BHPT Feeding Frenzy

My mom kept Trey Friday night, so that gave me Saturday morning free. I checked the generation schedule, and TVA was turning on one generator at 7AM, so that would give me till 10:30 to fish. I also figured since the window was so small combined with the cold temperatures there would be limited numbers of people out to start the morning. I was correct, only saw two other fisherman in the two hours and fifteen minutes I fished.

I started fishing in a run that my buddies were catching fish out of on Wednesday evening using a #16 BHPT and a #20 midge larva. After the first couple of fish attacked my BHPT, I cut off the midge and continued to catch a total of 8 fish out of the first run. After about 45 minutes, I couldn't get any more takes so I moved downstream to a couple places I know that typically harbor some pigs. I managed to catch a few more on my way, also on the BHPT before reaching my destination.

Average Rainbow

Before making any casts I checked my fly and found that the last fish had completely destroyed it. So, I figured this would be a good time to try out a slightly modified split case pattern that my buddy Brett Romer had some influence in.

I spotted a fish cruising around actively on the other side of some large rocks, and slowly fished my way out to him. Eventually I made my way to within casting range, and he inhaled my nymph offering on the first drift. He vaulted out of the water, and I could tell he was a very nice rainbow. After a brief fight I landed him, snapped some pics, and released him to catch another day. The fishing was phenomenal nearly the entire time I was on the water, with a total of 14 brought to hand, two break offs, multiple misses and long distance releases.

16" Bow

16" Bow

One unusual thing I witnessed on Saturday morning was three different rainbows clearing redds at the tail of one pool. I have watched browns clearing redds on the Clinch before, but never saw rainbows doing it. I have noticed that some of the smaller 6 - 8" bows in this area are brightly colored, refer to some previous posts. I wonder if we are seeing some reproduction taking place for once. Next time out, I will look again to see if the redds are still occupied. If TVA does maintain the current generation schedule, these fish are not sterile, and people leave them alone I would venture to say that this year could have some river born rainbows added to the mix.

Conditions:
Weather - Sunny, Calm, 37 to 60 degrees
Water - 51 degrees, clear
Flies - #16 BHPT & #16 Split Case

Clinch Sulfur Preparation

Fished the Clinch yesterday late afternoon, and the trout are beginning to move out of their typical winter/summer lies into typical sulfur holding spots. I also started picking up some fish yesterday on pheasant tail nymphs, whereas I have had to use midges all spring so far. Water was up another couple degrees to 50, so we are only about 5 degrees away for full on sulfur hatches. Can't wait, so I am going to tie up more pheasant tails, sulfur emergers, thorax duns, and comparaduns in preparation.

Here are a couple of my best from yesterday, around 14" each:

Bagged My First Bird

On Easter we went to my parents house in the afternoon. While watching the boys playing outside I heard a turkey gobble a couple times. So, I ran inside and told my dad, changed clothes, and off we went. I had brought my stuff along just in case, but this was my first time turkey hunting so I enlisted my dad as my caller. We made our way down near it, and called for nearly an hour with limited response. We finally decided that it wasn't going to move, and walked up the logging road to see if we could find any activity. Shortly thereafter we walked up on 5 birds, 4 of which spooked when they saw us. Unfortunately for the brave one, he is now going to be dinner.

I feel a little disappointed however, because I did not call the bird in. They say that is an adrenaline rush, so I may have to give it another try soon. In the meantime "there are fish in them thar hills and cricks", and I plan on catching some.

Below are some pics:

18 pounds

Bright Red Headed Gobbler

Look at those colors!

10-1/2 inch beard

3/4" Spurs

Now it is time to get some revenge on some Clinch rainbows. Bring it on!

Clinch is Coming Out of Hibernation

Dave and I went back over to the lease yesterday to see if the warm weather over the past week has made a difference. I arrived with the water still high, and a couple of other people were gearing up. Dave showed up about an hour later. Surface activity was virtually non-existent when I got in the water, so I went with a double nymph rig.

The River

It didn't take long to hook up with my first fish, a nicely colored 8" rainbow. The coloration was much more fitting of a smokies rainbow of this size than a clinch bow. Not long afterward I tied into the largest fish I have hooked all year, and it absolutely man-handled me. I could tell that it has been a long time since I last tussled with a 16"+ fish. The 9 to 12" fish I have been catching recently really have not helped me stay on my game.

My Best Bow

Between 2:30 and 5:30, I had only landed the one little fish and had two break me off. However, at 5:30, it was like somebody flipped a switch, and there were fish rising everywhere. I was getting a take on nearly every cast, and it was a nice ending to a beautiful day. However, in the back of my mind there was still that one nice one that got away. Oh well, I know where he lives, as it isn't the first time I have had a fish break me off in this one run.

Dave Landing One

Dave Landing One

Last Fish of the Day

Getting Ready for Smallies

Been working on some new popper creations for the Spring smallmouth bonanza on the area waters. Prismacolor markers are magical, and there are no limits on what your can create. My most recent creation is the firetiger popper. Get yourself some foam poppers and half a dozen assorted colors of markers, including the "blender", and open up your mind.


--- Recipe ---
TMC 777SP #6
Yellow foam popper
Chartreuse and red krystal flash
Dun Hackle
Prismacolor markers
Yellow rubber for legs

Skunk Off! Clinch Treatment

Made it out today from 3:00 till 5:30, and managed to catch 4. They were very tough again today. I would watch for a consistently rising fish and have to put it right on his nose before he would take. The first fish probably required 20+ drifts before it finally took my blackfly larva. The others didn't require as much effort, but still demanded a perfect presentation.

Water temp was 42 degrees, and the wind was brutal for strike detection. Made for a tough day, but at least I got the skunk off after last trip. A steady dose of blackfly larva is just what the doctor ordered to relieve the pain and irritation of a skunking.

The Clinch is fishing really tough right now, and is showing it's bipolar characteristic. Some days people are lighting it up and others you have to force feed the trout.

Conditions:
Weather - Cloudy, Breezy, 46 degrees
Water - Some discoloration, 42 degrees, receding water level
Flies - midge and blackfly larva

Trey's First Fishing Adventure

I was supposed to meet up with a buddy on Friday to fish the Clinch, but some external circumstances prevented me from doing so. Luckily, I managed to wrap those items up earlier than expected, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to take my son fishing and enjoy the mid-afternoon beautiful weather. He is 21 months old, and loves looking at my Flyfisherman magazines, watching people catch "ish" on Saturday's with daddy, and looking at fish pics online. I took him to a little remote park on Melton Hill lake to catch him a bluegill. It didn't take long for him to catch his first fish, and he wanted to participate in the landing, unhooking, and release of the fish. After about 10 minutes he needed to take a rock throwing break, before catching his second fish and heading home. It was so much fun, and I just tried to let him do things that would keep him interested and not bored. I look forward to taking him more as he gets older, as those are some of the fondest memories I have with my dad. Unfortunately those trips are few and far between now. Hopefully one day Trey will pick up the long rod, and I will be able to report on many more father & son trips. Here are a couple pics from the trip.

Trey's First Fish

Patiently Waiting

Trey's Second Fish

"Hep Momma, Hep"

Rock Throwing Break

Casting Practice

Taking the bad with the good

Made it out to the river this afternoon around 3:45, and was very excited about the possibilities. Dave hooked up with two bows within the first 10 minutes. However, we didn't realize that it would be 2 1/2 hours before another fish would take one of our offerings. The trout were rising quite regularly taking adult blackflies, unfortunately I did not have anything that they thought looked tasty. I fished for three hours today and never even got a single strike, I can't remember the last time that happened. It has been more than two years since I have been skunked on the Clinch, so I guess I was due. I threw everything I had at them, including streamers, with absolutely no interest. I took a water temp reading before leaving and it was 42.5 degrees. Surprisingly that was 1.5 degrees colder than when I last fished the Clinch two weeks ago. The overcast skies for the past couple days apparently have slowed the water warming trend.

This only adds fuel to the fire for my return trip.

Conditions:
Weather - Cloudy, Calm, 52 deg
Water - Clear, 42.5 deg
Best Patterns - ?????
Tackle - 9' 4 wt