Hiwassee River - TVA is currently running two turbines from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. daily. The schedule will remain in effect until Labor Day. The water temp of 56 degrees is unusually cool for this time of year. As a result, insect activity and fly fishing is very good. We have daily afternoon hatches of several size and species of olives, and Isonychias. The dry fly fishing is the best of the season so far. Matching the hatch , and big attractor dries. Boogers are also working. August may very well be our
best month of fishing on the river this year. The Quality zone continues to fish well with larger fish rising at the stair steps in the evenings. This has got to be some of the best dry fly fishing in the southeast right now.

What: Appalachian Chapter of Trout Unlimited July Meeting
Where: Greenway Farm off of Gann Store Road in Hixson
When: July 19, at 6:30 PM

David Carson, known in some fly tying circles as "Spider Man" because he makes a really good realistic imitation of a spider, will be our speaker this month.  He will be giving one of these spiders to the Chapter to auction off as a fund raiser the night of the meeting.  He has a guide service which basically specializes in wild trout in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.   The name of his guide service is "On the Fly Guide Service."  He will be speaking about fishing the Smoky Mountain streams in terms of places to go and techniques to use to enhance one's success with these elusive trout.  David is a great guy and an enthusiastic personality to have at our meeting this month.  He is also a field representative for Loon fly fishing products and Temple Fork Fly Rods.  He is a Joan Wolff certified casting instructor as well as an Orvis Endorsed Guide.

Dane Law from Southeastern Anglers sent in the following report including information on the Hiwasee, Holston, and Clinch Rivers.

What: Appalachian Chapter of Trout Unlimited June Meeting
Where:  Greenway Farm off of Gann Store Road in Hixson
When: June 21st, at 6:30 PM

This month, Tim Page, the owner of “Tim’s Flies and Lies” in Lynchburg, TN, will be discussing fishing the Elk River and guide service available from his shop. Join us and learn about fishing on the other side of the hill.

We are very fortunate to have some cold tailwater trout fisheries here in the southeast. A dry period such as we are experiencing now really reminds us of this. The lack of rainfall has the natural, small trout streams running very low and clear. Without some rainfall soon, they will probably suffer. However, the tailwaters are currently in good shape with coldwater flows being released from the dams. The drift boat fishing on the tailraces is actually better right now than the past couple of years on most of our rivers. Here is an update on a few, and our picks for the next 45 days.