Watauga River Fly Fishing Report June 7 2024

Hello Everyone,

We’ve been staying busy on the Watauga river. The TVA has been running water most of the day. There has been windows of low water each day, but it has been random to say the least. That’s not what you want to hear if you’re a wade angler, but it has provided some great fishing from a drift boat. The most consistent rig has been a nymph rig. Getting flies down deep is the key. We have also been getting some fish in the slower edges with dry dropper rigs, but the nymph rig has still been the top producer. An attractor followed by a zebra midge or a frenchie has been working great on the nymph rig. For the dry dropper we’ve been using a terrestrial followed by a stripper midge. Give us a shout if you would like more information, or if you would like to book a trip. Email is wataugariverguides@gmail.com and phone number is 423-202-5184. If we don’t answer, please leave a message and we will call you back asap.

Tight Lines,

Huck

Watauga River Fly Fishing Report May 31st 2024

Hey Everyone, I apologize for the lack of fishing reports. The Watauga river has been fishing great. Most of the fishing is nymphing. We are having a few periods of dry fly fishing, it’s not been everyday, but there have been some sulphurs hatching. Sulphur nymphs, midge pupa, and attractor patterns have been working well. Give us a call if you would like more information, or if you would like to book a trip. 423-202-5184

Tight Lines,

Huck

Watauga River Fly Fishing Report

Hello everyone,

Welcome to Watauga River Guides. We’ve had a good week on the Watauga river. We are seeing some blue winged olives hatching, not big hatches, but we have been able to have some periods of dry fly fishing. Nymphing has been the most productive. We’ve been fishing some attractors such as egg patterns along with bwo nymphs and midges on long, light tippet. We have also been using some tight line techniques that have proven to be very effective even on picky fish. We have been adapting these tight line tactics to be fished from a drift boat while drifting as well as from anchor, which makes this style unique.

If you are planing your own trip be sure to have plenty of small flies. The blue wings are an honest size 24, but the fish will take a 22 bwo puff daddy. The midge pupa that we are fishing range from size 18 to 22.

If you would like more information about our guide service, or if you would like to book a trip, please call us at 423-202-5184 or email us at wataugariverguides@gmail.com. Hope to see you on the water.

Tight Lines,

Huck

Watauga River Fly Fishing Report October 22, 2023

Hello everyone!

Thank you for stopping by. The leaves are changing, the weather is perfect, and the fishing is great here in northeast Tennessee. We have been fishing a traditional nymph rig with long leaders and light tippet. The flies have been tiny midges and bwo nymphs, attractors have been working well too. We are seeing some blue winged olives, some days more than others, but when they are hatching we have had some good dry fly fishing. We have also been fishing a tight line technique. I wouldn’t call this euro nymphing, but more of a combination of tight line tactics that have proven successful from a drift boat. If you are curious to try a different style of fly fishing, this would be a good option. If you have any questions about our services, if you would like to try your hand at tight lining, or if you would like to book a trip, please give us a call. I hope to see you on the water.

Tight Lines,

Huck

Watauga River Fly Fishing Report

Hello everyone,

We are off to another great summer on the Watauga river. We’ve had great river conditions so far this year. Nymphing has been great with good numbers of fish coming to the boat. Midges are the fly of choice. Long leaders and light tippet are key. We have July dates available. Feel free to give us a call if you would like to get in on the action. (423)202-5184. Or email at wataugariverguides@gmail.com

Hope to see you on the river

Huck

Watauga River Fly Fishing Report

Hello everyone,

It doesn’t seem possible, but here we are and it’s almost May. Spring has been great on the Watauga. The flows have been consistent and the fishing has been good. The low clear water calls for good drifts, and light tippet. We’re still getting some fish on caddis, mostly on pupa. The fish are settling back in and taking mayfly nymphs and midges. I hope that everyone has had a great spring. If you have any questions about our guide service or would like to book a trip, please give us a call at 423-202-5184 or email at wataugariverguides@gmail.com

Tight lines,

Huck

Watauga River Fishing Report

Hello everyone, I hope that you are all getting to enjoy this beautiful weather. The fishing has been great. We are now in the recreation flow schedule for the summer. Meaning the TVA releases water every weekday from 1pm-6pm and noon-6pm on Saturdays. This isn’t the best news if you’re a wade fisherman, but I thought I would give you a heads up. The good news is, that cool burst of water every afternoon helps keep temps in check and the fish healthy. We’re seeing more crowds on the river this year than ever before. With that being the case, we have switched up our game plan and it has been working great. Midges and a few terrestrials have been our go to flies. We are seeing a few sulphurs, but they haven’t been hatching with enough consistency to plan for. It’s more luck if the draw if they hatch or not that day. We have been blessed with a great year so far, and it keeps getting better. If you would like more information on our trips and services please drop us a line. During the day when we are out on the water, email or text is best. But feel free to call and leave a message as well. We will get back to you as soon as we get off the water. Hope to see you on the water.

Tight Lines,

Huck

Watauga River Fishing Report

Hello everyone, I apologize for not posting a fishing report sooner. The TVA has been running some water. If you’re going wade fishing please check the schedule for Wilbur dam before going. Both low water and high water have been fishing good. A few sporadic sulphur hatches are still occurring. However they aren’t consistent enough to count on having a hatch daily. Small midges have been the name of the game on low water. We’re fishing attractors and midges down deep during periods of high water. It has been a great year so far. Please send us a message or give us a call if you would like to book a trip.

Tight Lines,

Huck