Current streamflow- 165cfs
Water temps- low to mid 50s
Hathces:
Quill gordons
March browns
Blue winged olives
Winter black stoneflies
Early brown stonefiles
Black caddis
Tan caddis
Hot flies:
Quill gordon 16-14
March brown 14-12
Elk hair caddis, tan or black 16-14
Purple haze 16-14
Klinkhammer, tan or olive 16-14
Prince nymph 16-12
Bloody Mary 16-14
Hot bead pheasant tail 16-12
Blowtorch 16-12
Walt's worm 16-12
Pat's rubber legs 12-10
Every day feels a little more like Spring. Redbuds have bloomed, dogwoods are starting to bloom and early varieties of trillium are beginning to unfurl. We are in that sweet spot at the end of the winter hatches and beginning of the spring hatches, and on a warm afternoon you are likely to see a myriad of mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies on the water at the same time. When the insect activity is this heavy, trout are sure to be paying attention. On wild trout streams and the areas of Tellico River that have good numbers of wild trout, you will often see noses dimpling the water's surface as these opportunistic trout make the most of an easy meal. This is just the beginning of peak dry fly season. You will find the same great conditions for dry flies on every tributary stream so take your pick.
While not as likely to be rising to dry flies as their wild counterparts, high insect activity usually means the stocked fish will be feeding heavily as well as many nymphs and emerging insects are available to them while these insects begin their transformation. A wide variety of nymphs and wet flies will catch the stockers now, as well as the usual 'junk' flies (eggs, mops, squirmies). Spring is also a great time to target trout on streamers, olive being our favorite streamer color.