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Week of August 25 Average Water Temperature : 60-70
Degrees Fahrenheit
RAIN!!!!! With very little rain in the recent months, we are glad to have the showers that are predicted for the first half of the week. Use our streamflow links to determine whether your favorite stream has received any of the needed rain. Be aware that water levels will typically fall as quickly as they rise so expect a return to low water conditions in a few days. When landing fish this time of year, be wary of increased fish mortality due to the warm and low water levels. Consider breaking the flies loose rather than fully land the large fish as you may end up seriously harming them. Remember, tippet should be set at 6-7X and flourocarbon should still be the choice of those fishing under the surface. Davidson River: Even with the forecasted rain, the river is suffering from the same lack of water that is plaguing other streams in our region. With the weekend crowds as relentless as ever, please be cautious when landing fish. Due to the increased presure on this river and the low water levels, the trout definately need all the help they can get. As usual, Fish can be taken on the surface with #24 or #26 Tan or Gray Midges and #20 Parachute Adams are another set of options. Sub-surface try a small (#22 or smaller) olive or black midge larvae, small (#18 or smaller) caddis larvae, non-beaded pheasant tails and prince nymphs. It's very unlikely that you'll see any hatches but a few caddis may still be lingering for the rest of the month. If you're tired of fishing really tiny flies, consider a larger stonefly pattern (#8-12) in black or brown. These flies will work better in the lower river but there's no reason they shouldn't have a shot at the Hatchery. More often than not, the fish have seen your flies if they have drifted in front of them. Be sure to use fluorocarbon tippet in sizes from 5X - 8X. These fish see a lot of flies and they will not feed on heavy tippet. As for the lower river, Hatchery Supported stocking has begun and there are fish to be had there too. Sporadic mayfly hatches have been observed but mainly in the evenings. Consider fishing imitations of small Caddis, Black and Brown Stoneflies, and Blue Winged Olive patterns. Delayed Harvest Rivers: Delayed Harvest waters are fishing decently well and stockings have occurred in all rivers. Stocking levels have diminished with the end of the C&R regulations, however fish are still in the rivers and many anglers are finding them in the riffles and deep pools. Small beadhead nymphs in sizes 16-22 will work on most of the fish. Use an attractor nymph like an egg or a san juan worm to get the fish's attention. Because of the water levels, fluorocarbon tippet down to 6x is a good idea as well. French Broad River: Rain will help raise the low water conditions of the French Broad but the river will run off-color for a few days after the showers subside. Sub-surface patterns have been working well including clouser minnows, crawfish patterns, and large woolly buggers. Stock up on these patterns and prepare your popper box for the rest of an amazing season. Backcountry: Remember that high elevation sections of our small streams will hold less water than those downstream. With the low water levels seen in downstream reaches, you can imagine the little-to-no flow you'll find after the multi-mile hike. Consider fishing other areas until the water levels improve. Click here for NC Streamflow Levels Tuckaseegee River: Being a delayed harvest stream, the hatchery supported regulations have permitted a large number of fish to be taken out of the river. With frequent generation from the dam upstream, be sure to check the forecast prior to fishing. Consider fishing an attractor nymph
(#10-#14) and then a more realistic and small mayfly or caddis pattern (#16-22).
Flies to consider taking with you are olive woolly buggers, eggs,
san juan worms, rubber leg large nymphs, small pheasant tails, small
prince nymphs, and some zebra midges as well. Click here for Tuckasegee Release Schedule South Holston River: Fishing good as usual. The sulphurs have begun hatching and the river is nearing its best time to fish. Get there early and stay late. Be sure to carry a variety of sulphur patterns as these bugs are hatching and the water column is thick with sulphur nymphs. Black flies are also abundant, but midges and BWO's seem to be the preferred local fare. For flies, consider #20 gray or olive scuds, #22-24 black brook's sprout midge, #22 griffith's gnat, #22-26 black fly larvae. For The Sulphurs you'll need #16-20 comparaduns and CDC Biot Spinners, #20 tungsten pheasant tails, and #16 -20 Tungsten PMD split back nymphs. We're starting to see the BWO's begin their fall hatch and it'd be wise to carry both sulphurs and olives when you're on the water. Swing by the shop to find some of these patterns before your next trip to the greatest Southern trout stream. Make sure you check the generation schedule each evening after 5 p.m. for the following day for more up to date releases. Click here for South Holston Release Schedule Watauga River: The trophy section is fishing great. Rainbows in the 14"-18" range are being caught with regularity. Consider throwing an attractor nymph rig with a big, bright point fly and the a more realistic and smaller baetis, caddis, or midge nymph beneath. Both sulphurs and some caddis have been hatching in the afternoons but you'll need to catch the weather right to do well fishing on the surface - look for cloudy, rainy, or snowy days for the best dry fly fishing. Overall, the fishing has been quite exceptional as of late and some very nice fish have been caught on our trips. Not only are the average sizes of the fish on the rise, some days the numbers are equally astounding. Consider filling your box with sulphurs (#14-20), midges (#18-24), eggs (#8-12), big attractor nymphs (#8-12), pheasant tails (#18-22), and caddis nymphs (#14-18). Click here for Watauga Release Schedule
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Weekly Stream Report |
