Blue Ridge Mountain Fishing & Hatch Report November 3rd, 2008

Mid fall has arrived in the High Country bringing colder temperatures and the gradual end of the floating leaf annoyance. The trout will be heavily feeding on the local streams preparing for the winter and the older fish will be moving to their spawning areas. Brown and brook trout will be in their finest colors as they spawn and will provide anglers with some of the best opportunities of the year to target the largest of these species.

When it comes to fly selection its hard to go wrong with a variety of nymphs. Smaller nymphs such as 18-22 copper johns, pheasant tails, and olive micro mayflies will be some of your most successful options due to the blue wing olive hatches. The abundant Blue wing olive hatches will also provide good dry fly situations around mid-day and the mid afternoon. Various BWO patterns will work during these hatches but a good suggestion is to have several patterns in your box because the trout can be very selective when it comes to this small may fly. Another hatch to watch for will be gray and tan caddis that occur in the late afternoon. Caddis dry fly patterns in 14-18 sz should work for these hatches. Also do not over look midge hatches this month and the next because they can provide some excellent action for the observant angler. Both dry and subsurface midge patterns in 18-26 will catch fish. Streamer patterns such as the wooly bugger and bunny leaches will produce some large fish as well, especially after heavy precipitation.

The tail races of Tennessee continue to fish very well whether it be from a drift boat or just wading a nice flat. The importance of the sulpher hatches of the warmer months gives way to the Blue wing olive. However there will be infrequent hatches of the bright yellow mayfly. The BWO dry fly patterns that work on the local streams will also work on the tailraces however these trout can be extremely selective. CDC flies are very productive in both emerger and dun styles. Emerger patterns and floating nymphs should be used when the fish are not taking duns. Midges continue to be a staple of tail water trout through the rest of the season. Midge patterns mentioned for the local streams work in TN however you may have to go through more patterns before you find the one that is the most effective. Other trout bugs to look for are the October Caddis which have been fairly thick the last few weeks and also the occasional crane fly. If the fishing seems tough make sure to cover every section of the water column to find the least fickle trout. The spawn will also be starting on the tailraces this month so please be careful around obvious reids and be aware that there are large sections of the South Holston that can not be fished from the First of November to the first of February. We hope everyone gets to take part in some of the best fishing of the year and remember to be careful in the colder temperatures. If you have any questions about patterns or techniques please stop by the shop.