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September 2007 Fishing
Report
South Holston Tailrace
Generation in the afternoon, typically around 1 pm, has made
for nice afternoon floats. Mayfly nymphs, zebra midges, various
soft hackles, and scud patterns are producing best in high
water. Morning wade fishing has been fair to good especially in
lower sections of the river. Midge and cranefly hatches occur
daily, with a mixed bag of blonde caddis, sulfurs and bluewings.
Bluewing nymphs are covering the rocks, as this hatch will
continue increase as the weather cools. Bluewing nymphs (size
20-22) are a great choice this time of year and into the winter.
Precise presentations are required to fool fish into biting your
dry flies. We are using 15 ft. 6X fluorocarbon leaders when dry
fly fishing, especially in calm water. Dry fly dropper rigs
fished through shallow fast riffles will produce all day. Try
dropping tiny beadheaded midge patterns (size 20-24) off your
favorite sulfur pattern. Good sized browns have been caught
nymphing deep slow water. Use 6X fluorocarbon with just enough
weight to keep the flies a foot or so off the bottom. Make sure
you mend early and maintain a perfect dead drift. Watch your
indicator or line closely for light takes.
Watauga Tailrace
The fishing in the Trophy Section is excellent despite the
low water. Our guest have enjoyed the sight fishing that is
required to catch big fish on this section. Pick out the
biggest fish in the pod before casting, as the biggest fish
often spook first. Midges and craneflies are prolific almost
everyday. The small blonde caddis is still present and always a
good option in choosing a dry fly. A good rig for sight fishing
fishing is a size 16 caddis fly dropped with a beadhead zebra
midge. Remember to use at least 5X for your dropper. Change the
depth of the dropper to match the position of the fish in the
water column. Most of our bigger fish are being caught in deep
fast water with nymph rigs. Try not to overweight your rigs, as
your favorite nymph slots will be a lot shallower than you may
expect. Our guides are constantly changing weight and depth to
obtain the correct drift. Use the lightest amount of weight
possible as this will provide the most natural looking drift to
the trout.
Nolichucky
The ultra
low water has provided great sight fishing opportunities. With
cooler nighttime temperatures, the smallmouths are remaining
active into the late morning. Longer leaders 9-12 ft, and
natural minnow patterns will catch these spooky bass. Rubber
legged white and olive streamers are producing well for our
guides. Divers and topwater patterns are working well very
early and late in the day, or during heavy cloud cover. A dead
drifted crayfish pattern around boulders and ledges with good
current flow is still producing midday fish. As the temperatures
begin to cool, look for the topwater bite to pick up. Remember,
most of the baitfish are full grown this time of year so go be
afraid to go big with your patterns when the bite is on.
Watauga Delayed
Harvest
We are
anxiously waiting on some rain to increase water levels in our
delayed harvest section. The trout fishing is extremely tough
and the stocking coming the first of October is eagerly awaited
by the delayed harvest fisherman.
Local Small Streams
Cooler nights have really helped our local populations of wild
trout. Terrestrials, caddis, and stonefly patterns have
continued to produce for our guides. Small beadhead droppers
fished in deep tailouts are catching nice brown trout. Look for
the browns to stage up in the coming weeks for their fall run.
Junctions of creeks are a good place to find big browns holding
in late September and early October. After any rain the fish
are feeding heavily. If faced with extreme low water fish early
and late in the day. Remember to be gentle in releasing the fish
as they are stressed with the low water conditions and warmer
temperatures.
South Fork New River
Ample wading opportunities are present with low water levels.
Many stretches along HWY 16 can be easily accessed by the wade
fisherman. Sight fishing for smallmouth on the New has been
great. Long cast and correct fly presentation will go a long way
into fooling a big clear water bass. Use small poppers, divers,
and muddlers on top in early morning and late evening hours for
your topwater bite. Rubber legged streamers in olive and black
are producing well subsurface. Big hoppers cast near the bank
will draw plenty of reaction strikes. Fish deep and slow at
midday for best results.
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