Trout - Anon:

Protecting streams: A $2.8 million lesson | Savannahnow.com Mobile

2011-12-13T10:38:00.000-06:00

Protecting streams: A $2.8 million lesson | Savannahnow.com Mobile

On the fly: The Wonder Fly | AspenTimes.com

2011-09-07T16:26:00.000-05:00

On the fly: The Wonder Fly | AspenTimes.com

America’s Roadless lands

2011-07-21T11:35:00.000-05:00

TU adamantly opposes this bill that would release our country’s roadless - backcountry lands from their present protections and open up some of the best fish and game habitat left in the United States to development.

America’s roadless lands in peril

Dry and dropper is the name of the game for area fly fishers- Kingsport Times-News

2011-07-15T21:56:00.000-05:00

Dry and dropper is the name of the game for area fly fishers- Kingsport Times-News

Fly fishing flooded out

2011-06-28T12:17:00.001-05:00

"This spring's flooding and high water have been great for rafting companies, but have made those in the fly fishing industry try to find new ways to do their jobs."
Fly fishing flooded out Bozeman, Montana

New iPhone App: Inside Yellowstone

2011-06-27T11:38:00.000-05:00

Get the latest news and events from Yellowstone Park

InsideYellowstone.com

Sulpher Dun

2011-06-24T16:27:00.001-05:00

Aquatic habitat enhancements scheduled for Nantahala area

2011-06-23T11:54:00.000-05:00

Hydro Licenses said to improve continuous minimum flow releases for the Nantahala river and popular
catch-and-release trout streams... including transfer of 150 acres of Duke property upstream of Wolf Creek Lake to U.S. Forest Service for protection of native brook trout habitat.

Full details in the Macon County News

Saving Native Trout in Yellowstone

2011-06-14T11:17:00.000-05:00

Saving Native Trout in Yellowstone

"Yellowstone National Park and the National Park Service have recognized the seriousness of the situation, and they recently released a Native Fish Conservation Plan, which sets out a more aggressive strategy"

Gallatin River near flood stage

2011-06-09T11:12:00.002-05:00

River inches toward flood stage - Big Sky: "With a few sunny, warm days this week, the Lone Mountain Snotel
station recorded snowpack on Lone Mountain has dropped over 10
inches. "

Yellowstone visitor numbers down for 2011

2011-06-08T16:31:00.002-05:00

Yellowstone visitor numbers down for 2011:
"YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) - The number of people visiting Yellowstone National Park is down substantially

UPDATE: Flood Warnings now cover most of SW Montana

2011-06-08T00:17:00.002-05:00

UPDATE: Flood Warnings now cover most of SW Montana

Top 10 Nymphs for Yellowstone Country

2011-06-06T14:00:00.000-05:00

Top 10 Nymphs for Yellowstone Country

West MT Rivers to Experience Most Significant Rise yet this Season

2011-06-06T11:55:00.000-05:00

High fashion Fly Tying? Rooster tail hair extensions

2011-06-05T21:51:00.001-05:00

High fashion or bait? Fly ties now hair extensions

Bud Lilly: ‘Dean’ of Montana fly fishing and stalwart of conservation

2011-06-03T11:43:00.002-05:00

Bud Lilly: ‘Dean’ of Montana fly fishing and stalwart of conservation:
"It seems Bud Lilly could've become just about anything he wanted."

Surging Greek Creek forces road closure - Big Sky - Lone Peak Lookout : Local News

2011-06-02T11:35:00.000-05:00

Surging Greek Creek forces road closure - Big Sky - Lone Peak Lookout : Local News: "Rainfall and excessive snowpack melting resulted in traffic
delays along Highway 191 through the Gallatin Canyon this weekend
when Greek Creek…"

Lefty Kreh wows crowds in Bristol with fly-fishing tips

2011-05-24T07:15:00.002-05:00

Experts wow crowds in Bristol with fly-fishing tips: The nations most legendary angler; a man so famous that he has his own postage stamp penned a handwritten inscription in one of the two books Joy Cole bought off him Saturday."

Hit the road: Good fishing still possible but anglers must travel to find it - Big Sky - Lone Peak Lookout : Local News

2011-05-20T14:41:00.006-05:00

Hit the road: Good fishing still possible but anglers must travel to find it - Big Sky: "Dave Alvin, owner of East Slope Outdoors in Big Sky, spends his days doing what he loves - fly fishing the lakes, rivers and
streams of …"

The 2011 U.S. National Fly Fishing Championship

2011-05-20T13:36:00.006-05:00

"The 2011 U.S. National Fly Fishing Championship will be held May 19 through May 22. It will be headquartered in Cherokee with fishing held on several waterways in the region."

Check out details at The Smoky Mountain News

Tennessee Trout trip gets A-plus

2011-05-17T11:36:00.000-05:00

Jeffrey L. Frischkorn: Tennessee trout trip gets A-plus - news-herald.com

1968 Story of Dan Bailey's fly shop

2011-03-24T07:23:00.000-05:00

March 24, 1968 -- Story of Dan Bailey's fly shop

Smokies needs trail volunteers

2011-03-22T07:12:00.000-05:00

http://www.thesunnews.com/2011/03/22/2054320/smokies-needs-trail-volunteers.html

Fly-Fishing Fantasy: Bidder Pays $70k for Trip and Visit with President Jimmy Carter

2011-03-08T06:51:00.000-06:00

Fly-Fishing Fantasy: Bidder Pays $70k for Trip and Visit with President Jimmy Carter

Fish hatchery crisis brewing; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants to stop funding | The Baxter Bulletin | baxterbulletin.com

2011-02-22T15:45:00.000-06:00

Fish hatchery crisis brewing; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants to stop funding | The Baxter Bulletin | baxterbulletin.com

Nat’l budget could affect local tourism - Heber Springs, AR - The Sun-Times

2011-02-21T20:59:00.000-06:00

Nat’l budget could affect local tourism - Heber Springs, AR - The Sun-Times

Erwin Hatchery closing : Trout fishing in East Tennessee could become nearly non-existent as part of the new federal budget plan.

2011-02-21T07:33:00.000-06:00

Erwin Hatchery closing could have a huge economic impact | TriCities.com

Boulder police look for fly fishing-rod thieves - Boulder Daily Camera

2011-02-08T13:15:00.000-06:00

Boulder police look for fly fishing-rod thieves - Boulder Daily Camera

Striped Bass-Massacre-Off-North-Carolina

2011-01-20T12:13:00.000-06:00

Striper-Massacre-Off-North-Carolina

Winter doesn't keep die-hard anglers out of the water

2011-01-17T23:13:00.002-06:00

Winter doesn't keep die-hard anglers out of the water

Montana-Snowpack-Update

2011-01-13T20:38:00.000-06:00

Montana-Snowpack-Update

The Original "One Fly"

2010-10-23T16:36:00.000-05:00

The Original "One Fly"

3M to acquire Ross Reels

2010-09-30T19:48:00.002-05:00

ST. PAUL, Minn. – September 30, 2010 – 3M announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Ross Reels, a Colorado-based manufacturer of fly fishing equipment and accessories. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Here's a link to the press release:

3M to aquire Ross Reels

Smallmouth fishery an underrated resource | McDowellNews.com

2010-08-02T15:31:00.000-05:00

Smallmouth fishery an underrated resource | McDowellNews.com

UNITED WE FISH

2010-03-10T19:56:00.003-06:00

The Obama administration has ended public input for a federal strategy that could prohibit U.S. citizens from fishing some of the nation's oceans, coastal areas, Great Lakes, and even inland waters.

ESPN.COM

Concealed Firearms allowed in GSMNP

2010-02-12T17:54:00.002-06:00

Concealed Firearms Regulations
As of February 22, 2010, a new federal law allows people who can legally possess firearms under applicable federal, state, and local laws, to legally possess firearms in this park. It is the responsibility of visitors to understand and comply with all applicable state, local, and federal firearms laws before entering this park. As a starting point, please visit the federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms website and select the state that you are interested in from the list on the right side of the page. More specific information about state permit regulations can be obtained on the following website

GSMNP Laws and Policies

Skating for trout | TriCities

2010-01-06T23:34:00.000-06:00

Skating for trout | TriCities

Montana Trip Cancelled

2009-09-22T21:58:00.006-05:00

Normally this would be very bad news.....the plane tickets were refunded, The new Simms Gore-tex waders will collect dust for a while, I won't be cleaning fly lines or winding spools, and the western Trout will wait a season to see some of the best flies I've ever tied........ but in this case it was all a blessing.

Malenda Sage

South Holston

2009-08-17T21:31:00.028-05:00

I get a little sentimental when talking of the South Holston as it's the river where I took my first fly fishing trip. My wife booked a guided trip for us back in 2003 before I learned how to properly assemble a fly rod. I can still remember how we started the morning....an hour of wade-fishing before the big float, and I was not happy.
The rocks were too slick to stand up, my line was caught in a tree,it was cold, way too early to be standing in a river, and we sure weren't catching any fish....

--amazing what time can do.
For our triumphant return, long-time guide, Bob Viers, graciously allowed us to stay, once again, at his place on the river called Anglers Rest. This place is like a Shrine dedicated to fly fishing. One could spend several hours reading all the stuff on the walls viewing the various styles of trout-art....and that's just in the bathroom. On the backside of the house, facing the river, there's a set of strategically placed rod holders and place to clean your wading boots

....If you go, don't bother bringing any books on fly fishing, because they're already there, including, The Compleat Lee Wulff

Coincidentally, I began this most recent trip with an early 6:00am wade among the slick rocks and the 50 degree water except this time, after landing three little Browns in quick succession, I knew it was going to be a memorable day. I only had about 90 mins before the dam generation started pushing me downstream....Bob warned us on the night we arrived, if we got stuck on the opposite side of the river that it was a four-mile hike back to civilization.

As our wives began their weekend shopping binge, Bob, Mark and I started our Trout quest down the SoHo.
Lately, the generation schedule has favored the floaters as we only saw a three hour window that would allow for wade fishing, which is difficult under moonlight.

we caught so many fish we lost count....a solid estimate would be around 15 fish for each of us, including something Bob takes a lot of pride in, "The double hook-up" or when two anglers hook fish simultaneously...we accomplished that 7 times. After begging Bob to break out the dry flies, I immediately brought in three Browns in the 14" to 15" inch range. We fished most of the day with Partridge and Yellow and only switched over to Sulpher Spinners for a brief period in the late afternoon....it was real treat targeting several rising Browns and seeing them agressively pounce on the dries.

If you want to have good time and catch a lot of fish, I highly recommend Bob Viers who works out of Virginia Creeper Fly Shop in Abingdon, VA. His experience shows as I've never landed so many fish with so much size. I know we'll be back again; except next time, we won't wait six years.

Montana Bound...

2009-08-09T23:48:00.011-05:00

In preparation for our annual trip to Montana, I've started tying some flies I hope will fool a big Trout or three. I guess if they're big, they'll be fairly skilled in the art of not getting caught.

The photo from the top right of this blog, is of a 20" Yellowstone Cutthroat I got on the Lamar river, last summer. The Lamar, a popular spot for anglers, is well-known for the massive Green Drake hatches and hordes of Hoppers. But when we showed up last September, a cold front had moved in and there wasn't much surface activity. I got the big Cutt on a Quasimodo PT. Hopefully, if we make our way back to Yellowstone again, the terrestrial fishing will be back to normal....at least that's what I'm counting on.

When hopper season starts, you can find willing fish using a variety of patterns. Since we tend to travel west late in the season, I've found a few patterns that Trout will go for in addition to ants and hoppers.

Attractor and hairwing dries can be good producers during hopper season...and the "buggier" the better. Yellow Stones will work well as will Stimulators and large Adams variations.

Brookies Get a Leg Up

2009-07-15T20:27:00.001-05:00

Brookies Get a "Leg" Up | TriCities

Shared via AddThis

Caney Fork Follies

2009-07-01T20:08:00.015-05:00

It was a hot and humid weekend on the Caney. We camped at Long Branch campground and tried to stay cool....I should say, tried to avoid heat stroke.It started out rough with a Friday night thunderstorm, then gradually tapered into one of the hottest, muggiest weekends of the summer.
The good news is we got to reorganize our camping gear, and we got to do a lot of fishing with the generation pumping minimum flows.

The #20 zebra midge tied with copper wire and brass head did the trick. In addition to Trout, Bill caught a small mouth and I got my first Bluegill at the Caney. Between the two of us we landed all three Trout varieties. We were dehydrated, but the fishing was good.

The familiar river came with several unfamiliar events, mostly involving boaters, who are getting completely out of hand, by the way. Caney weekends are flooded with more and more floater traffic, and I'm seeing more and more careless, inconsiderate people. First, I was run down by three teenagers obviously on their maiden canoe voyage. The same afternoon, Rob Roy in his over-powered Jon Boat came screaming through, leaving a huge wake in the middle of several smaller fishing craft. He ran-ground a few seconds later. I recognized the sound of the rotor-plowing-earth, so I didn't have to look up to know what had happened. That gave me a chuckle.

As we were preparing for dinner, we heard an awful whine of some motor only to peer over the bank and see two spin-reelmen fighting to make it back, up-stream against the generation flow. They didn't make it. Unfortunately, the engine seized and they tied-off their vessel to a downed tree. When they returned with more rope and the Boatswain's Mate, the generation had stopped and the water level was dropping. The end result was a boat essentially caught in a tree.

Finally, On our way back to to our vehicle we noticed two people sleeping in the bed of a truck with an empty boat trailer attached. A few minutes later, a third crew member showed-up with a slimjim then began the task of trying to unlock the truck door without keys, of course.

Perhaps the highlight of the weekend were the rack of Ribs Bill cooked for everyone on Saturday night. He shared with me the rub recipe that I cannot publish, but believe me when I say it was worth the 5 hours it took for them to roast over Hickory coals.....except next time, I think we'll do it in early Fall.

Pisgah National Forest

2009-05-28T22:31:00.009-05:00

I love it when a plan comes together. My wife and I wanted to get away for the Memorial day weekend. When it came time to decide where, one of the main requirements was that we stay 30 minutes from friends who reside in Asheville, NC. A few quick flips through the Delorme North Carolina Atlas and Gazetteer combined with the searching power of Google and we were able to pin-point a cabin well within a short stroll of some very fine Trout waters. Well-worth the twenty bucks to seek out streams like this. Try it for yourself. As you may already know, In the atlas fore mentioned, the publishers have taken the time to print a tiny fish icon on streams where wild and or hatchery-stocked Trout reside. I'm always shock 'n awed whenever I open the North Carolina version and see so many pages covered with those little Trout emblems...something about that gives me a warm fuzzy feeling.

It turned out to be a rainy weekend. One of those low pressure systems apparently stalled over western NC. I still managed to get some nice fish and I got to meet-up with a fellow angler whose name I cannot publish. We'll just refer to him as "Bill," for now.
In spite of all the muggy-ness and muddy-ness I did have a grand-slam. Unfortunately, I didn't land all three varieties all in one day, so I guess it was a "grand-slam weekend" I can still say that right?

The fish were not actively feeding on the surface, although the ones that did come-up, chased after larger imitations. I got the Brown on a #14 Yellow Humpy and I got a nice Brookie on a #12 stimulator...several rainbows on a #16 BHPT

Pisgah National is a beautiful forest with lots of water. But don't forget your fishing license. The last two times I've fished in NC, I've been asked to display proper licensure for the local game warden, which I was again, happy to do...even in the rain.

This Just In...

2009-05-04T11:41:00.004-05:00

It's raining outside. The freestone flows of the Smokies are roaring, and many of the local tailwaters are pumping two generators. So unless your fishing buddy has a good drift boat, I wouldn't advise getting too close to the water. Put the fly rod down. Step away from the water.

The good news is the Fescue is looking great in our neighborhood. But seriously, I don't want to complain about rain. A few months ago we were in a drought and we'll need every bit of this rain come July and August. I just wish we could strategically place a few sunnier weekends in between the floods.

TN Guide License

2009-04-26T08:51:00.003-05:00

I haven't yet explored the issues surrounding TWRA's possible issuance of a Guide License for Tennessee, but on the surface it sounds like a great idea; especially on waters like the Caney Fork that have grown in popularity over the years and are now over crowded.

Bob Hodge writes about the issue @ knoxnews.com

Springtime in the Smokies

2009-03-26T20:54:00.009-05:00

Fly Fishing the freestone streams of the Smoky Mountains demand certain techniques for anglers to be successful. It's amazing how spooky these fish can be. A little thing like too much fly line on the surface can send an otherwise hungry fish into hiding.... That's why I called someone with plenty of the necessary skills.

On Saturday 3/21 Sean Harper and I hit the Little River at Elkmont. He had three fish before I made my first cast. He only got to spend one day but I had an extended weekend to improve my fish numbers, which I did.

The fish gradually became more and more active each day I was out. I fished mostly mid to late afternoons, and on Monday saw the Quill Gordon hatch in full-swing and the fish responding well to almost any dry-fly pattern.

I averaged 5-6 fish each outing and one late afternoon had (I'm assuming) a big brown eat a #16 BHPT then just lay there. I pulled once thinking I was caught on a rock, then this fish rocketed down stream like nothing I'd ever witnessed. The last time I saw this fish it was in the air, and it sounded like someone slapping a boat paddle on the water when he went back in. Hooking that fish came as a total surprise because most don't grow so big in the smokies...but apparently they're out there.

Public comments needed on Tellico Fishery

2009-03-06T06:40:00.004-06:00

"The Upper Tellico ORV trail system has extensive damage and contributes unacceptable levels of sediments into the Tellico River and its tributaries. The Forest Service is in violation of its own standards and North Carolina water quality standards because visible sediment from the ORV trails is reaching the Tellico River and its tributaries in hundreds of locations."
Cherokee Scout - March 3, 2009

Get the Full Story Here

Brassie Midge

2009-02-28T18:26:00.003-06:00

As Nashville's first winter storm of 2009 approaches, I've been indoors tying some Brassie midges for a fly swap with some members of Little River Outfitters message board.

These midges are size 20 and honestly, that's the smallest size I'm willing to attempt, and that's with a fairly simple recipe and some magnifiers.

Hopefully it won't be much longer before we start seeing some bugs up in the mountains.

Caney Report 2.16.09

2009-02-16T21:01:00.005-06:00

The first outing of 2009 was a successful one; that means I caught at least one fish today on the Caney. I gambled on the generation schedule since it was in the low thirties yesterday....turned out to be a nice day to be out on the water, and not too many people around on this President's Day.

I started out below the dam and wasn't seeing much anything other than 4 spin-reelmen chucking spoons for distance. It never ceases to amaze me...but I'll save my negativity for next month.

Down at Happy Hollow, I got three stocker-bows and one nice Brook maybe 12 inches. I actually had a couple rise to a #16 Parachute Adams but of the four I landed, I got with a #14 Prince nymph. That's a shot of the Brook Trout at the top...

New Gadgets

2009-02-05T10:11:00.009-06:00

Soon I'll be adding some new "gadgets" like the current radar picture for eastern Tennessee, as seen below, to enhance the usability of this blog. I'm a big fan of practicality. Also, check out the new fly pattern Index, courtesy of Fly Tyer.....

Now hear this.....Amelia is Mad!

2009-01-26T19:56:00.008-06:00

Amelia is mad because she's tired of seeing so much litter along our stream banks and other natural areas. However, if you see any litterbugs, The State of Tennessee offers a service where the offenders will be contacted. ...pointless, some would argue, but Amelia disagrees. She thinks people casually discard their gum wrappers and drink cans because they don't think anyone is watching. If they get something in the mail letting them know they were caught, then maybe, just maybe they will be sorry for committing such a terrible act. It's better than doing nothing. You can report litterbugs by following this link and supplying the appropriate information.

There's still hope. If you're not a fan of Tennessee's Stop Litter campaign, then you'll be relieved to know that Amelia has devised a brilliant scheme to stop Tennessee Trash and I am already on the bandwagon. Check it out:

Cold Weather: Streamers and Bucktails...

2009-01-05T21:32:00.008-06:00

One of the best books I've read on Fly Fishing is The Fly and the Fish by the late John Atherton which was written in 1951, reprinted in 1971 and most recently in 2006. Some books on Fly Fishing tend to read more like a military manual versus a piece of literature; not that there's less value to one writing style over another....If it's about Fly fishing, I'll give anything a glance, but Atherton does an excellent job of stating raw information without losing his sense of expression.

In chapter six he writes about winter fishing and how he could surprisingly find willing Trout while using a certain dry-pattern... and so with the Holiday season and dreary weather keeping many of us land-locked, I found it comforting to pick it up and read from this section.

According to Atherton, a good streamer pattern for early season is the Dark Edson Tiger. He writes, "This fly has held up surprisingly well every season and I would never be without some."

Fishing with streamers in the winter months is no big secret, and Atherton reinforced that notion by suggesting that fly tiers be creative with materials geared towards minnow imitations; namely bucktails and marabou.

So, if winter fishing isn't your favorite thing in the world, then pick up an old favorite book or get crazy and drag out the tying vice.

Good News for Responsible Gun Owners

2008-12-15T18:26:00.003-06:00

"GATLINBURG, Tenn. (AssociatedPress) -- The National Park Service will allow weapons to be carried in the Smokies after the overturning of a federal rule restricting weapons in national parks and wildlife refuges.

The Park Service said Monday the agency will recognize handgun permits from Tennessee and North Carolina, beginning in January.

NPS spokesman Bob Miller in Gatlinburg said under current regulations, firearms can be brought into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park only when cased or trigger-locked and left in vehicles.

The new regulations will allow people who have valid permits to carry weapons to keep them on their person.

The new rules will apply to permits holders from Tennessee, North Carolina and states with which they have reciprocal agreements."

Caney Fork Props

2008-11-09T21:41:00.002-06:00

According to Owen Schroeder, of The Leaf Chronicle,Clarksville,TN...

"... the Caney Fork is the hottest spot in the state for trout fishing and in some places anglers are lined up every 50 yards along the river casting their flies and streamers, and it seems that they are all catching fish."

I've seen this Phenom, and personally I think the place gets a little over-crowded at times. But the Caney Fork is still a great place especially if you're in a drift boat......good fishing, too.

You can read the rest of Owen Schroeder's article here, where he makes a broad generalization on the popularity of Fly Fishing....He states:

"Trout anglers don't get a lot of press because they are not involved in fishing tournaments, although they do form associations that inform and teach anyone who wants to learn how to fish for trout."

....Shouldn't "Trout" be capitalized?

http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20081109/COLUMNISTS11/811090354

Pictures from Montana

2008-09-02T19:24:00.006-05:00

Patience, Grasshopper

2008-08-25T16:50:00.015-05:00

Been tying some foam hoppers for our trip out west, and I'm happy to report that all of them float.

I thought they looked rather dense. I didn't follow any one specific pattern....just made some segmented, foam bodies and let them sail out on the rivers of creativity .... Unfortunately, the rivers of creativity are usually either dammed or flooded, and I have a box full of wreckage to prove it. The wreckage- box is full of discarded flies that didn't pass-inspection. I keep them around

1) As a gentle reminder that it takes patience

2) and most importantly....To recycle the hooks.

On this adventure everything turned-out Okay. This batch, while not perfect, passed inspection for now. The real test comes in three short days when Inspector Brown gets his first look...wish me luck. I hear he's not easily fooled.

The Good with the Bad

2008-08-18T20:43:00.022-05:00

It was the familiar Caney Fork outing again Friday morning 8/15... Started at Happy Hollow and got a fish on my first cast with the Tailwater Taffy midge....then nothing for the next hour. After generation picked-up, I picked-up and moved to Betty's Island when I recognized some fellow anglers who talked about the importance of taking Friday's off. They also mentioned something about large numbers of fish they had been catching....so, after lunch on the tailgate of my truck, I accepted their advice and headed towards the dam after generation had stopped...As predicted, I had a great day bringing in fish after fish

...oddly enough it seemed I was getting fish every other cast......most of the catch on this day were 7-8-9 inches. It seemed the fabled 100- fish-day was suddenly very possible...... it was unusual to say the least...maybe it was the new fish finders....maybe it was the full moon...perhaps I caught the same fish more than thrice??

The bad news is every time I visit the Caney, I notice more and more trash discarded along the banks. Below the dam there's at least two large trash cans available for use, yet the ignorant and or inconsiderate apparently roam free...I couldn't help but notice that the corn was of the Grade A fancy variety.

The Ticket for Tailwaters

2008-08-04T18:30:00.006-05:00

Summertime ....It's probably the same wherever you go just about anywhere the U.S...Caddisflies are common at this time in the season. ....whether their pupa be Free-Living, Net-Spinning, Saddle-case, Purse-Case, or Tube-Case, they can be found on most any type of water....just don't confuse a Caddisfly with an aquatic moth; the Trout will never forgive you.

According to Rick Hafele and Scott Roederer, authors of, An Angler's guide to Aquatic Insects and their Imitations, even though caddis are present on all types of water, the first were born of cool mountain streams....Today hundreds of various species have adapted to warmer lakes and rivers.

This is why it's important to carry several adult dry-caddis imitations in hook sizes #12-#16. In addition, Hafele and Roederer recommend these popular patterns for free-living caddis imitation in their larva and pupa stages:

Latex Caddis
Zug Bug
Soft Hackles
Flymps
Sparkle Pupa

Over the past couple of weeks I've fished the Toccoa tailwaters in Blue Ridge, GA as well as the Elk river between Lynchburg and Winchester, TN... Caddis imitations has been the ticket, especially in the morning hours. We didn't get any monsters but we did find plenty of Browns and Rainbows willing to rise-up and take a # 16 EHC.....It's always fun casting a "dry" to a hungry fish.

Watching Trains Wreck...

2008-07-25T09:40:00.012-05:00

you might say...."Love Trains"

The only thing I don't like about football season is the fact that it collides head-on with the annual highlight my fishing habit.....Opening day of NCAA football usually happens on day 1 of our annual trip to Big Sky country. I'm not complaining because either of these things are even slightly unfavorable, only that I'm usually torn between two of my favorite activities..... I can't have my cake and eat it, too............The good news is I can fly fish year round...just maybe not always on the Gallatin...or Madison...or Yellowstone. Woe is me.

This weekend we're headed down to the Toccoa tailwater in North Georgia. Never been there, know nothing about it...just going in "blind." I've read positive reports from seasons passed, buts that's about it......and it's good to do that once in while....go to an unfamiliar water with little or no info and test your skillz so to speak. Speaking of testing, I'm packing plenty of the Tailwater Taffy prototype for the trip..... This may be the last one before we pack for Montana....Until then enjoy this excerpt of Brad Pitt bringing in a Lake Trout?

Tailwater Midge Patterns

2008-07-22T23:07:00.019-05:00

I'm Sure that someone at some point has found their own version of this particular pattern, probably very similar in size, color and materials...but until someone comes with visual proof (or a better name), I'm calling it:

"Tailwater Taffy"

Sounds delicious..... I'll let Mr Brown and friends give it a blind taste test this coming weekend ..... maybe see what they think about it.... The recipe is as follows:

Hook: TMC 2487, no. 20

Bead: Tungsten, copper finish, 5/64

Abdomen: Uni-Thread Light Cahill, Size 8

Rib: Red ultra-Wire, Small

Wing: Poly Yarn

Thorax: Peacock Herl

If you're new to fly tying, then consider midges your friends. They're fairly simple to create, require minimum amounts of materials, and most importantly, they're effective imitations of a number of aquatic life-forms. The downside is, you'll go blind before you reach perfection. Size #20 is about all I can muster...to tie anything smaller I would need a giant magnifine glass with a light.....and probably one of those hooded goggle-magnifiers... like a jeweler might wear.

You know what they say...
"If you want to improve your catch-rate, then move down a hook size"...easy enough.

I like to fish midges behind a slightly larger, more buoyant (without a bead head) Hare's Ear, Pheasant Tail, or Prince Nymph. ...Mr. Brown loves small shiny objects....In an ideal situation, A giant Brown will notice the shiny midge dropper as "food" then, as he moves in for the "take" will then see the larger piece of "food" directly in front of his nose...The generally accepted theory is that Trout take the larger food when moving through the buffet line.

One easy technique for fishing midges or any nymph-rig is to do it "On the swing." Books have probably been written on the topic, but to make it simple ....Near the end of your down-stream drift, mend once downstream, when you see your fly speed-up, raise your rod tip and swing
(or pull) the fly S L O W L Y across the run so that it moves laterally through the end of your cast......I hope that makes sense.

As for wire midges, Tie in the wire by wrapping with thread, along the hook bend.

A solid rotary vise is a big help... I enjoy using The Montana Mongoose by Griffin....

2008-07-13T15:15:00.001-05:00

Caney Fork, Elk River Weekend...

Hit the Caney Fork Friday morning, 7/11/08 arrived around 10:30 am and sun was already scorching. Started out below the dam to find, surprisingly few other anglers around. This has not been the case over the past month or so. Usually, that stretch below the dam is covered-up with people, and the weekend of June 27-28, there were anglers shoulder to shoulder in an impressive but sad single file line extending several 100 yards down stream. But like I said, Friday was different, counted only five to six other people.....besides, who needs solitude? .....Anyone?

Whatever the small gripes, I enjoy fishing the Caney, you can usually find solitude within a short hike and it's a great fishery. If you have some time, you might want to read the Management plan for the Caney Fork. On pages 12-13 the authors list results from electro-fishing surveys for both Brown and Rainbow Trout from 1997-2003. It's interesting to note, during those years, how few of those fish were 16 inches or greater. On the other hand, one of the goals of the plan was to increase the average size , and based on my personal experiences, I'd call the plan successful......Now, back to the trip...

As usual, the water was calm, cold and crystal clear, and for that reason I tied on a 6X- 9ft leader, didn't bother with tippet since I'd be throwing #16-22 sized flies... Caught several Rainbow in the 8- 9-10 inch range and a few of the newly stocked Brook Trout. One of which possibly, 14 inches or better, as the thin leader was testing my patience and skills. Just as I got him close enough to make a visual, I forced the issue, and forced the fly right out of his mouth. I used #20 or smaller wire midge and BHPT.

That's something I can admit, I need to work on. Patience.....and taking a camera with me whenever I go fishing; especially when there's a good fish too be had. Typically, I apply too much pressure just before the fish can be landed. I guess I need to work on a slower more methodical approach....but sometimes I just CAN'T HANDLE THE PRESSURE!

The Elk River, Winchester, Tn...

Marci and I hit the Elk on Saturday morning amongst the many thunderstorms in the area. I hit the river in full regalia; she hit the shoal with a chair and a book. On our way there, we drove through one rather strong storm along Hwy 50 but things had cleared up by the time we made it to Tims Ford. Got there around 10:00 am, not too crowded probably due to the rains.

I didn't check the water temp at the Caney but the water coming out of Tims Ford was a frigid 56-57 degrees f. According to information provided at http://www.tva.gov/ they're keeping a minimum flow of 200 cfs in order to support certain types of aquatic life.

Interesting tidbit....1 cubic ft per second (cfs) = 7.48 gallons per second (gps)

The fishing was a little slower on the Elk although I did land 5-6 fish, mostly smaller rainbows, the largest being in that 8-9-10 inch range. The added bonus on this day was seeing the dense fog come off the water against the warm air.

I used the same 6X leader setup, except here, I tied a double nymph rig. Oddly enough the fish were not responding to anything other than a #16 BHPT. I saw one swim towards the "dropper" which was a #20 red wire midge creation with a glass BH; passed it right-up and ate the larger #16 BHPT. Perhaps the midge served as what Jackie Gleason called "An attention getter...."
(from the 1977 release, Smokey and the Bandit)

2008-07-08T18:41:00.000-05:00

The Countdown Begins...

Graphic Timergreat free widgetsWidgetbox

What better place than Yellowstone for one to come to grips with severe Fly-Fishing-Like behavior? We jokingly call our vacation a "conclave" but most of the time its just you and the Trout....and the Elk and Bison and the occasional Moose and or Bear...just call them " a support group."

I think it was John Gierach who wrote, "Fly-fishing is solitary, contemplative, misanthropic, scientific in some hands, poetic in others, and laced with conflicting aesthetic considerations. It is not even clear if catching fish is actually the point."

Catching fish is always the point; always the point in going towards the water, anyway. Just don't forget to look up once in while and appreciate the setting. We can have it both ways....we can catch fish AND enjoy nature.....but I'm still not sure which one is the "bonus."

2008-07-07T23:09:00.002-05:00

Sometimes it's
the ones
we love...

who lead us to the point of no return; and I'm no different...I have to blame my wife Marci , at least partially, for my current situation. It was she who booked our first float trip on the South Holston and it was she who first invited me to travel to Montana

(...of all places).

Trout - Anon:

Protecting streams: A $2.8 million lesson | Savannahnow.com Mobile

On the fly: The Wonder Fly | AspenTimes.com

America’s Roadless lands

Dry and dropper is the name of the game for area fly fishers- Kingsport Times-News

Fly fishing flooded out

New iPhone App: Inside Yellowstone

Sulpher Dun

Aquatic habitat enhancements scheduled for Nantahala area

Saving Native Trout in Yellowstone

Gallatin River near flood stage

Yellowstone visitor numbers down for 2011

UPDATE: Flood Warnings now cover most of SW Montana

Top 10 Nymphs for Yellowstone Country

West MT Rivers to Experience Most Significant Rise yet this Season

High fashion Fly Tying? Rooster tail hair extensions

Bud Lilly: ‘Dean’ of Montana fly fishing and stalwart of conservation

Surging Greek Creek forces road closure - Big Sky - Lone Peak Lookout : Local News

Lefty Kreh wows crowds in Bristol with fly-fishing tips

Hit the road: Good fishing still possible but anglers must travel to find it - Big Sky - Lone Peak Lookout : Local News

The 2011 U.S. National Fly Fishing Championship

Tennessee Trout trip gets A-plus

1968 Story of Dan Bailey's fly shop

Smokies needs trail volunteers

Fly-Fishing Fantasy: Bidder Pays $70k for Trip and Visit with President Jimmy Carter

Fish hatchery crisis brewing; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants to stop funding | The Baxter Bulletin | baxterbulletin.com

Nat’l budget could affect local tourism - Heber Springs, AR - The Sun-Times

Erwin Hatchery closing : Trout fishing in East Tennessee could become nearly non-existent as part of the new federal budget plan.

Boulder police look for fly fishing-rod thieves - Boulder Daily Camera

Striped Bass-Massacre-Off-North-Carolina

Winter doesn't keep die-hard anglers out of the water

Montana-Snowpack-Update

The Original "One Fly"

3M to acquire Ross Reels

Smallmouth fishery an underrated resource | McDowellNews.com

UNITED WE FISH

Concealed Firearms allowed in GSMNP

Skating for trout | TriCities

Montana Trip Cancelled

South Holston

Montana Bound...

Brookies Get a Leg Up

Caney Fork Follies

Pisgah National Forest

This Just In...

TN Guide License

Springtime in the Smokies

Public comments needed on Tellico Fishery

More Dam Problems

Brassie Midge

Caney Report 2.16.09

New Gadgets

Now hear this.....Amelia is Mad!

Cold Weather: Streamers and Bucktails...

Good News for Responsible Gun Owners

Caney Fork Props

Pictures from Montana

Patience, Grasshopper

The Good with the Bad

The Ticket for Tailwaters

Watching Trains Wreck...

Tailwater Midge Patterns