The Watauga River is slowly tapering down on the dry flies, but man, the fishing is still excellent. We won't say where we're fishing but let's just say it's been a good few days on the water. Nymphing has produced excellent numbers of fish and some very nice 20+ inch rainbows. One of our clients, Jim Cannon, even landed a 28 1/2 inch brown less than two weeks ago. Streamer fishing is still excellent in high water conditions but the name of the game is the nymphing. Size 14 & 16 hendricksons have been popping sporadically in the evenings but fishing with a size 14 pheasant tail and a size 16 soft hackle as really been getting the job done.

The South Holston is starting to produce the beginnings of its famous sulpher hatch. Today the hatch is limited in both density and location but it's beginning and with the upcoming warm weather we're only going to see it improve. Morning nymphing can be very good to great by using a size 16 pheasant tail and a size 18 Master Sulpher Nymph below it. Don't forget the size 16 & 18 copper johns either. In the afternoon switch over to an emerger pattern or a soft hackle. By 2pm you should be able to fish dry flies consistently. Stick to dry fly patterns that have a narrow profile like a CDC Comparandum Sulpher. Size 16 is best, but the 18's will sometimes fool those larger and more wary trout. Have a great trip and don't forget to give us a call, even for a wade trip.