Hiwassee Fly Fishin......any tips?

[DarbDani]

Hi all!
It's been a few since i've been on but have enjoyed all the updates! Hubby and I are headed out to hiwassee to fly fish and if anyone has any pointers or ideas.......please do tell.
Thanks!

 

[Liveliner]

If you can cast and keep your backcast out of the bushes you don't need tips for where you are going. I have not been to that river for several years. However when I did go in Jan and Feb I would always find the biggest breeder trout in Smith's creek. Smith Creek runs into the river at the left of the power house and runs along the train tracks. I would walk a mile or more up that creek and find some big hungry rainbows and a suprising number of Brookies. Have fun and be sure to give us a report. I always liked up in there because it was so remote looking.(Except for the tracks)

 

[Troutbum]

Go to www.hiwassee.net for info. Fished up there a couple of weekends ago below the powerhouse. My partner was fishing #18 olive beadhead nymph a couple of feet under a strike indicator and I was swinging a #16 soft hackle pheasant tail. We both caught plenty but the nymph under the strike indicator seemed to get the most hook-ups.

TVA is releasing water on a pulse right now up there. The schedule lately has been no release for 3 hours and then 1 generator for an hour. The Hiwassee is easily wadeable on no release and mostly wadeable on 1 generator. Exercise caution during the release though if you're not familiar with the river. You can go to www.tva.gov for release info. Click on Reservoir Info, then select Apalachia under the drop down box on the right of the page.
Also stop in at Reliance Fly and Tackle on your way up. Directions are on the hiwassee.net site I noted above. They will have the most recent release schedule posted and can also give you up to date info on hatches, etc. Right now seeing mostly BWO's and winter stones. Hope this helps. Look forward to reading your report.

TB

 

[Liveliner]

Welcome Troutbum. That is some great info you shared there. Enjoyed the read of your trip. I would like to see some trout reports with pics from you in the near future.

Now you have got me wanting to go up there.

 

[ranman]

My go-to fly for the Hiwassee is a bead- head hare's ear nymph.Fish it under a strike indicator or use a large dryfly like a parachute adams as a strike indicator and hold on!It is about time for the first really big caddis hatches to begin so you might try a elk- hair caddis if you see any naturals coming off the water.

 

[TennesseeTalker]

Did ya write all that down DD? emoLaugh

I hope you catch some nice ones today ... I wish I could join you .. but gotta clean house. :-(

Call me so I can hear all about it!!!

How did you do last evening over by When's secret hole?

TT

 

[DarbDani]

Thank you guys for all the great feed back!

Can't say that I caught my limit but sure had a great time on Hiwassee!

Started out at 9:00 a.m. w/ bead head hares nymph just below the generator (approx. 100 yards). Had a few bites & lookers but no land.
Changed rods and used red worms & moved down stream towards Big bend and caught a couple brown's (12") & released. got crowded so moved back up to generator and caught a few small rainbows on dry fly.

That's about it.......sorry not any more exciting. There's always tomorrow! I'll be sure to fill everyone in.

Thanks again for all your comments and suggestions!

DD

 

[ranman]

Had to resort to using the "garden hackle" huh.emoPoke Just say no to worms!

 

[TennesseeTalker]

Good job DD. Any day you can catch a fish or two is a good day! Even if you used garden hackle!

Wish you all would take some pics!!! I'd love to see the posts with your catch!

Good luck if you go again today.

TT

 

[Guest]

I agree dry with a hare ear or pheasent tail dropper seems to work consistently. If they seem to rise and miss it, lose the dropper and either go done in size on the the dry or go to a large midge or something that will stay just in the surface film. Remember, be careful the schedule for the turbines changes at will. Good luck.emoCool

 

[ranman]

Use the $100 bill rule,put a hundie on a rock thats about 4 inches above the water,when you see the water coming up to it get out of there!If you just use the rock alone sometimes they are biting so good you say to yourself "just one more minute then I'll leave" but by then it might be to late.If you've got a hundie ridin' on it you'll know when to leave! Unless you've got alot of hundies to spare.....

 

[Guest]

Fishing is great up there but it only takes one time of getting stuck on rock for a couple hours and having to swim out to make you a believer.emoDoh . After that, you watch , trust me it's not fun especially in mid Feb.

 

[ranman]

Watch for the Bubbles,usually when you start to see bubbles it's starting to come up.

 

[fisherpal2k]

This past week they have been just bumping it on and off ... pulsing the generators. It wasn't coming up much at a time. When it rises, get out quick!  I will agree with the above post. If you are up closer to the gates, just remeber, its a long walk around those snake infested rail road tracks back to the truck!