The South Holston Tailwater is having split generation schedules of high water in the morning and then late afternoon and evening. This gives the wade fishermen some good time on the water during the good mid-day hatches. We are seeing the usual winter hatches of BWO’s, Midges and Blackflies during those low water periods. When the water is up and we float, it is the time of year to throw some big flies. The clients and my personal favorite is the Galloup’s Dungeon, we use it in several color combination's, they are proven producers.

There is nothing like the heavy hit of these predatory fish when they go after these flies. The job of these bigger fish is to take out the weak, small, or wounded fish. This fly gives the best action to represent that dying, wounded type of fish and turns on that predatory instinct in these trophy trout. Its time to get yourself out there and go hunting for your shot at a big one.

TGS Blog

The Holston Proper for smallmouth has slowed down somewhat with these cold fronts and the recent snowfall, but this past week with the warmer days the fishing has picked up. The TVA is flowing anywhere from 2500 to 4000 cfs down the river most of the day so we have changed our tactics and are now working those slower sections that we normally row through during the summer floats. Working the banks with sinking tips and full sinking lines using Clouser Minnows and Sculpzilla’s has been producing fish. Now that winter is taking a better hold of our weather, most smallmouth fishermen hang up the rods, sit at the bench tying flies and dream of warmer weather, but you don't have to, because we have smallmouth fishing available all year round. So don’t give up on these hard fighting fish, give us a call and lets get you out there fishing for a trophy bronzeback.

Randy Ratliff's TGS

The Watauga Tailwater is getting plenty of water pushed through Wilbur and Watauga Dam and this is not allowing us to fish in the Quality Zone on the lower river, but this is a good thing. We are floating the upper stretches of the river and having great days with deep nymph rigs using Copper Johns, San Juan Worms and Zebra Midges. Now that the TVA is giving us good consistent flows, it will be the tossing streamers from now through the second week of March. Looking forward to a great winter of fishing on the Watauga.

Randy Ratliff's TGS

On a recent wade trip I was pointing out where the fish were staged in the small creek and the clients were having difficulty seeing what I was describing. That was when I pulled my Costa's down and saw what they were seeing, nothing but silver glare. So I took this picture through my Costa's to show how they cut the glare and allow you to see all that the details of the water. I will be posting more pictures on my Fishing Blog to show the difference in how you might see the water verses how it looks through Costa Sunglasses.

Costa Sunglasses

Save the date of January 5th, 2013. I will be attending the Indiana on the Fly Show at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The show is put on by Reel Men-Reel Women of Indianapolis. Be sure to stop by my booth and lets talk some fishing and watch me tie some of the flies we use on the waters of East Tennessee. See you there.

Indiana on the Fly

Be sure to stop by the 3 Rivers Angler Fly Shop on Saturday January 12th, 2013. It will be a "Meet and Greet the Guide". I will do a presentation giving guide secrets for the Watuaga and South Holston for trout and the Holston Proper for smallies. I will also be tying some guide flies. Look forward to meeting new friends and seeing old ones.

3 Rivers Angler website