Local and TN Tailwater Fishing Report February 4, 2010

Well after another very wet and cold couple of weeks the rivers are back up and running.  I don’t see any stop to the generators on the TN tail-waters in the near future.  The local streams are up but are very fishable, high off color water are our favorite water conditions to really get into them. 

We floated the Holston River several times in the past week and have had some great dry fly fishing as well as excellent nymphing, especially in the recently reopened spawn areas.  Its nice to fish to fish that haven’t seen a fake bug in four months.  Our dry fly fishing was most successful using blue wing patterns in the 18-20 range either olive, grey, or black.  The prominent hatch that we have seen in the last week were black flies.  Patterns in the 20-24 range seem to work well.  I usually have an assortment of colors from light to dark for these little guys.  If you have fished over there enough you know they will eat a variety of different patterns and colors so be prepared! 

Nymph fishing the reopened spawn water was borderline cheating.  We fished a lot of bigger patterns that usually are saved for the Delayed Harvest waters.  Prince nymphs, San Juan worms, copper johns, and of course the normal small blue wings and midge patterns worked well.

Our local Delayed Harvest water, the Watauga River, has been fishing well.  There are plenty of fish to catch and the water levels are great.  We have had the best luck on bigger patterns in the 12-16 range.  Prince Nymphs, zug bugs, San Juan worms, pheasant tails, have all produced fish.  Try not to over complicate things, really try to spot fish from the bank, move in slow and sink your flies to the right depth.

Good luck and make sure to come by and see us if your in the area or even if your not.