Foscoe Fishing Company Guide - Matt Maness
Matt grew up fishing the lakes and ponds in the Piedmont around the Raleigh area. From the time he could hold one he had a fishing rod in his hand, and when he turned 10 his father introduced him to the world of fly fishing. He was taught how to fly fish in the Wilson Creek area and after he caught his first trout his passion for fly fishing began.
Over the years Matt explored more and more streams and rivers both in NC and TN; he has also made his mark out west fishing in Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. Matt has also spent a considerable amount of time pursuing saltwater fish on the coast as well as stripers on the Roanoke River.
He has developed into an accomplished angler both on local streams and on the tailwaters in TN and spends every free moment on the water. Matt is a full time guide for Foscoe Fishing Company and showed his skills as an accomplished woodworker by building his own wooden drift boat (one of many wooden boats he has built) which is a true work of art and appreciated by everyone on the river.
Matt's Fly Fishing Tales
Follow along with Matt as he shares his flyfishing adventures in the freshwater streams of North Carolina and Tennessee. Matt posts to this blog regularly so be sure to check back often or subsribe to our newsletter for digest updates.
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.
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
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.
» Meet all of Foscoe Fishing Company's Fly Fishing Guides
