Featured Photo: Autumn Glow
Monday, November 28, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Epic Campfire
Last week, I got out for a one night camping trip that was supposed to be the start of a several day adventure. Well, plans change and I ended up cancelling the backpacking portion of the trip due to some unexpected extenuating circumstances. The campfire was epic enough to count for 3 nights worth of camping though.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Stripers Everywhere!!!
The recent heavy rain across Tennessee (at least by normal fall standards) has increased generation releases on area tailwaters. That means that the rivers that host stripers are killer right now if you want to chase the big fish. I have seen nice fish on several rivers but the action won't last too long. Once the water temperatures drop enough the stripers will migrate downstream to calmer waters for the winter. At that point, varous steam plants across the state will come into focus as striper hot spots.
All the fish I've caught lately have come on my PB&J shad streamer. This fly continues to produce well for stripers and also pulls in walleye, largemouth bass, catfish, white bass, hybrids, drum, and just about anything else I throw it at. The following striper was caught fairly recently and ran about 130 feet before slowing down. After the initial run, it turned around and ran straight at me all the way to my feet! Talk about a smart fish...thankfully the hookset was solid, and after a good fight, I was able to get a couple of pictures of the nice fish.
All the fish I've caught lately have come on my PB&J shad streamer. This fly continues to produce well for stripers and also pulls in walleye, largemouth bass, catfish, white bass, hybrids, drum, and just about anything else I throw it at. The following striper was caught fairly recently and ran about 130 feet before slowing down. After the initial run, it turned around and ran straight at me all the way to my feet! Talk about a smart fish...thankfully the hookset was solid, and after a good fight, I was able to get a couple of pictures of the nice fish.
Joe Mcgroom Photograph
Joe Mcgroom Photograph
Friday, November 11, 2011
Having Fun
Monday, November 07, 2011
Ever Fish Lees Ferry?
Or anywhere on the Colorado for that matter? If you have every fished Lees Ferry or the Colorado River downstream, the National Park Service is currently drafting its Glen Canyon Dam Long Term Experimental and Management Environmental Impact Statement.
Over the past few years, the Park Service has been working more and more to restore native species wherever possible. In the Colorado River, this means trying to reverse the decline of the humpback chub to the detriment of the rainbow and brown trout in this amazing fishery. Unfortunately, the problem with using means to remove the trout is that it completely ignores the fact that the Colorado River is an environment forever altered by Glen Canyon Dam. These fish would be struggling regardless of whether or not trout are in the river, because they are not used to the water chemistry and temperature now constantly flowing through the Grand Canyon.
As the EIS is being formulated, the public is encouraged to send in comments to help shape the document. I have already sent in mine, obviously in support of the wild trout. If Glen Canyon Dam was going to be removed, then I would not have a problem with managing the river for native species. However, the fish that are flourishing are perfectly adapted to the new conditions. Killing all the wild fish won't alter the fact that they are best suited to the cold clean water now flowing through the Canyon.
If you have ever enjoyed fishing or hope to fish Lees Ferry or the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon someday, I hope you will take a minute to send in your comments on this to the NPS. Just let them know that you care about wild trout and that the environment is the problem for the native species, not the trout.
Over the past few years, the Park Service has been working more and more to restore native species wherever possible. In the Colorado River, this means trying to reverse the decline of the humpback chub to the detriment of the rainbow and brown trout in this amazing fishery. Unfortunately, the problem with using means to remove the trout is that it completely ignores the fact that the Colorado River is an environment forever altered by Glen Canyon Dam. These fish would be struggling regardless of whether or not trout are in the river, because they are not used to the water chemistry and temperature now constantly flowing through the Grand Canyon.
As the EIS is being formulated, the public is encouraged to send in comments to help shape the document. I have already sent in mine, obviously in support of the wild trout. If Glen Canyon Dam was going to be removed, then I would not have a problem with managing the river for native species. However, the fish that are flourishing are perfectly adapted to the new conditions. Killing all the wild fish won't alter the fact that they are best suited to the cold clean water now flowing through the Canyon.
If you have ever enjoyed fishing or hope to fish Lees Ferry or the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon someday, I hope you will take a minute to send in your comments on this to the NPS. Just let them know that you care about wild trout and that the environment is the problem for the native species, not the trout.
North Carolina Gold
While out walking a stream this weekend, I came across a slab of gold in a nice run. The fish was actively feeding, but I ended up spooking it without a hookup. Yesterday was a different story. The fish fell for a caddis pupa...
Tyson Musgrave Photograph
Tyson Musgrave Photograph
Friday, November 04, 2011
Heading Out
This weekend is dedicated to fishing the Smokies. I'll be camping with a bunch of friends and doing a fair amount of fishing over the next couple of days. Stay tuned for an update on how the fishing is in the mountains...
Monday, October 31, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Fickle Caney
The Caney continues to be its fickle self. Most anglers are experiencing slow to decent fishing although those with the right bugs are still catching plenty of fish. Nice rainbows are continuing to impress me each trip. There are lots of little stockers in the river to play with but enough nice holdover fish in the 14-18 inch range are out there as well to keep things entertaining. The fish that have been in the river a while are beautifully colored.
A few nice browns are being caught as well. As we head towards the colder months, I expect fishing to pick up, especially for those out drifting. Nymphs will be top producers but daily midge hatches will get trout looking towards the surface. On high water (and on low water too but shhhhh!), streamers will take some nice trout and not just the larger browns either. I've taken a good number of chunky rainbows and feisty brookies on streamers over the last couple of months. Once December and January roll around, grab the streamer rods and take a float for some great streamer fishing.
The water visibility is slowly increasing which is a good thing. However the water temperatures are still a little warmer than I would like, at least up near the dam. The cold nights are helping the water temperatures down river a lot.
Here are a couple rainbows and a brown we have taken in the last week or so.
A few nice browns are being caught as well. As we head towards the colder months, I expect fishing to pick up, especially for those out drifting. Nymphs will be top producers but daily midge hatches will get trout looking towards the surface. On high water (and on low water too but shhhhh!), streamers will take some nice trout and not just the larger browns either. I've taken a good number of chunky rainbows and feisty brookies on streamers over the last couple of months. Once December and January roll around, grab the streamer rods and take a float for some great streamer fishing.
The water visibility is slowly increasing which is a good thing. However the water temperatures are still a little warmer than I would like, at least up near the dam. The cold nights are helping the water temperatures down river a lot.
Here are a couple rainbows and a brown we have taken in the last week or so.
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