Hiwassee Angler

Sweet Sticks

2012-01-26T12:57:00.001-05:00

Walk softly and carry a Green Stick!

Come by the shop and give it a test drive. You owe it to yourself!

Guided Trip Rates for 2012 Season

2012-01-26T12:06:00.000-05:00

We are pleased to announce that our prices for guided fishing trips will remain the same for the 2012 season. We have been able to keep our rates locked in for another year due to the increasing volume of trips done each year. Thanks to our ever increasing client base, WE HAVE NEVER had to increase our rates for guided trips. It's just another way to show how much we appreciate your business!

Rates for 2012 season

$250/half day trip

$350/full day trip

Same price for 1 or 2 anglers. Check out our website for additional information about our guided fishing trips. As always, feel free to call with questions or to book your day on the water.

Updated List of Waters

2012-01-26T11:58:00.000-05:00

Customer recently asked for an updated list of the waters that we guide on. Thought I would post it here as well.
Hiwassee River
Tellico River
North River
Clinch River
Holston River
Nantahala River
Toccoa River
Many area lakes....call for details.
We specialize in guiding for trout, smallmouth bass and striper.

Clacka Sale

2012-01-13T10:59:00.000-05:00

Got an email from John at ClackaCraft yesterday. He told me that they are placing all their 2011 16LP's on sale. He also authorized us to do the same with the boat that we have for sale at the shop. This is a pretty good discount, so if you're interested in a new drift boat now is the time.

Thanks for Another Great Year!

2011-12-31T09:30:00.000-05:00

On behalf of the entire staff at HA I would like to thank all of our customers for another great year on the river. We far exceeded last years numbers in every aspect of the business. The fly shop sales, cabin rentals and guide service numbers continue to increase each and every year and we know that it is due to our GREAT customer base that we have on the Hi. As all of you know, a fly shop is a tough business to be in and we lose alot of great shops each year across the country that just can't seem to make a go of it. We would not be able to stay in business without your support each and every year! So again, thank you for another great year and we hope that each new year continues to get better and better for everyone. Cheers!

New Waters

2011-12-01T12:25:00.001-05:00

Had a chance to get out and explore some on my own yesterday. I don't get to do this often, so it was a real treat. I love to check out new waters, especially when they turn out to be a plausible destination for a weekend camp / fishing trip. Don't know if they will turn out to be good enough to guide trips on yet, but stay tuned.
Also got a chance to check out a wild stream that I used to fish. This is the best wild stream that I ever sat foot in, period! Tons of wild bows and even some BIG browns call this little stream home. It is such tight quarters that you had to stay in the stream, could not get out of the water due to the thick vegetation on either side. I haven't fished this little jewel in over 20 years, due to various reasons, and can't wait to see if she will still produce. If so, I will be a happy camper.....literally!

TU Headed to Capitol Hill

2011-11-21T14:38:00.000-05:00

Here's a little different spin on the trout hatchery dilemna. Click here for the latest news concerning this issue and don't forget to show your support for Trout Unlimited as they take this fight all the way to Capitol Hill!

Fishing Report

2011-11-13T13:40:00.000-05:00

Lots of good fishing lately on the river. The river is absolutely full of fish and they are not picky about what they want to eat. I guided 2 clients yesterday and we crushed fish by swinging a size 16 caddis all day. Others I spoke to caught fish on an olive crystal bugger all day long. I haven't heard any bad reports from our customers over the last couple of weeks. That may change as colder weather creeps up on us. No need to be too technical, you just have to get out and fish.
Water flows have been very wader friendly. One generator flows have been very common throughout much of the day. Lots of places to wade on 1 generator. Just remember to be very attentive to any increase in water flow while wading during a 1 generator flow. If you get caught by that 2nd generator coming on unexpectedly it can get real interesting real quick. Be careful, but get out and enjoy this great Delayed Harvest fishing while it lasts.

Winter Fishing Tips

2011-11-09T16:53:00.000-05:00

Winter fishing can be some of the most productive fishing that you will do all year. It can be challenging though due to the low, clear water conditions that usually prevail during that time of year. The delayed harvest waters have really gotten more anglers interested in fishing during the colder months and we are often asked about the different tactics that we use while fishing in these often challenging conditions. Below are some tips that may help you become a better cold weather fly fisherman.

SLOW DOWN: The metabolism of the trout slows way down when the water temps hit 40 degrees and lower. They don't have to eat as often so they are far less likely to chase down a meal. The typical technique used during this time is to fish big nymphs, heavily weighted and dredged through deep runs. They won't eat as often, but if you "bounce it off their nose" you have a good chance of enticing a strike.

FISH DEEP: The colder water holds oxygen much better than the warmer water of the summer months. The trout don't have to lay in the riffles to get the more oxygenated water. They have no need to expose themselves like that in the colder water. As a general rule they will be holding in deeper water, but of course they will move up if they have to when they feel the need to eat.

BE STEALTHY: This one goes without saying, but thought I would mention it anyway. Besides wearing drab colored clothing, take care to stay low and to not cast a shadow over the water. This will put any trout on alert and scurrying for cover. Also take care to wade as quietly as possible. If you can get out of the water to change locations versus wading on through this will always be your best bet.

THINK SMALL: I know that earlier I said to dredge big nymphs down deep. That is true when the fish are holding in deeper water. But when the trout are feeding they will sometimes move up into more shallow water. When they do this they can become very selective about what they want to eat. Remember that midges may be the standard fare on the water you are fishing. Don't forget to try these, especially in the winter.

BE ACCURATE: If you happen to find trout that are feeding in the open, accurate casting will be very important. You may only get one shot at your presentation. Take your time and think about the best way to present your fly. If there are multiple fish present pick one to cast to. This will help ensure that you get the best presentation possible to that fish versus a shotgun approach.

These are just a few tips that may help improve your odds at catching some lethargic, spooky trout. They can be a real challenge, but they can be caught. If it was easy everyone would be out freezing their butt off with you. Good luck and stay dry!

Follow Us on Facebook

2011-11-07T23:36:00.000-05:00

If you haven't already, start following us on facebook. I am going to try and do better on my posting for this blog and for our FB page. We have been extremely busy this year ( thanks to all of you for supporting us ) and I have really gotten behind on posting. I'm not very good at taking the time to update our sites. It is the one area of the business that I can slack on without anyone giving me a hard time. So, either no one is reading this crap or no one really cares if it gets updated. Or both. Anyway, check out our FB page and be sure and "Like" us while you're there. Thanks!

Classes

2011-11-07T23:00:00.000-05:00

We are still offering our fly fishing classes through the winter months.

Quick Update

2011-11-07T22:56:00.000-05:00

DH still fishing good. Great weather, fish, tiny BWO's, caddis and plenty of water. Don't wait too long!

Gift Idea

2011-11-07T22:44:00.002-05:00

With the holidays coming up don't forget about our gift certificates. They make the perfect gift!

Hiwassee River DH

2011-10-01T15:27:00.000-04:00

The river will be stocked early next week for our first year of DH management. I am very optimistic that the quality of fishing on the Hiwassee will improve over the next few seasons. Talked to Mark Thurman with TWRA and he assured me that he is very interested in working on continued improvement of our fishery. He is actively trying to get a handle on what goes on in the river 12 months out of the year. Also he wants to find out all of the conditions that have physically changed over the years. Nice to know that we have not been forgotten by TWRA as far as improving the fishery goes. Mark also told me that the stocking next week should be with fish a little larger by weight than what the Hiwassee is usually stocked with. Good luck to everyone on the river this coming season.
Dean

Delayed Harvest Time!

2011-09-30T10:22:00.000-04:00

Finally! Our favorite time of year!
The delayed harvest season is here. This is a period of special regulations on our waters. The regs are artificial lures only, catch and release only. This makes for some good winter time fly fishing.
October 1st marks the beginning of the Tellico River DH. This year it also marks, for the first time ever, the Hiwassee River DH. We are all very anxious to see how the Hi will fish under the new DH regs. We all fish the Tellico DH every year, so we know that it fishes great. All signs point to good things for the Hi as well.
We offer guided fishing trips on both of these rivers, so give us a call if you are interested in checking out our DH waters.

Here it is

2011-09-21T18:42:00.000-04:00

Here's a pic of the boat mentioned below.

New Boat

2011-08-30T10:48:00.000-04:00

Got a call from the folks at ClackaCraft this morning. They have a truck heading out today with a new boat on it for us. Should be arriving at the end of this week or the first part of next week. Depends on how many other deliveries that the driver has to make before heading our way.
The boat is a 2011 16LP. The colors are skull, burgundy and black. This is just like the last one that we had for sale here, except for the colors of course. This boat will arrive rigged and ready to fish.
It has been over a year since we had our last new boat here to sale. We are constantly being asked about when we are getting another one. The truth is that we never know when we will get one. It all depends on when they have a truck heading this way with room for an extra boat on it. Then they will throw a boat on there for us. With that being said, we have LOTS of people that have been waiting on us to get a boat. This boat will not be here long. If you're in the market for a new Clacka don't drag your feet. Now's the time!

Gear Review

2011-08-24T12:51:00.000-04:00

Those of you that follow this blog know that I don't do alot of gear reviews here. No real reason why not, I just haven't had alot of requests from people to write about stuff like that. However, I just bought a new rod that really impressed me to the point of sharing my views with others.
I have been needing a new fly rod for striper fishing on the Hi for awhile now. In my usual fashion I kept procrastinating until I finally decided to pull the trigger and order one. And I will have to say that my procrastination finally paid off. The rod that I ordered hasn't been on the market long, so I am definitely glad that I waited. The "chosen" rod is the Temple Fork Outfitters BVK in the 9' 8 wt. model.
Those of you that know me know that I am a big fan of Winston rods. For trout fishing anyway. But I think that they are a little weak when it comes to throwing big, wind resistant flies on 300 grain sink tip lines. And this is obviously how we fish for big, river run stripers. So, I decided to give the new BVK a try after doing some research on it. I can sum it up in one word...Damn!
I had the rod shipped to the shop. When it came in I couldn't wait to give it a test ride. I slapped on my new Galvan reel with a 300 grain sink tip line on it and went out to play in the yard. To say the least, I was impressed!
The rod was stiff, which I like and expect in an 8 wt., and you could really feel the power in your hand. It layed out the line with very little effort as opposed to other rods in its class. It carried the line well in the air and shot it with ease. I looked at the reel, kind of a glance really, and noticed that I had very little of the 100' of line left on the reel. That really surprised me because I had just been playing around with it. Kind of "kicking the tires". I remember thinking that I could not believe that this rod only cost 250 bucks! Incredible! It was very accurate at all distances and was a real treat to cast. Lefty Kreh put in alot of time developing this rod and it shows. Great casters design great rods. It is just that simple. You know he thought it was special when he named it BVK. Those are his initials by the way.
I didn't mean to make this such a long post. It kind of got away from me. To sum it up I will say that you are "crazy" if you don't give this rod a try. Especially if you need an 8 wt. ( I haven't tried any other BVK rod ). I am sure that the other BVK's are great as well. In fact, I am going to order a new 10 wt. soon for some musky fishing this fall. For that price I know I can't go wrong. Not with this stick!

More Striper Porn

2011-07-07T22:46:00.000-04:00

Couple more striper shots for everyone to check out. These were caught on the Hi this week by some buddies of ours. And yes, they are good eating if prepared right. We do eat all of them, but the biggest reason that we keep them is because they eat our trout.

Stripers Are Here!

2011-07-01T11:41:00.000-04:00

The striper are making their annual run up the Hiwassee River. These fish move up into our colder waters when the lakes warm up. Like any fish, they will migrate, if possible, to find better water temps and conditions. These fish usually hang around until October. They're not very hard to catch, just hard to locate. Once you find them holding in an area they can be caught on the fly or on spinning tackle. They are feeding machines that will put a big time stretch in your line.

Terrestrial Bite Is On!

2011-06-22T09:30:00.000-04:00

We have finally started having lots of success with terrestrial patterns on the Hi. The fish are a little late this year, but they are definitely looking for them now. Initially you had to beat the banks with them to have success, which is usually the case. But they are now taking them in the middle of the river. That is when I consider the terrestrial bite to be on.
Our top patterns have been hoppers, crickets and cicadas. Yes cicadas. I know, a cicada is not a terrestrial pattern. But due to the fact that we have not had any of them on the upper river, I am convinced that they are hitting it as a cricket or beetle pattern. I may be wrong, and I don't really care as long as they continue to hit them. Get out and enjoy while it lasts!

Fishing Report

2011-06-09T12:05:00.000-04:00

The Hiwassee River fly fishing continues to impress. The dry fly activity has been great with the sulphurs still hanging around and the Isonychias making an appearance here and there. It won't be long before they are in full effect and driving the trout crazy. And, as usual, we still have some tiny BWO's buzzing around in the evenings.
Sub-surface patterns would have to be zug bugs and BHPT's. You can also drop a soft hackle off the back of your nymph and let it swing below for some jarring strikes.
That's about it for now. Will try to do better on my posting frequency if I can get the time to sit down and put a thought process together long enough to type something out. We have been extremely busy this season. The fly shop numbers are up and the guide service numbers have doubled again this year. All of this is great news and we hope it continues to grow. Thanks to all our customers for their continued support!

Hiwassee and Holston River fishing on fire!

2011-05-17T14:10:00.000-04:00

The Hiwassee River trout fishing has been on fire lately. Trout are feeding in all levels of the water column and do not seem to be picky about what they will eat. We are catching them on dry flies, streamers, swung soft hackles and nymphs. I don't really know how you could have a fishless day on the Hi right now. TVA is on a pulsing schedule right now and the falling water is triggering some incredible dry fly activity. The sulphurs are popping and the fish are taking notice.
Rocky, our Holston River expert, told me today that the fishing there is incredible. He said that they too are catching fish on just about any type fly that you want to throw. He said the fishing should remain stellar all through the summer months.
As you can see, now is the time to be fishing in East TN! Give us a call soon to book your dates for this season. Once schools let out for the summer we get extremely busy with bookings. That is a huge vacation time and people want to get some fishing in while they can. Don't wait too long to try and book your day!

Best Wishes

2011-04-28T14:47:00.000-04:00

Here is hoping that all our neighbors and customers in Alabama made it through the awful tornadoes alright yesterday. We got hammered here too, but nothing like you guys did. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone that was effected by the storms.

Fly Shop Update

2011-04-25T13:10:00.000-04:00

We continue to be busy at the shop. Our spring merchandise continues to arrive and we are adding a few different lines to our inventory. We are adding Simms and Rio for sure. Don't know what else yet, but we definitely need to add another line of reels as well. We'll see how that goes. We usually add products based on customer requests. To be honest, I can't remember anyone requesting that we carry any different reels. Maybe we just think we need to add something. Oh well. Like I said, we'll see how it goes.
We have been adding to our fly tying department lately. These items are highly sought after by most fly fishermen and the stuff sells very quickly. It also takes up very little room in the shop. We recently had a display rack made just for these items. It looks pretty good but it is still a work in progress.
The guide service growth has been amazing! I can't believe how much it has grown over the last couple of years. We now have 5 guides on staff. I think that makes us the largest guide service on the river. I could be wrong, so don't quote me on that. It's an unofficial title anyway, so who cares.

Relief in Sight

2011-04-25T11:23:00.000-04:00

The spilling continues on the Hiwassee at a rate of more than 5,000 cfs. This is predicted to drop to 1,680 cfs tomorrow. This is a little more than a 1 generator flow. They are scheduled to get 1 generator back on line this Thursday with the other scheduled to be back on May 8.
This will bring things back to normal flows on the Hi for this time of year. The recreational flow schedule is right around the corner as well. This will give us guaranteed flows for our float trips. Things just seem to go smoother when you know what the flow schedule will be. Especially when you book alot of guide trips months in advance. Our business, as well as the rafting business, is very dependant on friendly flow schedules. That is the purpose of the recreational flow schedule. It gives us as much of a guarantee as possible that we will have adequate water flows to float the river during a certain time period. This allows us to plan and book trips in advance. The recreational flow schedule is a good thing!

Crazy!

2011-04-11T16:30:00.000-04:00

The Hi has been fishing like crazy this spring! The flows have been great for the fish and the fishermen. Yes, they are running water but there are several people wading all up and down the river and catching alot of fish. We even caught a couple of these things on the upper river Sunday!

Facebook

2011-04-08T10:13:00.000-04:00

Be sure and visit our FB page. Don't forget to "Like" us while you're there. Thanks!

New Hours

2011-04-08T10:09:00.000-04:00

We are now open 7 days a week from 8am - 4pm.

Spring Fishing

2011-04-02T19:41:00.000-04:00

I can sum up the spring fishing in one word...INCREDIBLE! So far we could not ask for much better. The winter rains and early spring rains that we have had so far have really made a difference. Our insect activity is on pace and the fish have responded. Water temps have been good and we should continue to have good temps throughout the season, barring another low rainfall summer.
TVA is still spilling water down the old riverbed to bypass the generators. We have been getting about 2300 cfs lately, which is just shy of a normal 2 generator flow. They have been doing some work on the penstock and this flow should last through April. This makes for perfect drift boat fishing on all sections of the river. The trout and the insects love the constant flows.
So far this year our business has been outstanding (knock on wood)! The fly shop and cabin rental numbers are up significantly from this time last year. Our guide service numbers are also at an all time high for this time of year. We have had some multi-boat days already and have alot more on the books. The guide service growth amazes me each year. Every spring we book more and more trips as compared to the prior spring. These are the numbers that I like to see grow. These tell me how effective my winter marketing plans were.
We get lots of return customers too. Return customers are always great to fish with. We already know and like each other or they would not be returning. They are familiar with how we guide and we know how they like to fish. No adjustment period needed. Just a day of fishing and laughter.

Fishing Report

2011-03-24T11:21:00.001-04:00

Sorry for the lack of posting lately. This is a very busy time of year for us. Between the fly shop, booking trips, guiding trips, tying flies, exploring new waters and doing a little personal fishing here and there, there's not a whole lot of time left for posting on the blog. I know that it's been awhile since I posted a fishing report, so I told myself last night that I would get this done ASAP today so here it goes.
The fishing on the Tellico and Hiwassee Rivers is red hot right now. Spring hatches have begun and we have some risers throughout the day, but the fish have still not really committed to top water yet. The caddis and quill gordon are here so it's just a matter of time before they start looking up. We still have some winter stones around too. Continue to fish the standard nymph and streamer patterns that got you through the winter until you see some rising fish. Then you can try your dry fly luck. Don't be afraid to drop a soft hackle off the back of that dry. Sometimes that is not a rise that you're seeing. It is a bulge from a trout taking an emerger just below the surface. If they are bulging, a soft hackle emerger pattern will usually work. By using a dry-dropper rig you have both your bases covered.
Sorry for the short report. Since I began writing this I have booked 2 guide trips. See what I mean by being busy lately? Not complaining of course. We love it! This is gonna be a GREAT year! Hope to see ya soon!

Pre-Spawn Action

2011-03-05T20:27:00.000-05:00

Here are some pics of this year's pre-spawn bows. Very limited window on this action. Call now to book your trip!

The Wait is Over!

2011-03-04T13:53:00.000-05:00

As you can see below the smallmouth bite is on! These fish are feeding up after a long winter in anticipation of their upcoming spawn.
We scouted an area the other day that we knew held plenty of these fish in hopes that the warmer weather had them moving up and feeding. We caught several nice smallies and it is only going to get better over the next few weeks. If you like fly fishing for smallies give us a call and book your trip now. We also do guided trips for spin fishermen. No matter the method we can put you on these fish.

Big Day Planned

2011-03-01T12:25:00.000-05:00

Tying up some flies today. Got a big day planned tomorrow. Going to scout out some new water to guide on. If this works out like I think it will it will be the best float trip available in this area!

They're Back!

2011-02-23T22:11:00.000-05:00

We just scouted our favorite place for BIG spring time rainbows. This is an area where the big bows will stage for the upcoming spawn. Yes I said spawn! These are wild fish, not the farm fed pigs that you see pictures of on other websites. These are the real deal. And the good news is that they are back. The bad news is that this only lasts for about 6 weeks before they move out of the area.
We are now taking bookings for these trips. If big, wild rainbows on the fly is something that you are interested in give us a call to book your trip ASAP. This won't last long and we have a limited number of openings available during this time period. Here's a couple of fish from last year. These fish can be caught consistently throughout the day when the conditions are right.

Link Updated

2011-02-23T10:53:00.000-05:00

I just updated the link for the generation schedule on the Hiwassee River. For some reason TVA doesn't update the info. anymore on the old site.

Welcome Aboard!

2011-02-22T19:54:00.000-05:00

We are pleased to announce that we have just hired a new guide to join the staff here at Hiwassee Angler. I say new, but to anyone familiar with the Hiwassee they will know that he is anything but new. Join us in welcoming Michael "Rocky" Cox to our guide staff.
Rocky comes to us after guiding in this area for many years. He is very familiar with our waters as well as many other tailwaters in the state. He has a great reputation as a guide and we look forward to working with him this year and for many years to come.

Fishing Report

2011-02-17T13:37:00.001-05:00

Me and Skip floated the upper section last Tuesday on one generator and absolutely whacked fish! We caught them on caddis, both on top and swung just under the water, BHPT's, Princes and olive buggers. We stayed in fish the whole time and had a great day. Had a few fluttering brown stones on the water and that kept the fish active during the whole trip. We put on at about 12:00 and took out at about 6:00. Only saw 2 other boats and a few bank fishermen. They all did well too.
The fishing that we have right now could not be better for this time of year. If you need to shake some cabin fever, now is the time to do it. Beautiful weather and no rafters floating by. You should have the river pretty much to yourself through the week, the weekends will probably be a little more populated though. Still, this is a big river and has plenty of trout for everyone. SO GO FISHIN' while the weather and the fish are cooperating.
Now a quick word to pay the bills: Our guide trips have been booking pretty steadily lately with the anticipation of spring just around the corner. Give us a call and book your dates early. All signs are pointing to this being a great year on the Hiwassee!

Finally!

2011-02-04T11:45:00.000-05:00

Good news! The new fishing licenses will be available on Feb. 18th. Why is this good news you ask? Well there are a couple new license options this year that will make it cheaper for residents and non-residents alike to enjoy some time on the water. A couple of the new ones that I am referring to are listed below, along with a short description. Keep in mind that when "All Species" is listed to describe a license, that means that trout are included.
Type 023- Resident 1 day fishing license - All Species $11.00
( This eliminates the need to buy an $18.00 annual trout stamp for just one day of trout fishing )
Type 083- Non-resident 1 day fishing license - All Species $16.00
( Previously a 3 day non-resident license was the least that you could buy )
As you can see, this makes it alot cheaper for our clients to buy a license for just that 1 day that they are fishing with us. These 1 day options are something that all outfitters have been wanting for a long time. Hats off to TWRA for listening and implementing the changes. Good job guys!

Fear No Ice!

2011-01-31T14:00:00.000-05:00

Me and Skip put the motor on his ClackaCraft the other day and went fishing. We wanted to see if our big lake rainbows had moved up into their spring time haunts yet. We knew it was a little early, but our curiosity got the better of us. As expected they had not moved up yet, but man what a ride! We came across this ice flow and just motored right through creating our own path. We did go slow and we were careful, but it was still fun.

Nantahala DH

2011-01-24T15:35:00.001-05:00

Just a few pics from the Nantahala Delayed Harvest waters. The DH is still in full swing, so don't forget that we are still offering guided trips to that area. There are still plenty of 20 inch and better fish to be had there. And the scenery speaks for itself.

HA now on Facebook!

2011-01-20T13:29:00.001-05:00

Well we finally took the plunge and set-up a facebook page. We have had several requests from customers to get a page and finally got time to set one up. Come by and check it out!

Hiwassee River Generation

2011-01-17T11:32:00.005-05:00

TVA continues to run 2 generators for most of the day through the weekdays, but seems to let up a little bit on weekends. That may be to allow some wading fishermen to get a quick fix on the weekends. I don't know for sure, but I like to think that they help us out when they can. Anyway, if you get a chance to go with favorable flows, take advantage of it. The fishing has been very good with lots of brown trout coming to hand lately. No really big ones that I know of, but at least they are biting. It's probably just a matter of time before someone lays into a nice one. This is the right time of year to catch one. So get out when you can.

Fishing Report

2011-01-12T21:35:00.001-05:00

Fishing continues to be good on the area trout waters. The fish are cooperating, the weather is the problem. I don't mind fishing in the snow, but when the roads are as icy as they have been lately, you just can't get to the decent areas to fish. And you can forget about backing a boat down the ramp, unless you want to lose your truck in the Hiwassee River.
If you are going to catch good numbers of fish in the winter, you can't be afraid to put on some split shot. And a double nymph rig for that matter. Midges are also important. The same standard flies that you use throughout the rest of the year will work fine. You just have to get them down. Not just deep, but on the bottom.
I would stick with BHPT's and Princes for the most part. Using them on a double nymph rig is hard to beat. You can also use one of these as your lead fly and drop a zebra midge off the back. If you want to throw a streamer, I would go with a white or olive bugger. Probably an olive one in size 6. Hard to go wrong with that one.
This set-up will work good on the Tellico or on the Hi. Just be sure and wade carefully. This is not a good time to get water down your waders. But sometimes you just have to risk it in order to spend some time with these little guys.

New Look

2011-01-11T12:30:00.000-05:00

Took advantage of being stranded in the house yesterday and updated the look on here. Put a new design on the blog, which was a much needed addition. I got tired of the old design and wanted to change it up a little. Hopefully I will be able to post more often this winter. Not a whole lot going on around here lately to write about. We are still fishing, but there are a select few of us that take advantage of this time of year. So I don't report that much on our trips, since not many people are going to use the info. and get out on the water. So I use that time to tie a few flies and to market the business in other ways.
Marketing has always been an interesting activity to me. There are so many ways to promote a business, but only a few that really make it worth your time. Especially in this business, because there is a very limited customer base to begin with. Not to mention the fact that you have to compete with the big box stores in order to attract the few customers that are out there. I know exactly how the "mom and pop" stores must have felt when the first Wal-Mart stores began to appear in their areas.
I don't mind the competition, in fact I think it is good for the industry. It gives people alot of choices on where to spend their money in order to practice their sport. The thing that I don't understand is why someone would order off the internet from a big box store website and pay the same price for an item that they could have bought from their local fly shop. Then they have to pay shipping, which can get expensive.
I understand the convenience of internet shopping, but I hate to pay for shipping. Most fly shops that I know of, us included, don't charge anything for shipping. That's because we have the items drop-shipped directly from the manufacturer to the customer's address. We would have to pay the shipping anyway to have it shipped to the shop, so why not just ship it directly to the customer? We make a sale and never have to touch the merchandise. It's a win-win for everyone involved. Plus you would be supporting your local fly shop, which is a good thing.
I know alot of people don't think much about supporting a local business. Especially a fly shop. Most people probably don't give us a second thought, until they are on their way to the river and need a leader or a quick fishing report. Cabela's can't help you much then.
Didn't mean to rant here, just thinking out loud, trying to make sense of it. Posting a pic below of what we woke up to yesterday morning.

Pre-Spawn Bows

2011-01-10T13:30:00.000-05:00

Won't be long now until we are booking trips for our annual pre-spawn rainbow pilgrimage. The pics below were taken during one of last years trips when me and Skip snuck off for a day.
These are WILD fish! Not private, farm fish that you see on other websites. These fish begin staging in March and wait on Mother Nature to tell them when to move up onto the gravel bars to do their thing. We don't bother them once they move to their beds. But we know exactly where the deeper water is that they use for a staging area. This is where you can stay into big bows for most of the day.
Give us a call if you would like to experience this for yourself. We never know how many openings we will have each year for these trips. Who knows when they will decide to move up onto their beds. And once that happens, WE ARE DONE!

Wintertime on the Hi

2011-01-09T12:13:00.002-05:00

Expecting another winter storm to move in this evening. That's what the weather guys are saying anyway. I hope they are wrong about this one. It sounds like a pretty good snowfall is expected. Below is a pic of our rental cabins after the last one we had. Most of the snow is gone in the pic, but it may be coming back.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-02T12:35:00.000-05:00

Wanted to wish everyone a happy, safe and prosperous new year. Hope everything went well for you in 2010 and that 2011 will be even better.
We had our best year ever at the fly shop. Our sales were up in the shop and our guide service had its best year ever. Despite having 4 guides on the payroll, we still had to turn some people away last year that we just couldn't find an opening for. We hate to do that, but sometimes we are just completely booked up. We do refer these clients to other services that also have good guides. We know that they will also do a good job for the customers. I guess that being completely booked up is a good problem to have, but we still hate to not be able to fish with these people.
In 2011 we are going to bring more product lines into the shop. We are definitely adding Simms to the line-up. We are also going to add a new line of reels, we just don't know what company yet, probably Hatch or Lamson. I'm leaning towards Hatch, but we are not sure yet. We still have a little time to decide, so we'll see how it goes.
We are also going to change a few things on the guide service end as well. We hope to add some new destinations to our list of waters that we guide on. We also REALLY need to add at least 1 more guide to the list to help out this year. I know without a doubt that this year is going to be busier than last year. We are going to need more help, that's for sure. But at this point, I have no idea who we will hire. This is a tough decision. A guide has alot of responsibilities when it comes to customer service. Being a good fisherman is a very small part of the whole picture. There are many other factors when it comes to being a good guide. That's what makes it so hard to find someone that you trust well enough to put them with clients. Especially when you don't have the time to train them. That's why we tend to pull guides from other services to help out when they are not booked at their "Home" service. We also help other services by guiding for them when they need help at a time when we are not booked. It is a common problem for guide services to be short handed, especially during the busy season or when you have a corporate booking that requires several guides in order to fish alot of people on the same day.
So this will be a challenging year to say the least, but I hope all goes well again this year. For everyone!

It's Been Awhile

2010-12-22T12:52:00.000-05:00

Well folks, I know it's been awhile since I have posted anything. With the holidays upon us my plate has been pretty full. I've got a little time today so I thought I would write a quick update on how things are going around here.
The weather has been so-so for the past few weeks. We have had snow and alot of rainy days. That can be good though. It helps our water levels and our water table levels which provides a good outlook for spring fishing conditions. It also provides some good overcast days for fishing the DH waters and for stalking the post-spawn brown trout. All of these are good things.
The fishing has remained good so far this winter. The Hiwassee is in the process of having a small shad kill right now, which means that a white woolly bugger can bring a few fat fish to hand. The midge fishing and nymph dredging is still producing good fish on our Tellico and Nantahala DH waters. The fish are there and they are hungry, the hard part is finding the time to go with all the other things going on this time of year.
Well, as promised, there's a quick update on how our world is going. Hope everyone has a good Christmas and enjoys the holiday season that is upon us right now. Hope to see you back on the water again soon.

Great Southern Fishing Show

2010-12-16T17:38:00.000-05:00

We are going to have a booth at the Great Southern Fishing Show held at the North Atlanta Trade Center. The event will be held Feb. 19-20, 2011 and will have featured speakers, casting demos and even a trout pond for the kids. This is not a fly fishing show, it is a fishing show. So no matter how you like to fish, you are sure to find something that will interest you at the show. It is going to be inside a huge building with several booths and vendors set-up to display their products and to talk fishing. If you go, be sure and stop by our booth. Hope to see you there.

Good Day at the Shop

2010-12-06T16:05:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we had a couple of guys come into the shop to try out some fly rods. We had snow flurries off and on all day, 20 mph winds and temps in the mid 30's. One was looking for a Helios rod and the other guy wanted to try a Winston. They asked if they could take them to the water to see how well they roll casted. That was fine with us, so they headed across our yard on their way down to the river. They came back telling us how much they liked the rods and also told us they had caught a few trout each right around the bridge.
It was a good day for everybody. They got their fishing fix in and we sold a couple of premium rods. And of course we all enjoyed watching it snow.

Winter Hours

2010-12-05T13:25:00.000-05:00

Effective December 5, 2010 we will only be open from 8am-4pm on Saturday and Sunday. Not enough business around here in the winter to stay open through the week. We will still continue to do our guided trips 7 days a week, so you can still contact Steve for any info. on these.

Favorable Flows

2010-11-24T08:58:00.000-05:00

Noticed that TVA will be running 1 generator all day today. Same thing yesterday, don't know about previous days. Anyway, good time to get out and wade while you can. Lots of places that you can wade and fish on just 1 wheel if you are familiar with the river. If you are not familiar I wouldn't risk it. If you decide to go you still need to be careful and keep an eye out for rising water. They can always kick on that 2nd wheel at any time. Trust me, nothing good can come from getting caught out there when that 2nd wheel comes on. I've been there. It's not fun. Always have an exit route picked out just in case.
Some time today I am going to put a picture of the powerhouse on our website that you can click on and go to the TVA site that shows the generation schedule for the Hiwassee River. I will put it on either the Home page or the Fishing Report page. This will give people a place to go and check the schedule. Alot of people that are not very familiar with the river check the schedule of the wrong powerhouse when they plan their trip to fish the river. Hopefully this will help them out. If they don't read the blog or visit our website I don't guess it will help them much. Oh well, I'll do it anyway.

Winter Trout Fishing Tips for Mountain Streams

2010-11-18T10:40:00.000-05:00

Thought I would post a few tips about fly fishing for trout on freestone streams in the winter. This should help increase your success while fishing our area Delayed Harvest waters.
1) Fish deep
Cold water holds more oxygen than warm water. For this reason, concentrate more on fishing the long, deep, slow moving pools. They generally won't hold in the plunge pools or riffles like they do in warmer weather. They are there in the summer because that water holds more oxygen. In the winter they have plenty of O2 and are more concerned with the safety that deeper water provides. Don't forget to add split shot to get that fly down to where they are holding.
2) Fish slower
When the water gets cold, the metabolism of trout slows way down. They don't have to eat as much and they become lethargic. They won't move or chase a fly as far as they will in warmer water. That's why you hear guides say that you have to "bounce it off their nose" in order to get a strike sometimes. Be sure and cover the water thoroughly before moving on to the next fishing spot.
3) Be stealthy
This is always important, but in colder water it becomes even more of an issue. The water is usually gin clear because cold water does not hold particulate matter like warmer water does. The fish can easily see you approach. They can also see you cast, so keep the false casting to a minimum.
These are just a few basic tips that should help you increase your catch rates. The winter fishing in this area can be great, so don't let the cold weather deter you from hitting the water. You may just have the stream all to yourself, so get out and enjoy the solitude!

Weather

2010-11-16T20:17:00.002-05:00

We've had some much needed rain over the last couple of days. Streams should be back up to perfect levels which means continued good fishing. This was a good soaking rain and the front moved out this evening. The latest forecast calls for great fishing weather over the next few days, so get out and enjoy!

New Trip Offering!

2010-11-15T11:20:00.000-05:00

We are pleased to announce that we will now be offering guided trips to fish the Nantahala Delayed Harvest waters in North Carolina. Last week we did a scouting trip over there (see pics from "Guide's Day Out" below) and had a blast. The river is really fishing good and has some 20" plus fish added to the mix. You can also get a "Southern Grand Slam" (rainbow, brown and brook trout) on any given day. The pricing on these trips is $300 for half day and $400 for full day. We have increased our regular pricing for these trips by $50 due to the driving distance and added expense that we incur to guide over there. These trips are definitely worth the money though. Beautiful area and big fish potential on every cast. I really had a good time fishing that area. Nice fish and a change of pace for me. You'll like it too!

Guide's Day Out

2010-11-09T19:57:00.000-05:00

Had an opportunity to fish with a good friend of mine yesterday. Bob Borgwat (owner of Reel Angling Adventures guide service in Georgia) and I took the day off and finally got together to do some fishing. As you can tell by the pics we had a good day.

The day started off a little cold, but it didn't take long for the midge and emerger bite to turn on. We hooked 4 and landed 3 fish in excess of 20 inches, not to mention the many other smaller fish that came to net.

It was a much needed trip for me. Nothing like recharging the batteries with a good day on the stream.

New Shop Hours

2010-10-30T22:43:00.000-04:00

Effective Nov. 1, 2010 we will go to our "winter hours" schedule. We will be closed Mon.-Thurs. and open Fri.-Sun. from 8:00 to 4:00. We will still continue to do our guided trips 7 days a week, so you can still contact Steve for any info. on these.

Gift Certificates

2010-10-30T21:36:00.000-04:00

We are pleased to offer our gift certificates for guided trips again this year for the holiday season. These were VERY popular last year. They make the perfect gift for the man or woman "who has everything". They are available for our trips as well as our fly fishing classes. Don't forget to add one of these to your wish list.

Tellico Brown Trout

2010-10-21T23:04:00.003-04:00

Here is a fine example of a wild Tellico River brown trout. She measured 17" and was all decked out in her finest spawning colors. These fish are on the prowl right now looking for a mate. If big, wild brown trout turn you on, then now is the time to be stalking them. Their hormones are raging and they are alot more careless than normal. If you go, good luck. Just remember: Please don't harrass them if you happen to find them on their beds. Just let them do their thing. These fish are not stocked, so their future population depends on them having a successful spawn. Let's help them out all we can.

Fishing Report

2010-10-16T14:52:00.000-04:00

Hiwassee River

The fishing remains good on the Hi. Still plenty of fish and good water temps.. TVA is running some different flow schedules now, so keep a close eye on those when planning a trip. They have been wader friendly lately, at least from my observation. If wading was my only option to fish the Hi, I would get on the water as early as possible in order to take advantage of the low flows. At least that's how it is now. TVA can change it at any time though. But, as always, the earlier that you get on the water, the more options you will have. In other words, you're not wasting the day doing crazy stuff like home improvement or yard work. You'll be out taking care of what's really important: GETTING YOUR FISHING FIX FOR THE WEEK!
The fish have not been very picky lately as far as what they will eat. The standard Hi fly arsenal will work fine. You may have to work it a little deeper on some days, but they will bite. Don't forget about swinging those soft hackles. That has been the most productive technique for my clients lately.

Tellico River

Not alot to say about the Tellico DH except that it is fishing GREAT right now. We have been catching 13 and 14" bows like crazy. They are all fat and healthy too. Great fights with every hook up. You will not horse these fish in on 5x tippet.
I read in some forums that people are thinking that they did not stock the DH on time this year because when they went fishing they didn't catch anything. They stocked it as usual. Just because you didn't catch or see any fish does not mean that they aren't there. They haven't really spread out alot yet, but they are there. In fact, we caught about 20 out of the same run the other day. So believe me, they are there.
The hot flies on the DH have been #6 olive woolly buggers and #14 egg patterns. You have to get them down though. So don't be afraid to add some split shot if needed. Water conditions are still on the low side, so be careful in how you wade and approach the areas that you fish. Water temps are mid 50's. Conditions are almost perfect. We could use some rain though to get the levels up some. But all in all, I got no complaints. Great fishing and not crowded. The changing leaves make a great bonus too. Hard to ask for much more!

Tellico River DH

2010-09-30T14:51:00.000-04:00

The Tellico River Delayed Harvest opens tomorrow. This is an event that I eagerly await each year.
It is an artificial only, catch and release only section that TWRA stocks each year for some good winter time fishing. They usually put some better than average fish in. Last year we even had some nice size brookies stocked in addition to all the rainbows.
This is some of the best fishing to be had in these parts, especially fly fishing. Not nearly as crowded either.
We are booking guided trips to fish the DH every day now, so if you're interested give us a call. These trips book quickly, so don't delay!

Fishing Streamers

2010-08-19T17:14:00.000-04:00

I decided to write this article about how to fish streamers because it seems like 70% of the time when we tell our customers that they are hitting woolly buggers, they say that they have no idea how to fish a streamer. We certainly don't mind explaining how to fish them, but I thought I would post it here for the benefit of our readers and followers. So, here it goes:

When fishing a streamer, remember that you are using a bait fish imitation. Since you are imitating a bait fish, you want to be stripping the fly back in to you, just like the way a spin fisherman fishes a crankbait. When fishing in rivers that have good current, keep in mind that you will have to cast downstream or across the current in order to strip your fly in against the current. If you cast upstream, like a typical presentation, you won't be able to strip the fly in fast enough to give it any good movement, because the current will merely be washing it downstream faster than you can strip it in.
You may have to experiment with different retrieval speeds and even fish it at different depths until you find the right combination that the fish are looking for. If you need to fish it deeper, you can add split shot to your line or cast slightly upstream allowing your fly to sink to the desired depth before you begin your retrieve. Don't be afraid to experiment with speed and depth until you find the right combination needed to get strikes. There is really no "wrong" way to fish a streamer.
While stripping your fly in you may notice that fish are following it but not striking it. Most people will stop or slow down their retrieve when this happens, hoping that the fish will try to eat it if it stops or slows down. This is exactly the opposite of what you should do. Either keep up the same speed or strip it faster in order to entice a strike. You are counting on his predatory instincts to kick in so he will go ahead and try to eat your fly. Just like running from a bear, this will also entice the fish into attacking his prey.
Most of the time when the fish takes your fly, it will be a vicious strike. He is trying to kill the bait fish on his first contact. Sometimes when you get a strike, it will just feel like your line got heavy all of a sudden. Either way, just remember to keep stripping and to raise your rod tip quickly. This is the proper hook set for streamer fishing. If you try to set the hook quickly without continuing to strip your line in, you will not hook the fish well enough to land him.
This was just a quick article that I decided to write in order to maybe help some people who had questions about how to fish streamers. These flies can be the most productive type of flies that you have in your fly box. However, working in a fly shop, it didn't take long to realize that most people don't fish them because they don't really know how to fish them properly. As a guide, I have clients that ask me all the time to show them how to fish a streamer. After a quick lesson they are usually catching fish on them and telling me that they had no idea how easy it was to fish a streamer. They are also amazed at how effective they are at catching fish. Give them a try and see what you think.

Old Town Shipment Has Arrived!

2010-08-14T11:32:00.000-04:00

We just got in our new order of Old Town canoes and kayaks. We have stocked fishing and play kayaks as well as some new canoe models to choose from. And don't forget about the Freedom Hawk Kayaks! If you're in the market for a fishing kayak you owe it to yourself to check these out before you buy. They allow you to stand and fish from a very stable platform, which is a very nice option to have when fly fishing. We stock the 12 and 14 foot models and also have demo boats available in each size for you to " test drive ". I have taken the 12 footer fishing on the Tellico and Hiwassee Rivers and was very impressed with its performance. Come on by and take a demo out and see what you think!

Hiwassee River Smallmouth

2010-08-12T12:42:00.000-04:00

This smallie was caught last weekend on the Hi. It weighed in at 4 lbs. 12 oz. and was caught on a fly rod by a man that was trout fishing. Didn't get a length on it, but as you can see, it is a nice smallie. Congratulations on a great catch and thanks for sharing with us.

Another Clacka Sold

2010-07-17T11:54:00.000-04:00

Our new Clacka that we've had for sale sold yesterday. It's new home is in Knoxville.
We will be getting a new one back to sale shortly, once they change over and start making the 2011 models. We are also waiting on our new order of Clacka accessories to arrive. We still have plenty of items in stock, but had to re-order several things and also get some new items to add to our inventory.

SOLD!

2010-07-12T08:19:00.000-04:00

The used Clacka mentioned below has a new home. I knew it would go fast, but that was record time.

Used Clacka For Sale

2010-07-09T22:53:00.000-04:00

We are selling our "shop boat" and ordering a new one. It's a 1999 ClackaCraft 16WF and comes with everything needed to go straight to the ramp and slide it into the river. It is red over white and ready to go.
These boats are hard to find used and for sale. You can order a used one from the company, but then you have to wait for it to be shipped in on a semi or drive out west and pick it up. Either way, that gets expensive.
If interested, call the shop at (423) 338-8500 and ask for Steve.

Nice Brown!

2010-06-27T11:37:00.000-04:00

Here's a pic of a nice brown trout caught on the Hi yesterday. The trout was caught in the Trophy Section and measured 22 1/2 inches. Didn't get a weight on it, but it was definitely a healthy fish. The angler said that this one was going on the wall.

Fishing Report

2010-06-17T12:49:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I just finished a stretch of guiding 4 full day trips in a row and haven't even logged on in a while.
The fishing has been off the hook all year. The fish are everywhere and they are hungry! This is the best fishing that we have seen on the Hi in about 5 years. Water temps are perfect and we have an abundance of insect activity, especially in the evenings. The river has and is recovering nicely from the previous drought years we have had.
The sulphurs have pretty much played out. We still spot a few now and then, but the trout are not responding to them at all. The isonychias are just around the corner and should become very important any day now. The BWO's and parachute adams flies have been the top dry fly choices lately. Zug bugs and Arkansas red butts have done the job for our sub-surface fishing. They have been taking them on the dead drift and on the swing, so don't be afraid to mix it up a little. They will let you know which presentation they prefer.... Quickly!
Until next time, good luck and be safe out there.

Fly Tying Materials Have Arrived

2010-06-06T14:44:00.000-04:00

We have finally gotten our fly tying section set-up in the shop. We have a decent selection of materials right now and are planning on adding to it in the near future. As you know, there is a vast array of tying materials out there, and we can't stock everything all at once. If you come in and don't find what you need, feel free to let us know and we will try to get it in stock. That's one way that we are planning on adding to our inventory. So come on by and check it out.

Moe's Knows!

2010-06-06T13:26:00.000-04:00

Moe's Southwestern Grill is now setting up at the shop on weekends with their catering service. They started last week and will continue to set-up every weekend through Labor Day. This has been a big hit with everyone on the river. Nothing like a big burrito or taco after getting off the water, since you are usually starving after a long day of fishing or floating the river. Not alot of choices around here when it comes to food. That's one of the reasons it is such a big hit. Not to mention that the food is great! Come on by and check it out!

Phenomenal Dry Fly Action

2010-05-31T17:59:00.000-04:00

That's been the only way to describe it lately. Everyone is talking about how good the sulphurs are fishing. We even have a few BWO's in the mix. If you enjoy dry flyin', now is the time to visit the Hi. This action has been hot for awhile now, so you need to hurry!

Clacka Pics

2010-05-26T12:44:00.001-04:00

As promised yesterday, here's a couple of pics of the new boat. If you are in the market for a new ClackaCraft Drift Boat, stop by and check this one out. She's a sweet ride!

The Clacka is Here!

2010-05-25T10:00:00.000-04:00

I know I have told you guys for months now that we are a ClackaCraft Pro Shop and will be selling their boats soon. We had to wait on a shipment to come this way before they would bring ours to us to sell. Well it showed up last night. It is a 2010 16LP model and is a beautiful boat. We are the only Pro Shop in Tennessee, so we are the only place that you can walk-in and walk-out with a new ClackaCraft Drift Boat. We also carry Clacka accessories like oars, anchors, spare break-down oars, anchor rope, plugs, etc.. So if you already own a Clacka, we stock many of the items that you may need in order to get out on the water instead of waiting for them to be shipped to you.
I will post some pics of the new boat tomorrow, so be sure and tune back in to check it out. Or better yet, stop in and get a whiff of that new boat smell.

Fishing Report

2010-05-22T10:42:00.000-04:00

The Hiwassee River fly fishing is red hot right now! The fish are really keyed in on the sulphurs. We are also getting some favorable flows for floating right now. The fish are spread out all over the whole river, making it hard to have a bad day of fishing. If you have ever wanted to try your luck on the Hi, now is the time. If you are not familiar with the river however, stop by the shop and check out the generation schedule for the day. Better safe than sorry.

The Stripers are here!

2010-05-17T16:47:00.000-04:00

The stripers have been spotted on the Hi. They were seen Friday on a guide trip for trout fishing. The school of stripers were spotted just down river from the fly shop. They will be working their way up river and will be in the trophy section in no time.
We are now booking trips for those that want the opportunity to fish for these big boys. These trips book up fast, so don't delay if this is something you're interested in trying.

New Shop Hours

2010-05-04T09:22:00.000-04:00

We are now open 7 days a week from 8AM - 4PM. Depending on the amount of traffic in the shop, we always have the possibility of staying open later than 4:00. If we have customers we don't mind at all staying later. So even if you come to the river after 4:00, swing by to see if we're still open. We'll be glad to help you if you need anything.

Fishing Report

2010-05-04T09:14:00.000-04:00

We have plenty of hungry fish available. Catch rates have been reported to be excellent and the recent weather we have had could not be much better for fishing.
Fly fishermen are catching fish on a number of different flies so I won't attempt to list them all. The top 4 picks are: BHPT sz 16, Olive woolly buggers sz 6, Sulphur emergers sz 18 and Adams dry fly sz 16. Don't be afraid to drop the BHPT off the back of the bugger, this can be deadly this time of year.
The fish are spread out throughout the whole river. Don't think you have to fish high to catch these trout. You can fish down lower and stay out of the crowds. If you do this, you will often find that you are the only fisherman around. That is always a good thing, unless you get into trouble. So remember, be safe and watch for rising water wherever you're fishing. It happens quickly, so stay alert.

It's a Wrap!

2010-05-01T17:32:00.000-04:00

Just finished up a couple of days fishing with Chris Bailey, host of Reel Outdoors TV show on The Sportsman Channel. We filmed the first day on the lower Hi and the second day above the Powerhouse. We have fished together before a couple of years ago, and as always, we had a blast fishing together again. He is a great guy and fishes VERY hard throughout the whole day. Gotta love that as a guide. Not sure when the show will air, but just keep watching it and you may see the episode from his first trip with us air again as well. He also does some trophy hunting shows. He travels all over the world filming and really puts on a great show.

Great Fishing

2010-04-25T09:46:00.000-04:00

Fishing has been great in East TN so far this year. Lots of insect activity and hungry fish. I have been guiding a lot lately and exploring new waters on my time off. Not much time to post lately. As a matter of fact, I have to go now. The fish are calling. I may take some time and post some updates later along with some pics.

Sorry!

2010-04-13T10:47:00.000-04:00

I have caught some flack lately from people who do apparently read this blog from time to time. They have commented on the lack of new posts lately. So, to those people, I apologize. I have been very busy lately doing guide trips, working at the shop, doing fly fishing classes and the many other tasks that have to get done at home when spring arrives. Sometimes there isn't enough time in the day left to post new things on this blog. So if I get behind on posting just be patient. I will eventually get around to it.
This blog has been around for awhile now and we still don't have any followers and only 1 person has commented on a post. So, with that in mind, I didn't really think that people would even notice the lack of current posting. To be honest, with the lack of followers and comments, the blog is really low on my priorities when it comes to marketing initiatives. It was started as more of a service to people interested in fishing the area. That is one reason we do our fishing reports on the blog instead of posting them on our website. It works well for the most part, but due to the lack of participation from the readers, I don't really consider it to be an important aspect when it comes to marketing the business. I may be wrong. It may be more important than I realize. Who knows? Anyway, I will try to do better in the future. Time permitting of course.

Kayaks are in!

2010-04-13T10:14:00.000-04:00

As posted previously, we have been awaiting delivery of some Freedom Hawk Kayaks. Well, good news. They are here! We put one of them together Friday and I must say that I was impressed with what I saw. They are well made and engineered with fishing in mind. Come on by and check them out. If you are in the market for a fishing vessel, I really don't think that you can beat the deal on these. They have alot to offer and the price is not bad at all.

Please Help Feed Our Hungry Fish!

2010-03-29T09:45:00.001-04:00

Fishing continues to be great in East TN. Large pre-spawn bows, big browns and the occasional smallie, all are adding up to be a great spring. If you are wanting to book a trip this year now is the time. We never know how long the great pre-spawn fishing will last for these big rainbows. These fish posted below were caught 2 days ago. No sign of it letting up soon, but it can't last forever. Once these fish move out, it will be very hard to find them again. Until next spring anyway. Well, there's the sales pitch, now enjoy the new pics.

Guides Day Out

2010-03-26T10:21:00.000-04:00

I gave Skip a call the other night to see if he wanted to go looking for some pre-spawn rainbows. Skip is one of our guides, and if you knew him, you would know that it didn't take alot of convincing to get him to go. We found what we were looking for! Some beautiful bows were brought to hand. These fish were all in the 18-19" range and fat. Very healthy. Caught a few of their bucks too, but didn't get any photos of them. They weren't even close to the same size. These were all healthy, wild fish. NOT off a fish farm somewhere! They were caught in public waters too, not in a private trophy stream.
After we finished with these fish, we moved to another area and found dry fly heaven. We were surrounded by smaller wild rainbows trying to gorge themselves on Quill Gordons and BWO's. We had fish everywhere! And they were all hungry and looking up. Just the way we like it.
It was truly a magical day on the water. Some of the pics didn't turn out as good as I had hoped due to the weather and the lighting conditions, but that's O.K.. It was such a great day that it is etched in my memory anyway. I don't need the pics to remember that day!

Hiwassee Brown

2010-03-26T09:41:00.000-04:00

Posting a few pics of a nice 22" 6 pound Hiwassee River Brown Trout. One of our guides, Skip, had a trip on the Hi the other day and they nailed this beautiful, healthy specimen. The fish was released unharmed to live and fight another day. Great job guys!

Tellico River

2010-03-24T21:19:00.003-04:00

Spring finally here, Tellico River, nice rainbow trout, streamer fishing. What more do you want?

Fly Fishing Classes

2010-03-23T12:27:00.000-04:00

Our FF classes have really taken off so far this year. We are already at 30% of the total number of classes done all last year. This is great news. Not only for the amount of new business that it brings us, but also for the fact that it is a great indicator of the continued growth in our sport.
In 2004, fly fishing was the fastest growing sport in the country. Those of us in this business remember those days well. Then, all of a sudden, things dropped off rather quickly. I don't really remember what the economy was like when we saw the increase or the sudden decrease, so I don't remember if it could have been a big factor or not. I hope the FF trend and the economy bounce back soon. Only time will tell.

Ordering items from HA website

2010-03-20T18:35:00.000-04:00

We have had several customers that have asked us about getting an online catalog. These are mostly customers that live out of state, come up and shop with us while they're in the area and want to continue to buy from us even after they go home. Truth is, last year we were going to put an online catalog up during the winter months. We had a software engineer lined up to help us do that. Unfortunately, that fell through due to some prior commitments that he had.
For those of you wishing to place orders with us, all you have to do is find an item that you want from Orvis and email or call us at the shop. We will get the order # of the item that you want to purchase, take your payment info., get your shipping address and order it for you. The advantage to you is this; if we have it drop shipped to you from Orvis, you don't have to pay for shipping! We eat that expense. It's no different to us than ordering that item for the shop. Same shipping expense to us.
This is a great way to shop for those of you that like to support local fly shops, but enjoy the convenience of online shopping. It's a win-win situation for everyone!
We can also do this with any of our manufacturers, not just Orvis. See our website for a listing of manufacturers that we represent. You can order any of their items through us and save on shipping. If that item happens to be on sale on the manufacturers website or in their catalog, we can pass the same discount on to you. What do you have to lose?

HA Guide Service to be featured on TV....Again!

2010-03-18T15:49:00.002-04:00

Received a call from Chris Bailey the other night. He's the host of "Reel Outdoors" TV show on the Sportsman Channel. Chris travels all over the world filming fishing and hunting shows. We guided him for a couple days in 2008 when he was up this way filming. I believe the footage he shot aired last May. We had a real good time and got some good footage of fishing in the area.
He's going to be back in the area the first part of May to do an appearance at the annual Etowah Hunting and Fishing Expo in Etowah, TN. He wants me to take him on a smallmouth trip while he's in. Like me, Chris is a big fan of catching smallmouth on the fly. He said he wants to do some filming for another show while he's in. That sounds good to me. Chris is a great guy and a real class act. He puts in a hard day of fishing while filming. I was actually impressed with how hard he fished during the day. We fished together on back to back days, and I don't think we took a break on either day. We both enjoy fishing hard.
I talked to him about our striper run that we have each year on the Hi. He sounded very interested in coming back around that time for some more filming. And if I know him, he'll be back. He's like me. He just can't resist the temptation of catching a 20-30 pound striper on the fly!

Hiwassee River Fishing Report

2010-03-18T14:59:00.001-04:00

Hiwassee River fly fishing is off the charts right now. With TWRA continuing to stock through the winter and the fishermen staying at home, the river is laying full of hungry, aggressive trout right now. My guides have reported 40-50 fish days recently on guide trips. No real size on the fish yet, but high numbers all the same.
Nymphs and streamers have been the rule lately. Not much dry fly activity noted as of yet, but that could change at any time. The Hiwassee is noted for great insect activity and dry fly action, so we know it will really kick into high gear soon.
Our calendar is filling up quickly. Several trips have already been done and several more on the books to be done. If you are wanting to do a fishing trip this year on either the Hiwassee River or the Tellico River, be sure to call and book it as soon as you have concrete dates set. I have 5 guides on staff and they are all waiting to spend the day on the water with you. We are all excited about the upcoming season and have high hopes for the fishing this year. The drought is behind us now, and with the wettest winter in recent memory over with, we all think that the fishing can be excellent this year. One thing is for sure, we will all be out on the water to find out.

Steve Bryson

Head Guide

They're Heeere!

2010-03-16T20:56:00.000-04:00

The Quill Gordons have arrived. A sure sign of spring!

A Few Pics

2010-03-14T20:03:00.001-04:00

Posting a few pics of our fly shop and some fish porn.

Tellico River Report

2010-03-10T16:14:00.002-05:00

Had a guide trip yesterday on the Tellico with a long time client of mine from Nashville. We had a great day on the water with many fish brought to hand. We also got to catch up on things that have happened in our lives since the last time we got to fish together. All in all a great day!
All our fish were taken on nymph patterns with the exception of the last fish of the day. A size 16 Killer Kiwi was the real workhorse fly for us, but we also caught a few on a size 16 BHPT.
Water temp. was 45 degrees and we noticed a few BWO's buzzing around. On the last stretch of water we fished, we tied on a size 18 BWO to see if we could entice a fish to rise. It wasn't long before a nice Brookie came up and crushed it. We tried a few more casts with no luck and decided to call it a day since it was getting dark on us.
We had a great day and are actually floating the lower Tellico Saturday to see how it is fishing. I'm posting a few pics from the trip below. Enjoy!
P.S. George was able to accomplish the coveted Appalachian Grand Slam, which is catching a brown, brookie and rainbow on the same fishing trip. He also did it with his first 3 fish. He caught a brown first, then a brookie and then a rainbow. The rest of the fish caught were all brookies. Great job George!

Steve Bryson

Head Guide

Certified Outfitter

2010-03-04T21:08:00.000-05:00

Hiwassee Angler has become Tennessee's only Outdoor Channel Certified Outfitter for guided fly fishing trips. This is a huge honor for us. The Outdoor Channel is the nation's premiere TV channel for all outdoor enthusiasts. To receive their "seal of approval" really means alot.

Their selection process not only included a review of our services that we offer, it also included them contacting some of our former clients in order to get their opinions about our operation. As you might expect, they don't just hand out their endorsement to anyone. After all, they're putting their reputation on the line when they endorse an outfitter.

A Break in Sight

2010-03-02T09:45:00.000-05:00

As I sit here on the computer, it saddens me to say that it is snowing again outside. Really coming down.
On the bright side, according to the weather men, we have a break in sight. Warmer temps are on the way and should be here by the end of the week. This will hopefully signal a return to normal temps for this time of year. This winter has been crazy for us. Hopefully these warming trends will continue and spring will finally get here. I know we haven't had it near as bad as some of the eastern seaboard, but it still tends to drag you down. Especially when we are so close to spring and great fishing. Oh well, back to the coffee and the tying bench.

Striper on the Fly

2010-02-27T16:19:00.000-05:00

Won't be long now. Each year when the water temps warm up on the lakes, the striper hit the TN River in search of cooler water temps. They always make their way up the Hiwassee River where they find the cooler water and the food they need to survive.
These things are a blast to catch on a fly rod. They are self-propelled mouths and feed heavily during their visit in the river. The one pictured below is about 18 pounds and considered to be on the small side when compared to others caught each year on the Hi. He took a rainbow trout imitation fly (if you look closely you can see it in his mouth) and really nailed it. If I remember correctly, I think he was caught on the first cast after being seen with his buddies swimming across current in front of the bow of the boat. He readily took the fly and the fight was on!

Fishing Report

2010-02-22T14:44:00.002-05:00

The annual shad kill is finally on. This is a winter phenomenon in which the shad in our reservoir get stunned by the cold water temps and get sucked through the intake at the dam. Since the Hiwassee River is a tailwater, the dead shad get deposited into it when they run the turbines during generation. This all adds up to the trout becoming more active, feeding heavily on the shad and putting on some weight. It also makes a white streamer or other shad imitation a deadly weapon. The fish get keyed in on these shad and it really makes for great winter fishing. The big boys especially like to eat these, so this is a great time for any of you trophy hunters out there. We never know how long this will last, so if you would like to try your luck, don't delay. Call us today to book your float trip down the scenic Hiwassee River.
TWRA has continued to stock trout also. There are lots of trout in the river right now and they have seen virtually no fishing pressure this year due to the weather we've had and the high water generations that TVA has had to do all year. This coupled with the shad kill should mean phenomenal late winter / early spring fishing on the Hi. Enjoy!

Posted by: Steve Bryson, Head Guide

Coming Soon!

2010-02-20T12:03:00.000-05:00

Well it's official. We are now going to be a dealer for Freedom Hawk Kayaks. We should have our first boats in within 2-3 weeks. This is great news! I have been waiting all winter to make this order. Waited until spring is almost here. That is when we usually bring our new lines in. Especially our boats or other high-end items. That way we don't have to sit on them all winter due to the fact that not many people are in the market for a fishing kayak in the winter months.

If you are not familiar with these boats, check them out by clicking here and you can visit their website.

They are really different as far as fishing kayaks go. They give you the ability to stand up and fish. Anyone who has ever fly fished from a regular kayak can tell you how nice this option is. They also give you the ability to stand up and pole along, just like you see the guys do when they are fishing the flats in saltwater. If you are in the market for a new fishing kayak, you owe it to yourself to come in and check these "sweet little rides" out.

Cabin Fever

2010-02-17T19:59:00.000-05:00

All the guys at the shop have really got a bad case of cabin fever. This weather we have had lately has really gotten everyone depressed. We sit around the shop and tell fishing stories, tie flies, watch other people fish on T.V. and talk about how great the fishing should be this year since the drought is definitely over. In a way I guess it is kind of good to have this down time. I know that by the time our busy season is over I really need to recharge my batteries. It's just that this winter seems to be lasting forever.
We are sponsoring a fly fishing tournament on the Tellico River next month. We call it "The Tellico Two Fly". It is on March 6th and it should be alot of fun. We have 24 teams competing and all proceeds go to the Forest Service for them to use in their brook trout restoration program. We have really gotten alot of positive feedback about the tournament so we hope that we can make it an annual event. It is for a great cause and everyone is ready to get out and do some fishing by the time that March rolls around.