It's Been Awhile

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.

Winter Trout Fishing Tips for Mountain Streams

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

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!

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

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.

Gift Certificates

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

 

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.