Guided Fly Fishing in Tennessee and Beyond
Rocky Top Anglers is a professional fly fishing guide service located in east Tennessee. We specialize in guided fly fishing drift boat float trips and wade fishing excursions to the best destinations in the southeast. We offer our guided fly fishing trips year round covering these great rivers – Clinch River – Holston River – Hiwassee River – Cumberland River – Caney Fork River – and more.
Rocky Top Angler will provide reports for the rivers they are fishing during that time period, check under rivers for reports. They take their clients where the fish are most active.
Contact: Michael ” Rocky” Cox
Phone: 865-388-9802
Email: tnrockyraccoon@yahoo.com
Website: www.rockytopanglers.com
Hiwassee River Fishing Report: 28 Feb 2014
Hiwassee Lake is a little over 4 foot above the desired winter pool level. This should mean great flows for drift boat fishing on the Hiwassee. Although, you should note that TVA will start filling the lake soon and this will likely result in abundant low water opportunities. Low flows from the powerhouse will move our boats further down river. The middle river, from Reliance to hwy411 is very scenic, and under fished in my opinion. The famous “Patty Melt” stretch runs from hwy 411 downtream to the Patty Bridge Access. Both of these stretches will offer great spring hatches in the form of Hendricksons, Caddis and Sulphurs.
Currently, we’re seeing good action on a couple different setups. We’re still seeing more quality fish while using the streamer rods. White, Black and Olive Buggers are producing as are Circus Peanuts and other Galloup patterns. The nymph sticks are getting tuned up as well. Our winter stoneflies (#16 – #18) are hatching and the fish are keying in on the nymphs. The adults are raising some fish but the action is much better on the nymphs. Prince nymphs and black hare’s ear nymphs are working best.
14 Feb 2014
Hiwassee Lake is a few feet below the winter pool guideline. This could mean extended low water. TVA is showing a lowered flow for tomorrow and are predicting very low flows for this weekend. This will be the chance many wade fishermen have been waiting for since October. The delayed harvest season will end on March 1st and I’m rather sad to see it end. The river has been on fire this year and our fish are in such great shape. I sure hope our fish can weather storm of corn and stringers.
The bite is still very good and our options are starting to broaden again. Streamers are still going to produce more strikes from better fish. But nymphs and even dry flies are beginning to find their place on some of our setups. The shad kill was not very impressive this year but the fish saw enough of them to keep an eye out for them. Winter stoneflies have started to pop and the fish are taking notice. Black, downwing dry flies with small, #16 -#18 stonefly dropper has worked very well.
