Winter Shots at big brown trout!
Winter fly fishing in Tennessee rewards patient anglers with crisp, sunny days and hungry browns. From Christmas through March, the South Holston and Watauga rivers light up with nymph, streamer, and even dry-fly action. Better yet, boat traffic stays light, so you often have the water and the big fish all to yourself.
Tennessee Tailwaters – Float Trips
Expect to dead-drift egg patterns and Blue-Winged Olives (BWOs) through most of the day. However, streamer fishing grows more productive each week and is well worth the effort. Daily BWO hatches let us target rising trout almost every afternoon. During these hatches, the fish grow picky, yet careful presentations still draw takes. December and January are prime months to connect with the giant brown trout that make the South Holston and Watauga famous.
High Country Creeks and Rivers
Many Boone-area creeks run too cold in winter, but a warm spell can trigger solid bites. Last week, for example, we enjoyed steady action on the North Carolina Delayed Harvest stretch of the Watauga. Wade anglers should also try the Watauga and North Toe Delayed Harvest waters. Both rivers fish well as long as air temps climb above 30°F.
Virginia Creeks and Rivers
Southwest Virginia finally received much-needed rain for Christmas, and the trout have noticed. Larger systems such as Whitetop Laurel, Beaverdam Creek, and Laurel Creek fish best on mild days. Streamers and big nymphs are producing now, and the bite rarely shuts down. The biggest browns of the season often show up in these rivers from December through April.