We're in the Dog Days of August, but there's still some great fishing to be done. We're trying out a new format for our newsletter and hope we can send them out more often. As always we'll include information you can use to improve your fishing success.
 Fishing has been nothing short of spectacular in the backcountry where we've been finding good numbers of eager rainbow, brook, and brown trout. Bigger streams like Little River along the road have been fishing slow, but that's normal for August. While you can hike in for miles, we often walk only a short distance before we start to fish.
 Fishing for tailwater trout has slowed for several reasons. The biggest reason is that TVA has been generating quite a bit lately so water conditions haven't been optimal. However, fishing for smallmouth bass has been pretty good. We do most of our fishing with poppers, perhaps the most exciting way to fly fish for bass. We usually float the Holston River, a scenic piece of water with lots of fish.
Click here for our latest fishing report
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Catch More Summer Trout on Terrestrials
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Terrestrial patterns are extremely effective during the summer, particularly in August and early September. Wayward ants, beetles, and yellow jackets all find themselves in the belly of hungry trout. This is one of the most popular articles we've ever posted and we figured it was a good time to bring it out again.
Click here to learn more about fly fishing with terrestrial patterns.
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Our Favorite Terrestrial Pattern: The Elkmont Ant
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 Terrestrials are important for anyone taking to the stream during the hot summer months. There are plenty of flies to choose from, but this fly we came up with a few years ago has become our favorite!
The Elkmont Ant is a foam pattern Ian came up with a few years ago while guiding at Blackberry Farm. The big trout in the small confines of Hesse Creek would grow so jaded by July that it was hard to coax them to most good fly patterns. The Elkmont Ant has several factors that caused it to become instantly successful not only at Blackberry Farm, but on the wild trout in the Smokies.
The fly hits the water with a slight plop that alerts fish that something has fallen to the water. It's limber legs vibrate and give the illusion of life. Its foam body allows it to float well and the poly yarn wing make it highly visible. It might just be the perfect terrestrial fly pattern.
We've had great success not only at Elkmont and other streams in Smokies, but on Tennessee's tailwaters as well. This fly can be an excellent "hatch buster" during the summer when tailwater fish can be maddeningly selective. The Elkmont Ant has proven itself time and again on midging fish on the Holston, Clinch, and South Holston. The fly has even produced on the Madison River and other Western waters during our annual September trip.
Click here to see how to tie the Elkmont Ant and learn how to fish it.
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Great Fall Fishing is Just Around the Corner
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It's still summer but the cool nights we've had for the last week have gotten us thinking about autumn. Fall is just around the corner and so is the great fishing that comes with it. The Smoky Mountains put on their best colors and brown and brook trout are in bright spawning colors. Blue Wing Olive hatches keep the trout looking up. We also start floating North Carolina's Tuckaseegee River. October is one of our busiest months and weather is usually quite good through November. Don't miss out! Get on our calendar while there are still some good dates left.Click here to book a trip online.
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