Fly Fishing

We made a trip to one of my favorite trout streams in the Great Smoky Mountains this afternoon. We finally got above freezing a few hours, and we had to take something for this cabin fever! It was a nice drive, followed by a nice fairly short hike. I didn’t take my fly rod along, but I should have! My guess is that I would have had fewer hung flys than normal!Attachment 285201Attachment 285202Attachment 285203Attachment 285204Attachment 285205Attachment 285206Attachment 285207


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Envious.. the last couple winters if been fishing streams in Ky. , last Feb I fished hatchery creek below Cumberland. I am much better with stockers

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Originally Posted by Tom 513

Envious.. the last couple winters if been fishing streams in Ky. , last Feb I fished hatchery creek below Cumberland. I am much better with stockers

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I’ve read some great reports from Hatchery Creek.

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Originally Posted by ET Fish

I’ve read some great reports from Hatchery Creek.

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How it started : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tY7sYx8hYXI

Ky Afield video fishing the creek : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HA2N_C2Ryec

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

How it started : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tY7sYx8hYXI

Ky Afield video fishing the creek : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HA2N_C2Ryec

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Thanks for sharing this! Quite interesting!

I've fished below the Wolf Creek Dam for Rainbow Trout, back in my earlier years, probably around 1976 ... but, did it from a boat and used Kastmaster spoons bounced along the bottom. Kind of a tricky deal, really, since you had to be there when several sluice gates are open. Then you run the boat up to the face of the dam & then put the big motor into neutral and let the water push you downstream, all the while bouncing the Kastmaster on the bottom. If you hang it up, you motor back past it and yank it free (or lose it) and then continue on. If you catch a Trout, you get it in the boat as fast as possible, then continue on until you reach a certain distance from the dam .... then motor back to the dam & start over. Nowadays I'm not even sure if that's possible to do, since you're restricted to no closer than 500ft from the dam if water is being let out thru the gates.

It's much easier to fish hatchery creek, plus you don't even need waders, I had a fight with a 20" rainbow there last year, but he won. #20 zebra midge was the ticket

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Originally Posted by Tom 513

It's much easier to fish hatchery creek, plus you don't even need waders, I had a fight with a 20" rainbow there last year, but he won. #20 zebra midge was the ticket

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Truthfully, I am not very good with a fly rod. It’s a challenge for me, but I love a challenge! My fishing is more like 95% Crappie and 5% trout. That being said, we made a trip to Wyoming in early fall of 2016. It wasn’t a fishing trip, but a buddy and I did pack a fly rod. There was a stream near our cabin, so after all the hiking and sightseeing, we decided to wet a line. I caught a decent “Brown”, and noticed that he appeared to be bleeding, so to keep from wasting him, I gutted him and put him on ice. This actually happened four more times! As it turned out, I was catching Cutthroats! I had no idea what they looked like, as I thought they were Browns! They fried up nicely, though!

While I am a member of crappie.com I am not a crappie fisherman as most are on here....I do catch a lot of crappie but I am an avid UL angler and trout are right down my alley using UL rods and 2# test line...and sometimes 1.4# test line. I am fortunate to be very close to the Caney Fork River.......probably one of the best trout streams east of the Mississippi that is not that well known by folks outside the area. I have fished the Cumberland below Wolf Creek for trout and it is a great fishery.......have yet to get onto those triploids they stocked there but will sooner or later. ET when I first ate trout I did so without removing the skin.....a big mistake. About 11:00 .p.m. I started tasting that oil from the skin and I burped that all night long. Since then I eat all my trout filleted with the skin off....LOL. A week ago I took a young college student out on the river for some fishing. He is a freshman at UT and is on their bass fishing team....he is quite an accomplished fisherman. He of course wanted the big fish...so I put him in the heavy current and after he caught 3 good ones back to back I went back to catching 11-12 inch brook trout.....caught around 60 in 4 hours...with a few rainbow mixed in. Got to love the flight of trout. Love those streams in the Smokies but I am not that mobile anymore to hike and crawl around on those boulders....LOL.


Regards



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The challenge is what I like about it too, plus I am off work in the winter so trout fishing fits my schedule. I've been playing around with fly fishing the past few years, I tell people usually fish alone so people don't point and laugh at me, lol. I figure as long as I am having a good time that's all that matters. One thing you should try is throwing wooleybuggers for river smallmouth in September, there is no better fishing in my opinion.

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Alphahawk, when I camp and trout fish I just gut the trout wrap it in aluminum foil and cook it for 10 mins on a open fire, the filet is light and flakey and easily pulls away from the bones. But it's important to only cook for 10mins I've found, I took my 13yr old grandson fishing at Red river gorge Ky and we all enjoyed our catches

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Originally Posted by ET Fish

Truthfully, I am not very good with a fly rod....

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Originally Posted by Tom 513

I've been playing around with fly fishing the past few years, I tell people usually fish alone so people don't point and laugh at me, lol.

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Guys, if you can take a casting lesson from a good instructor or just spend a day with a good guide, it will help you immeasurably. Fly fishing (and especially fly casting) does not come naturally to most people. A little professional instruction is well worth it.

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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

Guys, if you can take a casting lesson from a good instructor or just spend a day with a good guide, it will help you immeasurably. Fly fishing (and especially fly casting) does not come naturally to most people. A little professional instruction is well worth it.

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Yes, a friend who used to teach gave me lessons, and my casting baffled him. Wind knots tell me when I need to adjust.

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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

Guys, if you can take a casting lesson from a good instructor or just spend a day with a good guide, it will help you immeasurably. Fly fishing (and especially fly casting) does not come naturally to most people. A little professional instruction is well worth it.

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I agree 100%! I actually fly fish with a seasoned mentor, and he has helped me immensely. The problem I have, while making adjustments that he points out, my casting improves vastly. Then, I cast the spinning rod for crappie for about a month before I fly fish again. Bad habits have to be corrected again! I need to spend a bit more back yard time in between!

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Originally Posted by Alphahawk

While I am a member of crappie.com I am not a crappie fisherman as most are on here....I do catch a lot of crappie but I am an avid UL angler and trout are right down my alley using UL rods and 2# test line...and sometimes 1.4# test line. I am fortunate to be very close to the Caney Fork River.......probably one of the best trout streams east of the Mississippi that is not that well known by folks outside the area. I have fished the Cumberland below Wolf Creek for trout and it is a great fishery.......have yet to get onto those triploids they stocked there but will sooner or later. ET when I first ate trout I did so without removing the skin.....a big mistake. About 11:00 .p.m. I started tasting that oil from the skin and I burped that all night long. Since then I eat all my trout filleted with the skin off....LOL. A week ago I took a young college student out on the river for some fishing. He is a freshman at UT and is on their bass fishing team....he is quite an accomplished fisherman. He of course wanted the big fish...so I put him in the heavy current and after he caught 3 good ones back to back I went back to catching 11-12 inch brook trout.....caught around 60 in 4 hours...with a few rainbow mixed in. Got to love the flight of trout. Love those streams in the Smokies but I am not that mobile anymore to hike and crawl around on those boulders....LOL.


Regards



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I love the Caney Fork! I have only made two trips there, but thoroughly enjoyed them! It’s a couple hours from home, so a long weekend at Edgar Evins in the cabins, villas, or whatever they are. The kayak gets to make that trip as well!

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Originally Posted by ET Fish

I love the Caney Fork! I have only made two trips there, but thoroughly enjoyed them! It’s a couple hours from home, so a long weekend at Edgar Evins in the cabins, villas, or whatever they are. The kayak gets to make that trip as well!

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I have floated the Caney in a kayak many times...but no longer own any kayaks. When you decide to float it again on low water let me know by PM and I will give you a crappie hole to stop and fish at if you want to do that.....no need to tell you about the trout spots...as they are pretty thick throughout the first 6-10 miles or so. Most folks go there for the trout fishing...not many realize if you know where to go the river holds some really big crappie. Let me know if I can be of help to you.

Regards


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Originally Posted by Tom 513

Yes, a friend who used to teach gave me lessons, and my casting baffled him. Wind knots tell me when I need to adjust.

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Originally Posted by ET Fish

I agree 100%! I actually fly fish with a seasoned mentor, and he has helped me immensely. The problem I have, while making adjustments that he points out, my casting improves vastly. Then, I cast the spinning rod for crappie for about a month before I fly fish again. Bad habits have to be corrected again! I need to spend a bit more back yard time in between!

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Good tips here from one of the all-time greats:

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/fly-f...ught-rod-cast/

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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

Good tips here from one of the all-time greats:

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/fly-f...ught-rod-cast/

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Thanks for that!

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Originally Posted by Alphahawk

I have floated the Caney in a kayak many times...but no longer own any kayaks. When you decide to float it again on low water let me know by PM and I will give you a crappie hole to stop and fish at if you want to do that.....no need to tell you about the trout spots...as they are pretty thick throughout the first 6-10 miles or so. Most folks go there for the trout fishing...not many realize if you know where to go the river holds some really big crappie. Let me know if I can be of help to you.

Regards


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That is very kind, and I will definitely take you up on it! BTW, those are some great trout in your pics! I have caught rainbows and a couple of browns from the Caney, but never a Brookie! The Caney Fork is usually a summer destination for me, but that may be a mistake. Probably a lot less recreational floating?

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Originally Posted by ET Fish

That is very kind, and I will definitely take you up on it! BTW, those are some great trout in your pics! I have caught rainbows and a couple of browns from the Caney, but never a Brookie! The Caney Fork is usually a summer destination for me, but that may be a mistake. Probably a lot less recreational floating?

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Thanks for the comment about the trout. Sometimes I take my boat up there during generation and me and my nephew go down river throwing cranks. I don’t really like throwing cranks but I go just to see the numbers of big browns following the crank back to the boat. It is always at least one and many times 3-5.....and the size of some of those fish are scary.....they are huge. My son landed a big brown between 10-12 pounds a few years back on 2# test line. The biggest rainbow I have seen was a 13 pounder caught there. The last several years the recreational floating has gotten out of hand. There are several outfitters who dump a ton of canoe and kayaks. But that is going to change according to the Corp of Engineers Information Officer out of Nashville. There were I think 3 dozen swift water recuses done on the Caney in 2017. I was told they can’t stop individual floaters but they are going to put a number limit on the outfitters. That is not going to go over well with those outfitters but one can hardly fish it in the summer.....it has become a zoo.

Regards


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Originally Posted by Alphahawk

Thanks for the comment about the trout. Sometimes I take my boat up there during generation and me and my nephew go down river throwing cranks. I don’t really like throwing cranks but I go just to see the numbers of big browns following the crank back to the boat. It is always at least one and many times 3-5.....and the size of some of those fish are scary.....they are huge. My son landed a big brown between 10-12 pounds a few years back on 2# test line. The biggest rainbow I have seen was a 13 pounder caught there. The last several years the recreational floating has gotten out of hand. There are several outfitters who dump a ton of canoe and kayaks. But that is going to change according to the Corp of Engineers Information Officer out of Nashville. There were I think 3 dozen swift water recuses done on the Caney in 2017. I was told they can’t stop individual floaters but they are going to put a number limit on the outfitters. That is not going to go over well with those outfitters but one can hardly fish it in the summer.....it has become a zoo.

Regards


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I don’t begrudge anyone else their fun, but that’s good news! Tubing on Little River in Townsend is drawing similar ire from residents along the river as well as fishermen. Many of the tubers have no respect for private property, and the rental companies certainly don’t police it. Throw in some beer and things can get hostile!
What I like about the Caney Fork is that during times of high generation, I can take the kayak in the pool below the dam, away from where the water is generating, and still catch trout. It’s a special place!Attachment 285288Attachment 285292


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Originally Posted by ET Fish

I don’t begrudge anyone else their fun, but that’s good news! Tubing on Little River in Townsend is drawing similar ire from residents along the river as well as fishermen. Many of the tubers have no respect for private property, and the rental companies certainly don’t police it. Throw in some beer and things can get hostile!
What I like about the Caney Fork is that during times of high generation, I can take the kayak in the pool below the dam, away from where the water is generating, and still catch trout. It’s a special place!Attachment 285288Attachment 285292


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Yeah we call that “The Pond”. Going there Thursday for crappie and trout....if all things line up....the weather....my nephew being able to go....and at least one generator going. If all that lines up I’m going to have a fun day.

Regards


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Originally Posted by Alphahawk

Yeah we call that “The Pond”. Going there Thursday for crappie and trout....if all things line up....the weather....my nephew being able to go....and at least one generator going. If all that lines up I’m going to have a fun day.

Regards


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BTW, I notice that one of the pictures that I posted is NOT from The Caney. I need to proofread before I post, especially when choosing from thumb sized photos! I hope you have a great trip!

The restriction is only whensluice gates are open,not turbines

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Originally Posted by algenco

The restriction is only whensluice gates are open,not turbines

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There aren’t any restrictions sluice being on or not on the Caney. If one is stupid enough to take a boat to the Pond when the sluice is running then it is all on them. I was up there when this happened.
404 - File or directory not found.

They were lucky to survive. I have put my boat in quite a few times at the campground boat ramp when sluice is on.....I just don’t go to the Pond. I head downstream. I also just happened to be at the boat dealer picking up some parts when the couples insurance company called to get a complete quote on the blue boat that broke in half. Here are some pics of some crazy folks. The bass boat was left high and dry when the operator did not keep up with the generation schedule. The minivan pic is somebody running off the road. The Hummer pic is what happens when one leaves a vehicle on dry land does not know when the generators are coming back on. The restrictions I was talking about is the Corp is going to limit how many canoes and or kayaks the outfitters can put in at a time. One outfitter will not put in kayaks or canoes with 2 or more generators on....one outfitter will put them in no matter the conditions...not smart at all.

Regards



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Wow! The sluice gates were never opened while I was there. I assume sluice times are listed on the generation schedule if it is planned? I also assume there are sirens prior to opening? We were there during some 90+ degree days in 2016. Between the humidity, heat, etc., the fog was dense! We took the kayaks into the pond anyway, but it was kind of spooky! We caught some trout anyway! This particular trip, I used Trout Magnets under a float, just twitching it. Definitely worked! I have rigged a depth finder to take in and out of my yak, but have never taken it on the river. How deep is the water in the pond?

The depth of the Pond depends on number of generators. A deep part is back over in left corner of the dam as you face it. Then there is a deep hole out in right center if you are facing the dam....23 feet with 2 generators.....really need a sonar to find it if you don’t know where it is. It is pretty shallow...7 feet or less....except for those 2 spots when generators are off. The TVA app will usually tell you when the sluice will be on....the sluice is usually accompanied with the generators. When you go to the TVA app for Center Hill if they are running sluice there will be a message highlighted in yellow that will say “Generation will be accompanied by sluice operation until further notice” They always blow the fog horn before turning on the generators. Usually if they are going to be running the sluice with generators a man will look out the window to see is anyone in the Pond. If they are he will get on a bull horn and tell you to get out. If you follow the Center Hill Corp Facebook page they will post on there about the sluice also. If I go there to specifically target trout I use the Trout Magnet and catches of more than 100 fish are pretty common......I’m not just talking stockers either. My best day up there was close to 200 brook trout when I still kayaked......aggressive fish. But when targeting crappie the lure I use the trout do not particularly care for. I have 2 nephews that go up there with me....one at a time. One of them wants to only fish for crappie.....and the other one only wants to fish for trout...me I don’t care....LOL. Summer is a great time to fish the Pond. Fishing it at night is extremely productive....but the fog scares the crap out of me and I don’t do that anymore. I always check the TVA app before going.


Regards


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Originally Posted by Alphahawk

The depth of the Pond depends on number of generators. A deep part is back over in left corner of the dam as you face it. Then there is a deep hole out in right center if you are facing the dam....23 feet with 2 generators.....really need a sonar to find it if you don’t know where it is. It is pretty shallow...7 feet or less....except for those 2 spots when generators are off. The TVA app will usually tell you when the sluice will be on....the sluice is usually accompanied with the generators. When you go to the TVA app for Center Hill if they are running sluice there will be a message highlighted in yellow that will say “Generation will be accompanied by sluice operation until further notice” They always blow the fog horn before turning on the generators. Usually if they are going to be running the sluice with generators a man will look out the window to see is anyone in the Pond. If they are he will get on a bull horn and tell you to get out. If you follow the Center Hill Corp Facebook page they will post on there about the sluice also. If I go there to specifically target trout I use the Trout Magnet and catches of more than 100 fish are pretty common......I’m not just talking stockers either. My best day up there was close to 200 brook trout when I still kayaked......aggressive fish. But when targeting crappie the lure I use the trout do not particularly care for. I have 2 nephews that go up there with me....one at a time. One of them wants to only fish for crappie.....and the other one only wants to fish for trout...me I don’t care....LOL. Summer is a great time to fish the Pond. Fishing it at night is extremely productive....but the fog scares the crap out of me and I don’t do that anymore. I always check the TVA app before going.


Regards


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Thanks for all of the info! I started this thread about a frozen trout stream, mainly to just kill time. However, I’ve learned a ton! Now I can’t wait for a Middle TN trip! It’s only about two hours from home, but I act like it’s on the other side of the country when I’m planning a fishing trip!

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Originally Posted by ET Fish

Thanks for all of the info! I started this thread about a frozen trout stream, mainly to just kill time. However, I’ve learned a ton! Now I can’t wait for a Middle TN trip! It’s only about two hours from home, but I act like it’s on the other side of the country when I’m planning a fishing trip!

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More than welcome. If you are ever up there and see a gray, stick steer crappie boat with a Trout Magnet wrap on it paddle over and say hello.

Regards


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Originally Posted by Alphahawk

More than welcome. If you are ever up there and see a gray, stick steer crappie boat with a Trout Magnet wrap on it paddle over and say hello.

Regards


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You can count it!

Thanks for sharing all the info ! I sure hope they limit some of the heavy traffic it’s unreal how may folks go down that river ! We always enjoy fishing it .it used to be a big family deal to go camping their 2-3 weeks each year back when you could camp on their other side.I have waked to the spillway many times as a youngster with my grandpa most my family that used to go are gone on now but me and my brother still try to make a couple trips a year finally learning how to catch some good fish while generating also we catch some real good gills out of their in certain places but haven’t ever figured out the crappie other than a few here and their and the walleyes that we’re stocked in their 25-30 years ago ought to be good size by now but can’t seam to find them either!

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Originally Posted by Slabprowler

Thanks for sharing all the info ! I sure hope they limit some of the heavy traffic it’s unreal how may folks go down that river ! We always enjoy fishing it .it used to be a big family deal to go camping their 2-3 weeks each year back when you could camp on their other side.I have waked to the spillway many times as a youngster with my grandpa most my family that used to go are gone on now but me and my brother still try to make a couple trips a year finally learning how to catch some good fish while generating also we catch some real good gills out of their in certain places but haven’t ever figured out the crappie other than a few here and their and the walleyes that we’re stocked in their 25-30 years ago ought to be good size by now but can’t seam to find them either!

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Crappie and walleye are there. Most catch the walleye at night. The Gills in there may not have the length but they are very chunky.....also full of big rock bass. There is no doubt in my mind from about February all the way through the fall......the crappie bite falls off somewhat in the December, January time frame.....I could catch all I want. I am only able to fish it when someone goes with me. With one or more generators going it is a 2 man launch and retrieve.....at lest for most older folks. The ramp on the campground side has a lot of current......and the ramp on other side is just too flat for most boats to use. Most of the time when I am up there for the crappie bite it takes us about 2 hours and we’re done....just a great place.

Regards



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Originally Posted by Alphahawk

Crappie and walleye are there. Most catch the walleye at night. The Gills in there may not have the length but they are very chunky.....also full of big rock bass. There is no doubt in my mind from about February all the way through the fall......the crappie bite falls off somewhat in the December, January time frame.....I could catch all I want. I am only able to fish it when someone goes with me. With one or more generators going it is a 2 man launch and retrieve.....at lest for most older folks. The ramp on the campground side has a lot of current......and the ramp on other side is just too flat for most boats to use. Most of the time when I am up there for the crappie bite it takes us about 2 hours and we’re done....just a great place.

Regards



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Awesome! I understand that Black Nose are common in Center Hill. I can’t see the tops of the fish in your pics. Are they Blacks?

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Originally Posted by ET Fish

Awesome! I understand that Black Nose are common in Center Hill. I can’t see the tops of the fish in your pics. Are they Blacks?

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Most are black nose....with a white or two sometimes mixed in.....and many times all we catch will be black nose. I also fish up in the lake...not as much as I should.....and all I have ever caught up in the lake is black nose. The crappie below the dam are great fish....but when you get on those black nose up in the lake your whole limit is subject to look like this black nose.


Regards


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That’s a TARP!

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Originally Posted by ET Fish

That’s a TARP!

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Around this area if one wants a TARP crappie Center Hill is the place to get it. I have caught quite a few TARPs but never put in for any certificates. When I had my kayaks I was headed out to a spot to fish for Smallies. On the way out I paddled over a bed that had 60-70 fish on it. They were in about 6 feet of water and with that water being so clear you could see them. The wind was too much for me out in the bay so I left my nephew out there and I came back and stuck every crappie on that bed.....at least I think everyone. I caught and released 60 that day.....and while I did not measure any of them many were 14 inches. The photos are not so good as I was trying not to show where I was fishing.....a lot would have recognized the place. The lake is full of big black nose...but.....they have been working on that dam for about 17 years now and the lake has not been to full pool since that time. Only cover really is rock. It was supposed to be finished and brought up to full pool this spring. TWRA had already put out an article about how the fishing would be off the charts this spring. Well now that has been put off. I have been told by a Corp guy that it will probably not be back to full pool for maybe 6-10 years. Pretty disheartening for me. The low level has affected the fishing...not that you can’t catch fish there it is just not what it was.


Regards



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Those are beautiful fish! You’ve convinced me to take a few more road trips!