Late Fall and Winter Hatch Report

The cold weather means its time for fishermen to start thinking small. This is the time of the year where one of the smallest mayflies will be hatching. The bluewing olive hatches will be abundant now through the rest of the winter on both the tailwaters and the local small streams.

SMALL STREAMS:

On our small streams the majority of the hatches will consist of small to very small blue wing olive mayflies (size 18-24). All types of BWO dry fly patterns and styles will work including parachute quill bodies, comparaduns (CDC and hair), and BWO Thorax. Some nymphs to use would be pheasant tails (18-20), BWO Master Nymph (18-20), and olive hares ears (16-20). Don’t over look copper johns or small black hares ears this time of year. The other small insects hatching will be midges. These bugs are very small and can sometimes come off in swarms. If the fish seem to be eating a bug that you can’t see then its probably a midge. The midges locally will be seen in three different colors: Tan/cream, black, and grey. Patterns to use will be zebra midges, crystal midges, and Griffith’s Gnats. You will want to use sizes (18-26). The copper brassie (18-22) and parachute adams(18-24) are also excellent patterns to use on the local streams.

TN TAILWATERS:

The tailwaters this time of year can provide some of the best dry fly fishing of the year with both BWOs and Midges being the primary hatches. These hatches are much larger and occur more often on the tail waters than on the local streams which means the fish will be very picky. All of the patterns mentioned for the small streams will work but there will be times that anglers will need to use exact stages of the insects hatching. Emerger patterns will be a must in your fly box. Long leaders, 15 feet plus, and good presentations will be critical during many of the BWO and midge hatches. This is also the best time of the year to target monster brown trout as they begin their pre-spawn movements. Remember that sections of the Holston are closed for the spawn and that proper release of these large fish is very important to the success of the spawn and to the preservation of this great fishery. Remember to dress in layers and try not to fish alone due to the cold weather.

Good Fishing!

May Hatch Report
NC Hatch Report
On the local streams there is a pletherora of bugs right now. You will see tons of midges in the cream to black colors in sizes 20 to 24. The mayflies are also going strong right now. Mayflies are ranging from a few Blue Winged Olives remaining to giant summer-time Sulphurs and everything in between. Parachute Adams is a hard fly to beat right now with the diversity of the Mayflies on the water. With such a diversity of bugs on the water, you will see Mayflies from as small as a size 20 to as large as a size 10 Green Drake. Your best bet for being prepared is to have lots of different options in your fly box to pull out. The caddis are starting to dwindle on the local streams, but there is always the stray black small caddis around. Stonefly time is rapidly approaching. There are some large tan and black stones around, but it will be very soon when those lovely Yellow and Chartruese stones start to pop. Stop by the fly shop to let us show you some new patterns that we are very excited about for this year.

Tennessee Tailrace Hatch Report- S. Holston and Watauga Rivers
May is a time of peace and plenty on the large tailrace rivers. The Watauga River caddis hatch is starting to dwindle on the Quality Trout Zone, but is still strong on the upper river in and upstream of Elizabethton. One of the most overlooked bugs on the whole river, the Cranefly, is hatching like crazy right now. The mayfly hatch is beginning in earnest on the river now and will continue into the summer. Fortunately right now the fish aren't as keyed into the midges as they normally are since they have been eating the big caddis and now the big mayflies.

The S. Hoslton is also really cranking up after its' sprintime lull. The river hasn't been seeing a tremendous amount of fishing pressure recently and the fish are hungry. The Sulphur hatch is beginning in earnest now and hopefully will continue into the fall. The sulphurs seems to hatch in the largest concentrations first thing in the moring and again late in the afternoon. The midge bite is still good on the upper river right now and should get better as we progress into this season.

If you need some new bugs, some help rigging different rigs, or simply want to chat, please stop by the fly shop and say hello.

Winter Hatch Report
Winter has finally arrived in the High Country. The water is cold and clear, the fish are deep but not asleep. Our guides tell us that wooly buggers are producing nice catches when fished deep, often with a nymph pattern dropped off the bend of the hook. Soft hackle flies with small split shot are also working well. Our highly oxygenated streams are rich in stone flies, so a stone fly nymph pattern can be successful. On calm, sunny days look for midges on top. Fish a Griffith’s gnat, sz 18 – 20, downstream.

Remember, cold water means that trout are not going to move far for food. So fish deep & slow, watching for the occasional midge or bluewing olive on top.

The story is different on our nearby tailwaters in Tennessee. The Watauga River can be temperamental this time of year, but if you are persistent with drifting nymph patterns, bluewing olive emergers & midges a good day can be had. Our guides are seeing bluewing olives (sz 20 – 24) and small midges on the South Holston. It’s also possible to see a few yellow mayflies (sz 16 – 18) in the afternoons. Before you end your day on the Holston, grease your leader to within 8 inches of a size 12 or 14 cranefly (dry) pattern, cast across & downstream, raise your rod tip & skitter the fly across the surface. It is absolutely amazing how often a large, selective brown will come after this rig.

Call us here at FOSCOE FISHING COMPANY & OUTFITTERS for the latest local stream info & the best cranefly pattern for the Holston. 828-963-6556