Fly Fishing Near Chattanooga

For anglers who live in Chattanooga and for those who may be visiting for business or pleasure, there are several options for fly fishing. Two of those options will be listed in this report. Want to know the latest info about what's working on the river? We can let you know the latest bugs that are working and the more productive areas. Want to get yourself in the casting brace of a drift boat for a day or half-day? Just email me for the latest bugs or to get a date on the calendar. The fishing has been very good aboard the F/V Southeastern Fly. 

Finally the terrestrials are starting to come around to our way of thinking. We thought they'd never turn back on. Fishing a terrestrial with a nymph or midge dropper is beginning to turn some fish's heads. The water on the Caney Fork has been as clear as I can remember. The fish are skittish (that's may be the understatement of the year) but they will still go for a well placed terrestrial on the correct tippet.

Speaking of the right tippet, the smaller the better...up to a certain point. Presentation is critical, as I have said many times on this report. The trailing midge does require some smaller tippet, but after the trout is fooled  there's still some work to be done. The tippet still has to keep the connection between you and the fish. The Caney does have some fish that don't mind testing tippet and of course your knot stength.

Fly fishing from the casting brace of a drift boat, well, there may not be a better way to fish for trout on the planet. Presentation from the boat is important and easier. The Elk has a lot of vegetation right now. Those who do not know the river will have a harder time finding the right water to drop a fly. Nymphs have been really getting some attention this summer. The rainbows and browns are responding well to our offerings. Again the right presentation in the right area has been giving anglers an above average shot at good numbers of fish.

If you've seen seven states at Rock City or stood in the Falls Room at Ruby Falls and felt the wind, it may be time to occupy one of the casting braces in the drifter. Or if you just want to do something different that a normal tourist doesn't want to, then it may be time to get on the water. The fishing? Well it has been very good aboard the F/V Southeastern Fly.

If you are a seasoned angler or have never picked up a fly rod and want to set up a day on the river e-mail or call/text 615-796-5143 to book a day on the water. For additional booking information see our Homepage and to see the latest fishing report click here.

Tonto and Bubba Go Fly Fishing

Dang this was a fun float down the river. If you notice there are a lot of smiles in the photos and it was that same way when the camera was off too. Duane and Ted, that's there real names, had been on middle Tennessee waters for several days and on their way home stopped by to float with me. Yep they were getting on another Tennessee tailwater before heading home. 

Two friends who have known each other for 40+ years. They have been on many adventures and have shared a lot of things that life can throw at us. I think this float is one that I learned more about life than they could have learned from me about fly fishing. But all in all it seems like it worked out for all involved. Well let's get to the fishing portion of this fishing report. Here we go in a hundred-fifty words or less....

We got on the boat and made our way downstream. There were some fish sipping midges but not real hungry for anything up top. The guys saddled up to the casting braces and went to work on some fishing feeding just off the bottom. It took no time for the fish to start coming to the net and they didn't let up. We ate lunch and so did the fish. After lunch the fish were still eating the same stuff and they got bigger but there were less of 'em. Before the day was over we were sun burned but almost satisfied. We loaded the drifter on the trailer and said by to the riverbillies, then we hit the local BBQ joint and ate too much. We said our goodbyes until the next time we get on the drifter....and we all lived happily ever after....err well you know what I mean. Thanks guys that was a fun day!  THE END

If you are a seasoned angler or have never picked up a fly rod and want to set up a day on the river e-mail or call/text 615-796-5143 to book a day on the water. For additional booking information see our Homepage and to see the latest fishing report click here.

Brown Trout Fly Fishing with Michelle and Lane

When Lane and Michelle stepped into the casting braces the sky was blue and the water was low. The low water and clear skies would call for stealthy approaches and longer casts. Also, it wouldn't hurt to have the patience to fish long stretches at a snails pace. We hooked up pretty quick with some rainbows but this was more a day of quality browns and good company.

Lane would start off the brown trout fishing with a slow low water presentation. After several shots into productive water Lane settled into a slow drift. The fly traveled several feet before the brown took the fly. Lane played the brown into the net and he was warmed up for the next section of the river, which would prove to be pretty productive.

We boated a few more before we located another low and slow moving seam. Michelle dropped her fly right in the seam and it didn't take before another brown took the fly "on a dead-run". When Michelle raised the rod and set the hook the rod actually looked like the fish set the hook right back at her. The Orvis rod took on a solid bend as line began slipping through the guides. Michelle began to play the fish. This one tried several different things to get away, but Michelle didn't have time for those tricks and brought the fish to the net. Score another one for the angler in the front brace! But, the "catching" wasn't over and after a stop for lunch while watching the river slowly pass by there was more fishing to be done.

The river would continue to give up some fish throughout the float. We just kept picking them up by using clean presentations of productive nymphs. With nothing much going on "up top" we bounced and ended up in some recently productive water. Lane continued to bring numbers to the net but once again Michelle would bring the quality.

"Drop the fly right there, OK mend, mend a little more, shake out some line...set" Michelle was spot-on with the instruction and frankly a little ahead on the set. The fish was quickly moving into the the flow and trying to get an edge. Where do these bigger fish get there fighting techniques? It didn't matter because now Michelle had the fish hooked and the tippet was connected to her brand new TFO. This brown was as good as caught from the hook set. It wasn't long before Michelle was releasing that fish and we were making our way to the ramp after a good day on the river.

Michelle and Lane were a lot of fun to have on the boat. There were some periods of slow catching but they kept their head in the game and were ready when opportunities came. They fished the low water and clear skies with stealthy approaches and longer casts and they had a great brown trout day.

If you are a seasoned angler or have never picked up a fly rod and want to set up a day on the river e-mail or call/text 615-796-5143 to book a day on the water. For additional booking information see our Homepage and to see the latest fishing report click here.

Bernardo and Andy on Hot Day

When Bernardo and his son Andy stepped on the boat the temperature was already close to ninety degrees. We knew it would be a hot and muggy day. Even though there was only a 20% chance of rain I think we all knew there would be a chance of getting wet, not from the river but from the rain. We would indeed end the day wet but smiling while looking for the chance to catch some fish.

We pushed the drifter off the trailer and it settled on the anchor. After getting the rods rigged we were soon drifting in the current. The water was still a little high but Bernardo wasted no time hooking up. The skunk was off early and it wasn't long before Andy followed with a rainbow of his own.

The guys were hooked on a fairly regular basis throughout the morning as they fished tight, and mean tight, to structure. With off-color water they had to put the fly right in the face of the fish and that's what they were doing. Andy was especially good at fishing the blowdowns and it showed with each passing log. Still the count was neck-n-neck with Bernardo leading the way throughout most of the float. The temperatures continued to rise and so did the humidity. Even the livestock found the shade and cool water just to make it through the afternoon. 

After lunch the water release hit us and the river began to rise. We went deep with nymphs but the water was too stained to be real productive. Andy was first on the streamer and picked up the first smallie of the trip. 

The rains came and when most of the recreational folks headed for cover the guys fished-on. Andy hit a productive bank of rocks with some swift water flowing off the corner. A big freakin nice fish hit Andy's streamer and blasted off the corner. Andy set the hook as the fish began to make the first run and when it felt the sting of the hook it accelerated even faster. All this happened within what felt like two seconds and then the line went limp. It was over. Andy handled it much better than I usually do with only a few words and some mumbling. Soon he was back to casting the streamer and retrieving. Bernardo was soon on a streamer as well as we picked our way down the bank.

We were coming to the end of the float and things were getting interesting. Andy was once again hooked up as his fly came across a popular and deep pool. After three other boats had fished, Andy had just the right retrieve. He had a good hookset and was in a pretty strong fight. This fish wasn't as big as "the one that got away" but it wasn't going to come to the net without some tricks of its own.

We followed the rest of the fleet into the final stretches of the float and the guys didn't leave a stone un-turned on this float. At the end of the day the guys caught some nice fish using a few different techniques. Their presentation was good from start to finish and their skills of getting the fish to the net made for a more productive day. 

In the end that 20% chance of rain found us. So the chance of rain on the river must have been 100%. But, when others ran for cover Bernardo and Andy decided to catch fish vs. give up and miss a chance to catch some fish.

If you are a seasoned angler or have never picked up a fly rod and want to set up a day on the river e-mail or call/text 615-796-5143 to book a day on the water. For additional booking information see our Homepage and to see the latest fishing report click here.