The Watauga River is fishing superbly right now, but it's not for rookies. It's 3rd year graduate school classes out there right now. Fish are not in their normal holding lanes. They are in the 2nd and 3rd lanes but stacked up this. We're having good success on smaller midge larva, peacock soft hackles and hare's ear nymph patterns. When the water is up (50% of the time it is this year), the streamers are golden. These fish are attacking the olive or black buggers and the big fish are all over the articulated baitfish patterns in lighter colors. It really is an EXCELLENT time to be fishing the watauga but it's not for the beginner fisherman.

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The South Holston River is really coming into it's own for the fall season. With cooler temperatures and a few more cloudy days the blue wing olives have really started to get active. The fish have taken notice as well! Size 20 - 24 BWO patterns are getting the job done. CDC Comparaduns are great for the more selective fish but we're having good luck on the traditional ties and the parachute BWO's also. We do slightly color the parachute posts with a Gray 70 prism marker once we see a few refusals. They aren't giving us water on the weekends but during the week we get just enough for a short float and we bring out the streamers. As typical this time of year the streamer fishing is excellent!

It's a nice time to be on the South Holston right now! We're in the trailing edges of the sulpher hatch but there are just enough that the fish go nuts for them when they come off. It only lasts about 45 mins though and it is pretty sparse. Despite that, the fish seem to be aggressively feeding on them. Look for the sulphers around 2:30-3pm. The BWO's are the more predominant hatch right now. Of course, they like overcast skies and preferrably wind/rain/snow. This past weekend brought the wind, but none of the other elements of blue wing fishing. There were a few to come off, in size 22 and 24 but only the smaller fish were interested in them.

The streamer fishing is excellent right now, when we get the water release. We haven't seen much of that lately, so I'm not sure when to tell you to go. Just call the TVA at 1-800-238-2264 after 5pm the day before you want to fish. When the tele-prompter comes on, select 4 and then select 01 (S. holston dam). We're light on bookings right now and mid week is the best time to have a shot at some water. Give us a call and we'll be happy to arrange a 1/2 day float since the water is typically on long enough to support only a 1/2 day.

The South Holston is fishing fantastic right now. We're not getting a lot of water release from TVA (out of S. Holston Lake), but the wade fishing has been great. Consistent daily Blue Wing Olive Hatches are here and the fish have transistioned off the sulphers and right over to these little beauties. Concentrate on quilly body, CDC Comparaduns and any imitation that has a slim profile. Size 20 is the way to go, but don't hesitate to go smaller. It's really been a goood summer, but fall has officially arrived and it's time to go fishing.

If the TVA is releasing water, bring your gun and a 4" fly. By gun, I of course mean your favorite 7wt. The browns are prepping for the spawn and are very aggressive right now. They will take a large, light colored streamer without any hesitation. You have to be deep, but if you're there, you'll catch them.