With the winter in full swing, the fishing on the South Holston River has been good. The weather has been Mild for this time of year and it has been great to be out on the water. Blue Wings have been hatching pretty well here on the South Holston River. As the water is dropping the bigger variety of Sulphurs have been coming off. They did every day last week. Then on other parts of the river, BWO's have been doing their thing and as the water flattens out, it then becomes Midge time.
Matthew and I headed up to Upper Wilson Creek to celebrate Trout Day 2012. Trout Day is our unofficial first trout fishing trip of the year, typically January 1st, but this year it was the 2nd. Wilson, known for its brown trout, is a picturesque trout stream, designated as a National Wild and Scenic River.
While enjoying our night before Christmas with my son Stephen and his family, I asked him if he was going to go trout fishing during the Holidays. He said that he would try to get out on Monday, January 2. I suspect that will present a fair opportunity as the water temperature should be above 45 degrees and most probably near 50 degrees, due to the unusually warm weather this year here in North Carolina; and I am well aware of the water temperature and the effects that it has on trout.
Armed with our heavy whitewater boats, we have been floating the big water of the Nolichucky River and will continue to do so through the winter months. The Nolichucky River boasts a healthy population of big rainbow trout. While you have to cover many river miles to find the pods of these big predators, once you locate them the action can be fast and furious. Covering water on the Nolichucky River is a trip in itself, with the breathtaking views and whitewater rapids, this trip is a sensory overload.
Why we at Trout University do not recommend the same flies that most of the fly shops, guides, books, magazine articles and other sources of information on fly fishing recommend?
First, what do we mean by tailwater? Tailwater is the water below a dam or other hydroelectric facility that is subject to changes in flow. The water is released at various rates and scheduled times in accordance with policies established by the US Government, but controlled by the local hydroelectric authorities.
We spent a beautiful fall day fly fishing and spinner fishing the upper South Toe River last weekend. With the fall colors just starting in the mountains, and the perfect weather, it was a great day to be on the stream.
The brown sculpin is one of the most common baitfish available for trout. Sculpin stay right on the bottom, usually hidden down between the rocks on the stream’s bottom. They do move around on the bottom when they are feeding and that is when they are most likely to be eaten by a trout. The nature of the brown trout is that they are prone to get into shallow water when the light conditions are low. Often they will be under overhanging limbs or in grassy areas and the sculpins will be most vulnerable under these conditions.
Here is a cool video shot by Dan of some of his home waters in Minnesota, showing some brown trout trying to jump a waterfall created by a dam on the Trout Run Creek in southeastern Minnesota.
