Foscoe Fishing Company Blog - Fishing Tales
Disclaimer: All fishing tales related herein may be whoppers. Telling the classic “tall tale” when it comes to fishing is an art and we are proud of being good story tellers. We reserve the right to add an inch or two to measurements of caught fish using advanced, hard to catch photo software enhancements. All customers who attend classes or guided trips will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement stating they will not make truthful statements about the 12″ fish we caught when it was really only 6″. Thank you for your cooperation, and come back to see us again soon!
Winter Equipment Check
Don't let this happen to you!
When the winter weather keeps you indoors, it is a good time to get your equipment ready for spring. One really important item to check is your fly line.
Dirty line does not cast or float as well as clean line. Your can clean it the hard way by washing it in some water with a mild detergent and then rinse it in clean water or you can use a commercial line cleaner.
If you use line cleaner you reduce the process to one step and the product adds a slick finish for better casting. If you inspect your line and it is frayed or cracked, it is time to replace it. Take care of it now before it becomes a problem in the spring.
Fishporn, the answer to winter blues!
Fly Fishing Videos are the key to making it through the days when you just can’t get outside and wet a line. In recent years fly fishing videos have gotten better and better. Both the quality of the video and the material is amazing. The popularity of fly fishing film festivals is definitely helping as well.
Here are a few of my favorite DVD’s: Rise, Drift, Nervous Water, Trout Bum (part 1 and 2) and Fish Bum to name a few. Don’t forget about the great educational videos, there are several fly tying instructional videos as well as videos targeting specific species and techniques.
So when you have the winter blues grab the latest fly fishing dvd or call the shop order one and we’ll ship it to your door. Also, don’t forget about the many free videos available on our site. Thanks and Tight Lines!
Winter Delayed Harvest Tips
Finally we have a break in the arctic weather, the rivers are thawing and the fish are hungry. After a month of the coldest weather I have ever seen in the mountains the Watauga Delayed Harvest has finally thawed enough to make a cast into the water, not on to the ice.
One good thing about all this cold weather and ice is the pressure on the fish has been non-existent which means the fish will not be quite as selective. Try bigger patterns, something that will catch their attention. Imagine yourself sitting in 30 degree water your not going to want to move for something unless its worth it! Behind that big fly you can put your killer, a small bluewing nymph or a midge larva or whatever deadly fly you have found to work in the past.
The fish sit deep this time of year so don’t be afraid to drag bottom. Adjust your indicator constantly so you have your flies at the right depth. Find depressions in the river bottom where they can get out of the heavy current and congregate.
I hope these suggestions help out and if they don’t make sure and go by the shop and complain to the management.
Good luck and happy hunting, Matt
Winter fly tying
Winter offers many opportunities for some of the years best fishing but some days I would honestly rather be inside. Its on these days that I like to prepare for the next fishing trip by tying flies! Finish reading this fishing tale >>
Winter Fishing
Its cold, I can’t feel my hands, the guides on my rod keep freezing, and I wouldn’t change a thing. Winter is one of my favorite times to hit the water. Finish reading this fishing tale >>
Fishing on the Watauga River
Yesterday I fished the Delayed Harvest section of the Watauga river on the Hwy 105 section. The fishing was good and we caught a couple of 16+ inch fish. We caught most of the fish on nymphs like pheasant tails in size 14-16 and hares ears in the same size.
We were dropping small zebra midges size 18-22 and micro mayflies in 18-20 and they were producing fish as well. We found a couple of rising fish that were eating small BWOs size 16-20. It was a good day on the river.
Favorite Brook Trout Streams
Last night I left the shop early so I could get some fishing in on one of my favorite brook trout streams. Being wild fish, these little fellas were not very picky.
I tied on a size 16 caddis pattern with some CDC wings and didn’t change flies till I caught a nice rhododendron bush. The fish were eager to rise as long as they didn’t see me.
The brookies are starting to get their spawning colors, and in some of the pools it was like looking into a tropical aquarium. All in all it was a great afternoon on one of my favorite streams.
October Success on the River
October has been a great month for fishing in the High Country. The onset of the month brought floats down the Nolichucky for smallmouth and the return of Delayed Harvest regulations on local trout streams. What were probably the last smallie floats of the season produced good numbers of fish up to two pounds as well as some feisty wild rainbows in the 15-17” range.
Delayed harvest has been fishing well, providing an opportunity for me to guide a 12-year-old boy to his first trout on the fly and giving more seasoned anglers a shot at some true hogs. As November nears, anglers should layer appropriately and seize the opportunity for some of the best trout fishing all year. Tight lines and I hope to see ya’ll on the water.
Floating on Watauga Tailwater
Sunday I floated the lower section of the Watauga tailwater where it ran into Boone Lake. Most of the day was spent fishing double fly rigs right on the bottom.
The fish seemed to like little BWO nymphs in size 20-24 and some larger caddis larvae size 14-16. Towards the end of the float in the slow, slick water, there was an awesome BWO hatch and the biggest fish of the day was caught on a size 18 BWO emerger. It was a nice change of scenery as well as an awesome day on the water.
Wading the South Holston Tailwater
This past weekend I waded the South Holston tailwater. Fishing was good and we even had the pleasure of casting some dry flys to rising fish.
They were eating sparsely tied craneflies and size 18 Sulphurs. Midges were all over, and we caught most of our fish on subsurface midge patterns dropped behind brassies and micro mayflies. The browns look like they are staging for the spawn.
