| Fishing Report: Summer BWO’s on the Hiwassee |
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| Sunday, 30 July 2006 | |
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I have been over to the Hiwassee several times the last few weeks with good success. There are plenty of fresh, but small, stockers ranging from about 8” to 12” and they are hungry. I think they really miss the puppy chow!
Friday the 28th of July I arrived on the stream at about 7:30 AM just as the water was dropping to 0 turbines. The air temperature was about 75 degrees with no wind. As I worked to the stream, I saw several fish rising in the slower water areas of a series of pools. The fish were surface feeding though I saw several splashy rises that indicated that some of the fish were chasing emergers. The primary food source appeared to be midges, brown in color, about size 28. As I was contemplating what to fish, I noticed a BWO dun leave the water—problem solved! I tied on a Barr’s emerger size 20, put a little Frog’s Fanny on the wing (helps to keep the fly floating tail down and traps air as do the naturals), greased the leader down to about 12 inches above the fly and cast. I fished dead drift, casting 6 foot in front of risers and picked up a few fish. After about an hour and with the temperature rising, I saw a few more BWO’s and noticed an increase in slash rises. I then switched to a technique that is very effective on the Green River in late April. I cast across and down stream and, as the line slowly drifted, gave an occasional inch twitch. This was the ticket as the Barr’s emerger simulated a Baetis nymph approaching the surface. This is the time that the nymph is most vulnerable and the trout have learned that they only have seconds to capture breakfast before the nymph metas into a dun and flies away. They smacked it! Well, it was a great morning. I landed 18 trout until the water started rising just after 10:00 AM—all rainbows, which was a surprise as there are also many immature browns in the upper river. The largest was about 12 inches and I had a few “hot” ones that put a nice bend in my American made Orvis 2wt. And, I had a bonus. I was entertained by watching four otters playing and working their way up the opposite back. What a treat to watch these supple, amusing animals. I hope to see them often. It appears that the conditions that I described will be there for at least a few more weeks. Hope to see you on the river. Col. Roger L. Duckworth, USA, Ret. |
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| Last Updated ( Sunday, 30 July 2006 ) |
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