayflies hatching in certain areas.  Midges are around throughout the day and will also catch fish.

The South Holston is finally generating again after some turbine work at the dam.  The low water wade fishing has been good using scud, midge and mayfly patterns in various sizes.  The sulfur mayfly hatch is in full swing on the upper part of the river and the dry-fly bite should be heating up right before and during high-water.  Make sure to have sulfur yellow mayfly patterns sizes 14-18 if you plan on heading to the river.

Good Luck, and  make sure to call and book a fishing trip if you are interested, 828-963-6556.

4/13/11 Fishing Report

Local fishing on the Delayed Harvest waters has been nothing shy of excellent!  Water levels are great and fish are responding well.  Attractor patterns such as egg patterns and san juans are good flies to have as well as smaller caddis patterns(soft hackles)  as well as standard nymph patterns(small flashback PT).

The tailwaters are just starting to crank up and fishing has been pretty good during the past couple of weeks!  On the Watauga, rainfall has increased flows and generation so fishing can be touch and go this month but look for larger numbers of caddis to appear at any time!  Fish have been caught on small soft hackles, blue wings, cranefly patterns, and midges in a variety of sizes and colors.

On the South Holston, look for greater periods of generation as well.  The bite on the upper section has been fairly steady with good numbers of fish boated during floats.  Fish are still responding well to midges in small sizes, black flies, craneflies, scuds, and the occasional good blue wing hatch.

March Tailwaters Fishing Report

Fished the Watauga river on Tuesday and the day started out well with higher than average flow and we ended up catching a few fish on nymph rigs.  Suddenly the fish catching came to a stop when the water flow increased rapidly and generation was underway.  This can put the fish down for a short while but it doesn’t mean that the fishing is over.  We let the fish settle in, and due to the off colored water we tied on a couple larger, brighter patterns and it wasn’t long before we had another fish on!  Finding the seams and softer water is the key to finding fish in periods of high water.  Adding plenty of weight will get the flies down and increase odds.  Don’t let high water days get you down- reconfigure your rigs and find the “protective” water and you’ll catch more fish!

March Local Fishing Report

We are slowly but surely transitioning into milder weather with the approach of spring just around the corner!  Local small streams have good levels of water after decent snowfall this winter and trout are getting active with the recent mild weather.  Blue winged olives and midges dominate most of the bug hatches as well as small dark dun colored caddis and stoneflies.  Fishing with shallow nymph rigs or dry and dropper rigs will produce fish.  Keeping a low profile while fishing small streams will also increase odds due to clear water and wary fish!

The delayed harvest water on the nearby Watauga river is beginning to fish well and continued stocking schedules will make fishing even better.  Fish have been both in deeper water holding near the bottom as well as shallow flats and tailouts.  Sight fishing can be accomplished with the help of a good eye!  Midges and small soft hackles have produced most of the fish along with the occasional attractor fly such as egg patterns or san juan worms.  Give us a call to reserve a spot for your next fishing trip!

January Fishing Report

Cold weather doesn’t have to keep you from fishing.  Local anglers have had great days on the water recently both in the nearby streams and on the tailwaters in TN.  Midges have still been the predominant bug hatching but good hatches of blue wings have also offered some great opportunities along with sulphurs (believe it or not)!  With the blue wings, size will matter as most of these bugs will be around a 2o or smaller and fish will notice.  Nymphs and emergers will also catch fish along with duns.  Don’t sit around this winter and wait to fish this spring, bundle up and come fishing with us today!

December Hatch report

 This month really starts to bring change to the weather in the High Country.  Winter is fast approaching and colder weather is here which also brings colder water temps.  This will slow fishing just a bit but hardy fisherman can still be rewarded with nice catches!

 As for hatches, they change quite a bit with “bugs” becoming much smaller.  Look for baetis or blue winged olives in sizes 18-22 along with tiny olives in sizes 20-22.  Small dark colored caddis and dark black stoneflies are also present in sizes 18-20.  As always, midges become the predominant insect hatch and trout make them a big portion of their diet.  These insects are normally grey, white, black, or tan in color and most are very small, in sizes 18-26. 

November Fishing Report

Colder weather has moved into the High Country within the last week or so but it hasnt slowed down the fishing.  Local streams are fishing great with wild trout being very active and agressive.  Delayed Harvest waters have also been recently stocked and offer an excellent opportunity to catch some fish.  There hasn’t been a real significant hatch locally but the occasional blue winged olive, caddis, or midge will bring fish to the surface.

Tailwater fishing on the Watauga in TN as always, continues to produce some of the best trout fishing around.  There have been good hatches of blue wings and caddis!  Most of the blue wings have been around a size 20 and caddis an 18.  Numerous fish can also be found sipping midges on or just under the surface film and a dry dropper rig will do the trick when fish are spotted rising.  Cranefly adult patterns will also catch fish but the most productive fishing has been nymphing with emerger and midge patterns!  Call us today to book your fishing trip!

New water!

 

When the Delayed Harvest rivers get to crowed try fishing the wild streams. The wild streams in our area fish excellent in the fall and chances are you wont run into anyone else stomping through your fishing hole. The wild browns are starting to get colored up for spawning and are full of life compared to the stocked browns that you find in the Delayed Harvest waters. So don’t forget to bring your camera because a picture of a colored up brown will look good on any wall. If you don’t know of any good wild streams in the area take a guide trip, we will be happy to show you a few prime spots to find some wild fish.

 

Delayed harvest is back!

Fishing has been excellent  the past few weeks in the high country. The cooler weather has really made the trout more active and willing to feed. The delayed harvest sections of the Watauga river have been stocked and offers anglers a good opportunity to catch high numbers of fish. I helped stock on Monday and we really tried to spread the fish throughout the river evenly. One of the better stocked sections was the Valle Crucis Park which is a good place to go if you only have a few hours to fish. With old man winter just around the corner this is one of the best times to get out on the water and wet a line.

Bundle up and come fishing

With the leaves changing and the cooler temperatures settling in, fishing in the High Country is heating up. The wild fish have become active and are feeding voraciously, while the DH waters are full of eager to please stocked fish. The tailwaters present the opportunity to cast to paired browns as well as boat high numbers of fish. Don’t let the cooler weather keep you from some of the best fishing of the year. Tight lines and I’ll se you on the water.

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