Tennessee's Premier Fly Fishing Guide Service for the Clinch River, Holston River and Caney Fork River As well as the Cumberland River in Kentucky.



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Our Most Recent Fishing Report
5-16th-2024





It’s hard to believe that we’re less than two weeks away from Memorial Day and the unofficial start of summer. But we are and we’d better get to believing it. Our spring season has been a blur, with guided trips going off daily and the weather roulette wheel spinning faster each day.


Our tailwaters are all nearing or above summer pool. Thanks in large part to the huge rain system that hit us last week. It was a monster, for a day and a half anyway. Some areas took on over 6 inches of rain, while other areas of the southeast received a much more moderate dose of rainfall. Several of our fisheries began spilling or high flow discharges to flush as much of the flood waters as possible. These fisheries include the Caney Fork and Cumberland Rivers. The Clinch and the Holston fared very well, seeing only normal flows, albeit a little muddy for a day or so. Looking forward I’d expect to see this pattern of wet weather continue, at least into the first few weeks of June. So…..always bring your rain gear.





Mr. Jones with another fine rainbow trout specimen!



The big talk all year has been the dual cicada emergence of broods XIX (19) and XIII (13). I’ve studied cicadas as much as any angler or guide can and I never expected to see them on my local rivers (Clinch and Holston). So far, I’ve been right as they’ve not emerged anywhere near my trout waters…. Although many of the XIX broods are emerging along Tellico Lake. I have some friends who are traveling to Arkansas where they are predicted to be and I’m eager to hear how they do. They could be close to the Caney Fork but we’re going to need to see the river flows to drop there before were able to see for ourselves. I’m not giving up on seeing them but it’s not looking promising.


I am fully expecting to see Brood XIV (14) next year. In fact, I only have a few dates open for the 7 week long event. June 1st for this event was actually booked and paid for back in 2008, after one of the most incredible dry fly days ever. I’ve wondered many times over the years if Jim would remember and call me before the our trip. I mean, 16 years so far and I’ve never heard from him again after that day. I can’t wait to find out, either he’ll show up for his prepaid day or I’ll get a paid day off to fish cicadas. If you’d like to take a shot at them, you’d better contact me soon. I only have a handful of days open for this 2025 May and June event.





Michael Bisher always seems to find a picture fish or two!



Our recent fishing trips have been going very well despite rainy and inconsistent weather. The clouds and rain didn’t seem to deter the fish. Both of my local rivers (Clinch and Holston) are seeing standard low water flows. These flows should hold for at least a few more weeks.


The Holston has been a little tougher this year than in years passed. The high influx of new guides and a few guides who refuse to quit fishing the Holston in the late summer season has definitely taken it’s toll on the Holston holdovers we’ve grown so accustomed to catching over the years. Fewer fish survive the warm summer water after being caught and handled and in turn, we see fewer and fewer quality fish there come spring. Of course, we still catch some nice fish but the numbers just aren’t the same. If your guide tried to take you to the Holston in after July, please correct them and demand they take you somewhere that your actions and theirs will not be detrimental to the fishery. It’s our job to protect these fisheries, especially if the fish are our business partners.


Anyway, I’ll come down off the soap box. The fishing has been ok, but it’s not been easy by any means. Long, smooth casts to weary risers demands patience and a soft hand. We’re still seeing caddis and some sulphurs and that’s what I’ve been fishing. Size #14 - #18 for the caddis and #16 Sulphur patterns have worked fine.





Amazing work with a #20 midge pupa and a soft hand! Well done Jason!



The Clinch is fishing fairly well if you can handle the low, spooky water. These fish are ultra spooky and you might as well leave your 5x at home because it’s a 6x and 7x game now. Bring out your insanely long leaders and make that long dead drift, because that’s what it’s going to take to get to these fish without spooking them. The river level is very low so you need to wade quietly and make little to no noise. That task is a little tougher in the drift boat since the shallow rocks are everywhere. Boat dragging is a common thing these days, but higher flows are not too far away at this point. Focus on sulphur mayfly patterns (nymphs, wets and dries) and bring all of your midge pupas as well…….you’re going to need them.


My May schedule is full. June still has a few days open here and there and July currently has plenty of open days. These June and July dates should see the start of our terrestrial season as well as opening up the Cumberland for our 2025 season.