It's Winter Again !

Here comes another winter spell, followed by another and maybe even another, another. Yep, winter fishing is going strong. Thanks to all the rain and snow, the lake levels keep going up, and TVA is trying like the dickens to bring them down. It's still a field day for the folks with the boats fishing the tailwaters of South Holston and Watauga rivers. The trout are still on the blue wing olive hatches. The script is still the same when the hatches are not happening. Pheasant tail nymphs scuds and other nymphs in the deeper runs. Spinning rod activity is good on crank baits, spoons and spinners. Of course, minnows and worms work best. Mountain stream trout are still waiting on spring. Winter bass fishing is great in the mountain lakes, South Holston and downstream into Boone. The rising water levels have driven the fish a little deeper, maybe fifteen to twenty feet. If you can sling that much leader, the float and fly combination is still doing the job. Use the duck feather jig or tip that little tiny jig with a three inch long emerald shiner or watermelon pearl color Berkley Gulp Minnow. If casting the float fly rig is a problem then try tight lining that little jig. On sunny days, go deeper with jigging spoons and Silver Buddies. Fishing conditions have gotten a little tough on Cherokee and Douglas, but the winter methods work there too.