Tightlines Fly Fishing Guide Service - June 2007

South Holston

gloomis1297

Folks, if you've been on the fence about how or when to book a guided trip on the south holston, get off the fence now! You need to be on this river and quickly. The sulphers are popping daily, and with good quantity. The water is flowing consistently, everday, even on weekends. The streamer fishing is hot right now too. You should have size 16 and 18 Lawsons Sulphers, CDC Sulpher Comparaduns, Yellow Soft Hackles and some big ole' streamers in your box. I'll let the picture belo [...]

Lower Holston Smallmouth

gloomis1297

The Lower Holston is fishing great and it's top-water season. Just in time for the summer rush, the fish have turned on to the poppers with reckless abandon. These guys aren't afraid to crush a dark colored popper. We're also fishing clousers in white/white and white/blue with good success. Don't forget about the Kraft's Spoon Minnow. This fly, especially in White/Chart is fishing great. We're focusing on the banks and weedbeds as well as the ledgerock troughs. Come [...]

Watauga River

gloomis1297

The Watauga River on the TN side is fishing very consistent this summer. That's not terribly uncommon, but it's worth mentioning that despite trouble wiith Wilbur Dam, the river is fishing well. Some small hatches of sulphers populate the river, but your best luck will come on terrestrials and nymphs. We're fishing small zebra midges, some size 18 pheasant tails, and a few soft hackles. Also, if the water is flowing, bring your streamer rod!

Jackson River

gloomis1297

The Jackson River is still fishing pretty well. The mayfly activity has slowed and the water levels are at the normal summer "low" points. It still fishes pretty well in sections and you can catch these fish with terrestrials. A good abundance of ants and beetles fall into the seams by the banks and the fish have moved up to feed on them. Your better off heading farther south to the S. Holston though.

Smallmouth Bass

gloomis1297

Folks, it's time to dust off your favorite 7wt and hop in the boat for a memorable smallie trip. The river has steady water temps about 68 degrees and the fish are getting very active after their recent spawn. The bigger fish are moving back into the shoals and we're starting to see some pretty hot action from the 3lb+ fish. We're fishing the traditional clousers but we're also using Kraft's Spoon Minnow, and crayfish. There are also a ton of carp in the stream that are [...]

South Holston River

gloomis1297

Come one, Come all! The TVA is giving us water daily from 2pm on and it makes for a great 6-7 hour float. The sulphers are popping and even in high water the fish are starting to gorge on them. It's a great time to practice your nymphing and pick up a ton of fish before switching over to the dry fly to cherry pick the best heads! Not all the fish are up just yet, so swinging a soft hackle has a killer effect too. Get a chance to do it all from a drift boat. This won't happen all sum [...]

Watauga River

gloomis1297

We're not the biggest fan of the Watauga River on the weekends because we aren't much for the 15-20 boat floatilla that drifts through the trophy section BUT, in a way, it's a testament to the success of the river. When 15-20 boats can float through there and everyone still catches fish....it must not be too bad. That's not the kind of "guided trip experience" we're looking to provide our clientele, so we fish on the lower section with a semi-private take-out. [...]

Jackson River

gloomis1297

The Jackson is starting to see the early season Terrestrials and you would think an ant or beetle was a meal fit for a king. The browns waste no time scarfing these meals up. With plenty of undercut banks and overhanging vegetation throughout the river this can make for an exciting trip. Supplementing the terrestrial action is the start of the sulpher hatch and the ability to swing some soft hackles. This is an often overlooked technique that is frankly, deadly. Come join us for a two-day f [...]