Charles Bagley and I ventured onto the Hiwassee on September 7 hoping for some action. The generation schedule was somewhat normal with 1 generator until 8 AM, 0 until 11 AM, 1 for an hour, and then two. I have found this fairly typical this Summer. The air temp was about 70 degrees and would rise to about 82 later in they day. As usual, there was a high mist that kept the sun off the water until about 9:00.
Our friends, the four otters did not visit today. Due to the rain earlier in the week, the water was not as crystal clear as usual but was very fishable.
We met some TWRA employees who were going to float and shock the stream that day. My greatest shock was actual seeing a TWRA official on the Hiwassee. I guess that there is a first time for most things. They did a water temp reading at about 8:30 AM and the temperature was 70 degrees! They were well aware that the Hiwassee was too warm to be a quality fishery and in one of their words, was a “put and take” fishery. We will see about that!
I was using my old American made Orvis Silver Label 842—it throws really nice with a 2 wt line but probably throws better with a 3 wt. My leader tapered to 6X. I am not sure what Charles had since most of his stuff was stolen out West this Summer. Hopefully, he will get his kit back soon (they caught the thieves—lets hope they put them in jail). Charles was using a leader that tapered to 5X and had similar success so tippet diameter did not seem to matter.
We got on the water about 8:30 as the water drained out and noticed a fairly prolific trico hatch. Of course, my trico box was at home. In the pool area that I worked, there were probably 30 or so trout rising—mostly 10 to 12 inch stockers. I did see the back of one much nicer trout.
Well, with no trico’s patterns with me, action was slow until about 9:30. I observed one BWO dun on the water so immediately switched to a #20 BWO emerger tied Barr style. Thought not magical that day as it had been several weeks before, it did consistently pick up trout until the water rose. The technique is two fold: First, you need to put some type of sinking fluid on the fly and about six inches of leader and then put floatant on the remainder of the leader. Second, cast quartering down stream, let the fly swing, and add 1 inch twitches occasionally. Usually, as the fly swings and is pulled to the surface, the trout slash at it trying to capture the emerger before it transforms into a dun and flies to freedom. You miss a lot of strikes, lose some flies, but it is exciting fishing. This technique is really neat on the Green River in Utah where the trout slashing at the fly are 18 to 22 inch browns and rainbows.
Charles was having some success with a brown body Adams but switched to an emerger late in the morning, had several savage strikes, and landed at least three before higher water forced us to shore.
We relocated to what used to be the Trophy section and had very little success—but it was hot, sun out full, and early September, not the best conditions for a hatch or trout activity.
Charles and I area planning to float the Tacoa or wade the Tellico, depending on water conditions on the 14th. We will let you know how it goes!
Any day on the river is great and catching a few trout makes it perfect—so it was a perfect day. See you on the river!
- Roger Duckworth |
