Blue Ridge Mountain Fishing Report June 26th, 2009

Finally after years of drought the Blue Ridge Mountains experienced a very wet spring with some areas receiving almost 10 inches during the month of May. The rain of the spring has provided excellent stream water levels for the beginning of the summer.

High water contains more oxygen and maintains a cooler temperature which keeps trout active throughout the day. June provides a very diverse offering of insects and forage for trout so it is important to keep a fly box full of various patterns and imitations. Aquatic insects are still going to be the most important food source for trout until they are over taken by terrestrials later in the summer.

Yellow Sally stoneflies are prolific on small streams and are usually between sizes 14-18. Yellow mayflies are also very common this time of year with the vast majority being around a 14 or 16 hook size. Sulpher Parachutes, Yellow Humpies, and PMD patterns can all fool trout feeding on these bright mayflies.

Caddis flies are also around during the month of June and can be many colors. Gray, tan, and olive elk hair caddis patterns in size 12-16 are very productive patterns. As for the nymphs of the species mentioned, patterns include copper john (all sizes), pheasant tails (12-20), micro stone (16-18), prince nymph (14-18), and micro mayflies (18-20). There have also been some large stone flies around sometimes over three inches long. If the water is muddy or you are hunting big fish black and golden stone patterns 8-10 will be a good option.

Terrestrials begin to play an important role in a trout’s diet this month. We have been seeing a very large amount of large black ants on the rocks. Ants can be incredible patterns for finicky trout unwilling to take larger patterns. Both flying and standard ants in size 12 to 16 are available in red and black.

Japanese Beetles usually begin to show up the middle of this month and can provide very good dry fly fishing with large flies. Beetle patterns from size 10 to size 14 work well to imitate the Japanese and other species of beetles in the area. Also inch worms will begin falling out of the trees starting around this time so a few green meanies in sz 12 or 14 should be in your box. We have already started catching fish on this pattern so some of the fish remember them from last year.

For those only worried about large fish, high water provides the best streamer fishing. Large fish feed heavily on smaller fish and flies that imitate them draw the biggest strikes. Wooly Buggers in sz 8, 10, 12 and in olive, black, and brown all work very well. Most streamer patterns will work on our streams but the wooly bugger is the most popular pattern.

The fishing has been very productive this year and will continue with our high water levels. Please stop by our new shop for anything you may need on the water or for some good advice.

Fishing & Hatch Report, May 6, 2009

The prime time fishing season has arrived!  May is arguably one of the best times of the year for fishing the High Country.  May traditionally has the greatest diversity of aquatic insects for the year making dry fly fishing an excellent option. 

As far as hatches go let’s start with the March Brown – this large grey colored Mayfly is found on most of the streams and rivers in our area and the fish are keyed in on them.  A size 12 Parachute Adams is an excellent imitation for the adult stage and a size 12 Pheasant Tail Nymph has a good subsurface pattern.

Though not found in every stream, but worth mentioning, the Green Drake Hatch occurs this month.  These Mayflies are between size 8-12 and bring up very large trout.

Other important hatches on the small streams and rivers include small Yellow Sally Stone flies, Giant Black Stones, Yellow Mayflies, and a variety of Caddis. Our local streams have been fishing very well with larger than average wild fish reportedly being caught throughout the area.

The delayed harvest section of the Watauga River was stocked last week and we placed several fish over twenty inches in some accessible holes.  Those who enjoy throwing streamers and chasing big trout will be happy to know that the local rivers will be high and colored for the next week or two as we have seen significant rain fall. Adding some extra split shot to your leader may be needed to provide perfect streamer presentation.

There is only more good news when it comes to fishing the tail water rivers of east Tennessee.  Our guides have reported  excellent fishing on the Watauga with averages exceeding 40 fish per float trip.  And if you’re wondering about quality not quantity then we should mention the 18, 19, 20, and 21 inch Brown Trout caught at the and end of last week.

The hatches on the Watauga are the usual suspects. All colors of Midges size 18-26, Crane Flies, Blue Winged Olives size 18-22, and Pale Morning Duns in the 16s.

The South Holston River has not been running enough water to float but the wade fishing has been excellent the past week with the beginning of the Sulpher Hatches.  Size 16 Comparaduns are a good go-to dry fly pattern and several Emerger and Dark Nymph patterns are a must in your fly box.  If the Sulphers are not coming off, keep an eye out for pods of fish feeding on Blue Wing Olives or Midges as they can also offer some nice fish.

Our professional guide staff is always up to date on what flies are fishing the best on a week to week or sometimes day to day basis.  So if you need help on fly selection please stop by the shop for some advice.  We offer a wide variety of Umpqua flies, an expanded fly tying section, and just about anything a fly fishermen needs for the season.  We hope to see you at the shop or on the water.  Good fishing!