Join us for an evening discussing East TN dry fly tactics. We will be going into more depth than our other classes, specifically focused on ramping up your dry fly game. Topics discussed will include: leaders, best rods, approach strategy, flies, and more!
If you have any questions, give us a call! (423) 573-5668
On Saturday, April 13th, join us for cold beer and a good time! We will be hanging out with the garage door open (weather allowing) and solid tunes playing. Come chat with your Fly Box homies and get ready for the upcoming season. We will have select items on sale!
If you have any questions, give us a call! (423) 573-5668
Join us for an evening discussing East TN nymphing classes. We will be going into more depth than our other classes, specifically focused on ramping up your nymphing game. Topics discussed will include: in-line rigs, bottom-bounce rigs, indicators, weights, and more!
If you have any questions, give us a call! (423) 573-5668
Join us March 16th for an evening of fly tying with the legendary Umpqua Signature Tier Pat Dorsey at The Fly Box! Whether you're a beginner or an experienced tier, this event is perfect for all skill levels. Pat Dorsey, a renowned Colorado tailwater fly fishing guide, will share his expertise and teach you some of his best-kept tactics for targeting finicky trout.
This is a seminar style event, no need to bring a vice. Just kick back, grab a beer (or seltzer), and relax as we get to watch a master work.
Umpqua will be sponsoring this event and providing some great raffle prizes. We will also have some other raffle prizes from other partners.
TICKET PRICE INCLUDES ONE FREE BEER!
Evening Will Include
Doors Open - 5:45pm
Blue Ridge Guide guest speakers 6:15pm
Raffles 6:45pm
Q&A 7:00pm
Pat Dorsey Tie 7:30pm
Meet & Greet 8:30pm
Patterns We Will Discuss
1. Bread Crust Jig
2. Pats Midge
3. Top Secret Betis
4. UV Orange Scud
5. Black Beauty
6. Tungsten Mercury Caddis
7. Mercury SH Pheasant Tail
8. Top Secret Midge
Space is limited, so be sure to reserve your spot today!
INTRODUCTION
Our first Chilean hosted trip to Vista Patagonia is in the books. Here is a quick recap of our week to give you an idea what it’s like to travel and fish in Patagonia.
We all have those places that we love to travel and make it a routine to regularly go back. For us, one of those places is Vista Patagonia Lodge. The staff, scenery, and fishing is exactly what folks who love to trout fish dream of. We are already getting our group lined up for 2025, reach out if you are interested. It will be here before we know it.
CUSTOMER FEEDBACK
“I dreamed about going to Patagonia for over 20 years. This trip far exceeded my wildest expectations with diversity in fishing experiences, amazing food, hospitality, and a truly unique adventure throughout the week. I left feeling like family, and I could not have imagined a better group to join for this. Thank you to the team at Vista Patagonia and the Fly Box family for memories that will last a lifetime.” - Chris W.
“The hospitality was warm and inviting, the accommodations are comfortable and impeccably clean, the food is excellent. The fishing was absolutely awesome. Without a doubt the best destination fishing experience I have ever had. All thanks to Diego, his lovely family, and the dedicated staff of Vista Patagonia Lodge. Thanks for an amazing adventure.” - Steve F.
“A once in a lifetime trip to probably the most beautiful place we’ve ever seen. Great food, great views, and better people. As people who are relatively new to fly fishing, the guides were incredibly kind and happy to teach us. By the end of the week, both of us were significantly better than when we arrived.” - Tyler & Ginny
FISHING EXPERIENCE
The next six days of fishing was a perfect mix of lakes, both large and small, spring creeks, and larger rivers. Utilizing rafts allows the Vista crew more mobility to make their own “put -ins and take-outs” to fish sections of the rivers and lakes that most other guides do not.
Casting larger terrestrials with 1-2X leaders and tippet was a welcome change from the 6-7X we are used to here on the tailwaters of East TN. Although the fish are eager and willing to eat, this is not shooting fish in a barrel. Casting accuracy and distance in wind is a must. Get those two things right and the rewards are awesome. The Rainbows and Browns in the region are absolutely beautiful. Average size is 17-22” with several caught through the week in the 24” range, and even a couple nearing the 30” range. Unlike the first time Chelsia and I visited, the water levels were perfect for the rivers and spring creeks. It’s amazing what just a month difference provided for our group this year.
EQUIPMENT & GEAR
Fishing that region of Patagonia you are going to experience a range of conditions; one constant is wind. It will vary from light gusts to sustained “stiff” winds. We mostly fished 6WT rods paired with the correct lines that allowed us to punch large flies through the wind with accuracy. We fished a lot with larger “bugger” streamers appropriately named “Chile Buggers” and streamers like Dungeons. We also fished 7WT rods with SA I, S3, S5 sinking line which worked flawlessly. I can’t recommend the Red Truck 7WT Diesel enough for this application - a sub $500 rod that I guarantee will perform alongside any $1000 rod. My 6WT rod choices are Winston’s Air2 6WT and the Scott Centric 6WT both paired with either SA Infinity or SA MPX.
TRAVEL
My travel began at the Tri-Cities regional airport connecting to Atlanta. From there I flew overnight to Santiago, Chile. We had a tour bus pick up our group at the airport after clearing customs and getting our bags. From the airport we took a 30 minute ride to downtown Santiago and checked into our hotel. After some much needed rest we struck out and walked around the area enjoying the local shops and restaurants. Dinner that night was at a local Peruvian restaurant. Great wine, food, and conversations about the week of fishing ahead filled the restaurant. The next morning we took the van back to the airport and flew domestically a couple hours south to Balmaceda in the heart of Chilean Patagonia.
LOCATION
Vista Patagonia’s staff was there to greet us and get us to the lodge just outside of Coyhaique, a short 45 minute ride with amazing views of mountains. One guest put it perfectly, “This is Montana on steroids!” I couldn’t agree more.
WEATHER
Unlike our first visit to that area the year before, the weather was great! The weather during the week was ideal. Temps in the morning around 50-60 and highs in the upper 70’s was the norm. The wind in that part of the world is just a fact of life. You will deal with wind, so we encourage our guests to practice casting in wind at home to get “tuned up.“ Rain is always a variable and it did rain a couple times during the afternoons. Good rain gear that allows movement while casting and breathes well is an absolute necessity.
GUIDES & SERVICE
Diego and his staff are exemplary hosts, southern hospitality is definitely alive and well in South America. Their level of professionalism is unmatched in my experience. His guides work all day to ensure you have a safe, fun, and educational experience. I have said it many times, you feel like you are fishing with friends and family you’ve known your whole life.
CHILEAN CULTURE
Chile is a must visit country, the people are friendly and experiencing Chilean culture is amazing. Chilean people have a pride in their country and food that is infectious. It was evident that our guests enjoyed the culture and traditions of Patagonia.
LESSONS LEARNED
Each visit has taught me that as much as I love catching fish, I need to allow myself time to enjoy the sights and beauty of the areas I am in. I encouraged our guests to “look up and around” each day. Most of the discussions with how good the fishing was that day centered around the beauty and ruggedness of Patagonia. From a fishing perspective, I learned once again to push myself to perfect my casting in ALL conditions good and bad.
CONCLUSIONS
I can’t express enough how much you need to experience this part of the world for all the obvious reasons. This truly is a “bucket list” trip. Although costly, it is worth every penny. I cannot thank Diego and his staff at Vista enough for making this a perfect experience for my guests. His hard work and dedication to being the best shows. Thank you, Diego.
If you would like information, or just to discuss going on a trip to Patagonia please reach out to me directly. Consider joining us in 2025, I promise you won’t be disappointed.
- Jonathan Neyman
“What flies will Pat tie at the fly tying seminar?”
The Mercury SH Pheasant Tail is one of the many Pat Dorsey flies that you can learn how to tie on March 16th at The Fly Box. With the glass bead and soft hackle, this fly can be swung or nymphed under an indicator. It’s a killer fly to have in your box for the Sulphur and BWOs on East Tennessee tailwaters.
Buy your ticket soon, they are selling fast! Ticket price is $49 to attend the event. This includes a free beer + getting entered into our awesome giveaways for the evening! Odds are you will win something! Trust us, it’ll be really good.
TICKET PRICE INCLUDES ONE FREE BEER!
Other patterns Pat will tie:
1. Bread Crust Jig
2. Pats Midge
3. Top Secret Betis
4. UV Scud Orange
5. Black Beauty
6. Tungsten Mercury Caddis
7. Mercury SH Pheasant Tail
8. Top Secret Midge
South Holston River Fly Fishing - December Update
Flows are changing!
The South Holston has increased the 1300 CFS and is now running an Average Discharge of 2200 CFS.
It looks like they are going to keep that going until Sunday. They are forecasting 813 CFS for the Average Outflow. Keep your eye on the app to see exactly what this looks like.
For fishing, this means that our boat anglers will need to add more weight on their rigs with the increase in water.
We expect that streamer fishing should pick up in consistency from the 1300 CFS flows we did have.
Our wade anglers are out of luck until Sunday it looks like. The Watauga is generating most of today and it looks like Saturday and Sunday will be lots of generation as well with an Average Outflow of 1300 CFS. This can be a good time to tie a few patterns or sit at the shop and tell a fish story or two.
When you can find the afternoons where the sun is out and the temperature gets into the mid 50’s like today the mountain streams can still come alive this time of year.
We also have some rain coming in on Sunday it looks like so definitely bring your rain jackets.
If you’ve got any questions, definitely give us a call!
(423) 573-5668
If you are fishing the South Holston or Watauga Rivers during this December, these are five flies you want to bring in your box.
This is the season of midges! As you can see, they are the bug of the month. They may not be the sexiest bug, however they make up a large majority of the fishes diet this time of year.
1. Olive Midge #18-20
A classic fly here on the SOHO all year. If you aren’t locked and loaded with lots of Olive Midges, you are definitely missing out.
2. Micro Olive Bullet #18-20
This fly killed it fishing in the fall and it’s been producing through the winter. It’s a low-key pattern that gets the job done. It’ll fish on both a bounce rig and in-line rigs. We typically are starting with a bounce rig on our guided trips.
3. Stripper Midge #18-20
For our wade fishing anglers on both the South Holston and Watauga, the Stripper Midge is a stealthy staple that is great for low-water applications. When the sun gets high and the fish get picky, this is a great option. It’ll fish on high-water too!
4. Morgan’s Midge #18-20
The Morgan’s Midge is a incredibly versatile dry fly. Obviously, it will work when fish are rising on midges but don’t be afraid to fish this during a Baetis hatch or black Caddis hatch! Fish crush them. It can be hard to see on the water, so definitely consider fishing a larger dry fly in front of it.
5. Jake’s Fluffer #18
Jake’s Fluffer is technically a Sulphur pattern developed for here on the South Holston, but it could easily be mistaken for Blue-Winged Olive or small black Caddis. It rides high and is a great fly to put in front of your Morgan’s Midge.
Lots of bugs and still finding plenty of happy fish! December is off to a good start.
This weekend we are having a Fly Box Sale! Your first beer is on the house while you shop.
Most items are at least 20% off!
The river is fishing solid, it’s a great weekend to get on the water and hit our sale while you are at it. It’s been super cold lately, but this weekend it’s going to warm up. Definitely take advantage of it while you can. We have seen some amazing hatches on cloudy days!
We are also going to be releasing our new “Cold Beer, Hot Flies” hat and sticker!
3 HOT FLIES
Bullet Quill #18
Micro Mayfly #18
Jake’s Fluffer Sulphur #18
Want to come fish with us? Give us a call!
(423) 573-5668
South Holston River Fly Fishing - November Update
A quick update for fly fishing on the South Holston River in November! As temperatures drop and fall foliage flows down the river, the South Holston continues to offer solid fishing opportunities.
Weather and Water Conditions
10 Day Forecast
Lots of solid fishing days ahead. Lows will be mid-30’s, highs will be mid 60’s. Be prepared for colder conditions in the morning and take advantage of this manageable weather before things get really nasty. Not much rain ahead, but we could use it. We got some over this past weekend but could use more. Our mountain stream levels have been very low.
South Holston and Watauga Generation Schedule
For boat anglers, the flows on the South Holston have been great. The Time Period has been 1 generator from 7AM or 8AM - 8PM or 9PM. The Average CFS has been around 1300-1400 and the Average Outflow has stayed around 733. At this time, the next few days look to hold this 733 Average Outflow.
Don’t forget our spawning sections are closed until February 1.
This means that the full day generation is likely to hold. Boat anglers rejoice. Wade anglers head over to the Watauga.
The Watauga River has been maintaining 240CFS throughout most days. With the South Holston generation, this is your best bet for sure. Check out Hunter Bridge and Lover’s Lane Bridge for decent access.
Fly Recommendations
Nymphing remains productive. Midges are the hot ticket as of late and this should continue until the spawn really gets going. With plenty of BWOs out, definitely give your favorite Baetis patterns a try. Just know, the midge nymph bite has been better for us. #18-20s. Copper bead!
For dry flies, most BWO patterns have been effective in size #18-20. Puffdaddy. Comparadun’s. CDC Thorax Emerger.
The Morgan’s Midge has been a great fly to add behind the larger dry. It imitates the small black caddis we are seeing very well.
For streamers, keep it simple with Wooly Buggers and small Dungeons. We like white and olive.
South Holston River Hatches:
Cloudy days. We’ve seen some epic hatches in the last week when the conditions are right. Typically it’s starting on the upper end around 11AM. We are seeing rising fish all the way down to Weaver Pike. On the best days, we see some Sulphurs, plenty of small black Caddis, and many BWOs!
South Holston Fly Fishing Guided Trips
Consider booking a guided fly fishing trip with our experienced guides. We can get you down the river, very safe and super fun! All levels of experience are welcome. This is a great time of year to do a half day trip in the heat of the day, especially with part of the river being closed for spawning.
We refer to our shallow water in-line fly fishing rigs for the South Holston and Watauga quite a bit, and that's a little different than our high water rigs. In this video, Forrest goes over what factors to consider.
LEADER
For the leader set up, typically we are going to use a Scientific Angler Nylon Trout, 9FT 5X or 9FT 6X. There's some people that will fish a 7.5FT leader, especially if it’s windy. We like to get our flies as far from the fly line as possible if there is no wind.
FLOWS
Our flows, typically when we were fishing this rig on the South Holston, are 0-400 CFS generation. If a generation pulse comes through, we can still fish this shallow water rig. This rig works equally well on the Watauga River on the minimum recreation 240 CFS flow.
RIGGING
Tie 18-20 inches of 5.5-6.5X tippet to the end of your leader of choice.
Cut that tippet in half and tie a Triple Surgeon’s knot.
Leave a tag piece from your Triple Surgeon’s knot and tie a fly on that.
Tie a fly on the bottom of your tippet as a point fly.
In the video, Forrest ties on an unweighted Pheasant Tail and Stripper Midge onto the rig. These are a few of our favorite flies for low-water fishing on both rivers.
INDICATORS
On this rig we use three different types of indicators.
Yarn: 90% of the time we are using yarn as an indicator. It’s more stealthy and sensitive to strikes.
Oros: Anglers that struggle casting yarn, heavier flies, adding split shot, windy conditions
Airlock: Same use cases as Oros, some folks just like Airlocks better.
DEPTH
Typically, we run this rig about 35in deep. If you touch your right shoulder with your right hand, then extend your left hand, that should give you a good idea. It's different for all the various water depths that we are fishing, but that's a good depth to start at when wade fishing or floating the South Holston and Watauga.
FLOATANT
We always apply High-N-Dry Liquid Floatant or Gel to keep the yarn floating for longer.
When you dip the yarn in the liquid, before letting that yarn indicator hit the water, we like to give it a few false casts. This helps dry off the indicator so it does not get over-saturated.
Always keep a brush for your yarn indicators. We sell some now at the store for a few bucks! It helps fluff up the fibers and dry off the indicator when soggy.
CONCLUSION
If you guys want to see a video on how to build this Dorsey system, click here! Please reach out to us with any questions you have.
Guided Trips on the South Holston and Watauga are still rolling! We are always willing to spend some time “in the classroom” on guided trips if you are looking to jump up the learning curve on both rivers.
(423) 573-5668
We love Trouthunter leaders and tippet here at our shop. Recently, we added the new “Evo Drift” leaders to our inventory. The “Evo” series has already existed in Trouthunter tippet, now they are bringing the same properties to their nylon leader line-up.
Main Advantages
Greatly Improved Knot Strength
Higher resistance to abrasion and impact
Improved Flotation
Longer Life
No memory
When used properly, drag free drifts
In stock now: 9ft 4-6x, 12ft 4-6x
Application: Dry-Dropper & Chubby Rigs
Trouthunter writes, “The improved performance is achieved through the application of our EVO coating to our leader material. EVO coating results in much stronger knot strengths with no noticeable increase in diameter. EVO also adds a measure of durability in combating abrasion and repels water. Memory is nearly non-existent and the leaders are tapered to provide strong turn over and produce drag free drifts over the most technical fish.
The result is a family of leaders which will excel at dry fly fishing in all situations.”
Our customers agree with us that they are noticing these leaders turn over better than other leaders they have fished. It’s nice to see Trouthunter making improvements on their lineup to offer the best leader and tippet solutions possible.
These leaders retail for $7.95. If you are going to take the time to fish, you might as well fish the best rig possible.
If you are fishing the South Holston or Watauga Rivers during this October, these are five flies you want to bring in your box.
1. Micro Olive Bullet Perdigon #20
We’ve been fishing the Micro Olive on the South Holston a ton lately. This specific fly does not have jig hook, the larger versions do. We like those also, but for this month the smaller version has really been fishing well. On the 1300CFS generation on the South Holston over the last few weeks, we have been bottom bouncing this fly. It will also fish well on a standard in-line rig.
2. Mayhem Midge #18-20
The Mayhem Midge does not get the love it deserves. We fish it on both rivers for bottom bounce and in-line rigs. It also fishes great as a dropper under a dry fly on both low and high-water scenarios. It comes in a variety of colors. We prefer the Olive, Yellow, or Black patterns.
3. Purple Frenchie #18
The Purple Frenchie is a well-known pattern on our local tailwaters. It is incredibly versatile and can be fished on any rig. We prefer jig hooks on these flies most of the time and definitely fish the most slender profile available. We carry versions with a thread body and a pheasant tail body at our shop. Some days they prefer one variation over the other.
4. BWO Puffdaddy #18
For our dry fly anglers, we are starting to see some really good Blue-Winged Olive hatches. The Puffdaddy is one of the most popular dry flies on our rivers for good reason. It straight up fishes. Don’t go to the river without some. Make sure to have a proper floatant system to keep it riding high after you catch a few fish.
5. Sulphur CDC Comparadun #16-18
We are still seeing a solid amount of Sulphurs hatching in the afternoons. For that reason, the Sulphur CDC Comparadun is a fly you don’t want to forget. It floats high allowing you to add a dropper if desired and fish will eat it willingly if presented well. Keep your leader long and your tippet light. Enjoy this great time of year to get out and fish!
Using a Chubby Chernobyl dry fly as an indicator is a extremely effective way to make casting nymphs easier and maintain the stealth that a yarn indicator provides. It’s also a fun way to illicit more surface eats. While we don’t have many large terrestrials in East Tennessee. There are still fish willing to come up and eat the Chubby.
When is the best time of year to fish this rig?
We have found that May-September is the best time of year to fish this rig.
What leader should I use?
On this rig we prefer to use a 9’ 5x or 8’ 4x. We will use the shorter 8’ 4x when there is more wind or if the individual casting the line is newer. A shorter, stiffer leader casts more easily.
What tippet should I use?
On the South Holston and Watauga, we primarily fish 5-6.5x tippet. When water levels are low and clear, we will move to 6.5x.
How far do we put the flies below it?
Typically we put flies anywhere from 6-18in below the Chubby. This varies greatly depending on the section of river we are targeting.
BENEFITS:
Using a Chubby Chernobyl dry fly as an indicator can be more stealthy than using a yarn indicator.
A Chubby is also very sensitive to strikes so it’s easy to see when your nymphs get a bite.
Ideally fish will eat your Chubby Chernobyl!
This rig is also easier to cast than a yarn indicator. Because a yarn indicator is tied on to the middle of the leader, this can change the weight distribution of the cast often being more difficult for individuals with slower line speed in their cast.
DRAWBACKS:
The biggest drawback to the Chubby Rig is that in order to change depth of your nymphs, you have to cut tippet off then add more. Using a yarn-indicator, the depth can easily be changed by sliding the yarn up or down the indicator.
Using a yarn indicator, you can increase the amount of yarn to carry larger flies. On a Chubby rig, heavy nymphs can sink the dry fly.
For the first travel trip hosted by The Fly Box, Montana was the obvious choice.
Why Montana? Well it’s often referred to as “the mecca of fly fishing”. In Montana, there is a lifetime of quality trout rivers to choose from.
We decided to focus our attention on the Madison and Missouri River (the Mo’) plus O’Dells Spring Creek. These rivers were chosen because our team had been there before, and it lived up to the hype.
SKWALA
When we arrived in Bozeman, we were greeted by our friends from Skwala Fishing. They had brats and beer waiting for us at their newly opened showroom. If you are in Bozeman, you have to go by and see it. They have their full line of products to try on and get sized.
One of our favorite pieces that we wore religiously during our trip was the Sol Tropic Hoody. Boasting a 40+UPF rating, this hoody is the lightest in the Skwala line up. Perfect for when that Montana sun gets high and the temps rise.
Aerial view of O’Dells Spring Creek, the Madison River, and Ennis.
ENNIS
Our first fishing stop was the town of Ennis which is located an hour southwest of Bozeman. Ennis feels like an old-school western town. With just a couple places to eat, three fly shops, and more bars, we think it’s perfect. TroutStalkers, The Tackle Shop, and Madison River Fishing Company are all great shops that are definitely worth a stop if you are in the area. All of the staff shared good fishing intel with us in exchange for buying a few flies.
A favorite night out on the town was going to Burnt Tree Brewing and Pizza. If you fish near Ennis, this is an absolute must. Great pizza, cold draft beer.
Each day, we’d split up our group. Four of us would go out with guides from Madison River Fishing Company. The rest of the crew would go to O’Dells Spring Creek at Rainbow Valley Lodge or wade fish the Madison.
With MRFC, our group fished nymphs, streamers, and dries. We were able to put a few solid fish to the net, and everyone had a blast. The guides utilized a “no-indicator” nymphing rig on a standard in-line setup. We will definitely be trying this on the SOHO under generation! One of the greatest benefits about traveling to other fisheries is that we get to learn about new techniques and flies then bring those back home.
Fishing at O’Dells Spring Creek is technical and exciting. The majority of the fish range from 10-14in, however, there are some absolute giant browns that call this small creek home. July is ideal time for hopper fishing, so our standard set up was a grasshopper pattern with a small perdigon nymph below it, such as the Olive Hot Spot from Fulling Mill. The key to success at O’Dells is accurate casting as the fish sit incredibly tight to the banks. The scenery at O’Dells is truly spectacular as we were surrounded by the Madison Mountain Range in the east and the rolling Gravelly Mountains at our west.
ADIPOSE
After leaving Ennis heading for Craig, we had the opportunity to stop by Adipose Boatworks to see one of the owners, Justin, and his team. A big talking point throughout the tour was the new vacuum resin infusion that Adipose is incorporating into their boat hulls. This new process is quicker to build, makes the boat noticeably lighter, and provides the same durability that is expected from Adipose.
Not only are Adipose boats beautiful, but they are just as functional. The attention to detail and hyper-focus on product quality is unquestioned. If you are in the market for a new fully-customized drift boat, definitely consider giving Adipose a call. You won’t be disappointed!
Craig, Montana
CRAIG
Craig. Also referred to as “Craiglandia”, is a dry-fly fisherman’s dream. The trout on the Mo’ are certified “western”. They pull hard, jump high, and demand near-perfect casting presentations. The average size of the fish on the Missouri can be a bit mind-boggling coming from the East. During the summer, groups of large rainbows and browns will group together in concentrated pods and feed on Trico spinners. This is technical dry fly fishing at it’s finest. When we weren’t anchored casting to pods of fish, we were casting hoppers on the banks and flats, prospecting for willing eaters. We did a little nymphing in the mornings before the Trico hatch but put those bobbers away as fast as possible.
One of the main gear differences from Tennessee is that we fished big tippet. 3x-4x primarily. For everyone on the trip, this was a welcomed change from the 6x that we become mind-numbingly accustomed to at home.
In Craig, there are three fly shops right next to each other, just like Ennis. Headhunters, CrossCurrents, and The Trout Shop.
Our Fly Box staff rented boats from The Trout Shop for DIY fishing and we had clients fish with guides from Headhunters. Both options have their benefits, but there is no doubt that the Headhunter guide crew put our group on the most and biggest fish. Total professionals. If you are fishing the Mo’, do yourself a favor and book at least one day to see some of Montana’s best guides at work. Huge thank you to the team at Headhunters for the hospitality and getting our group on some great fishing.
The Trout Shop makes “Guide Lunches” similar to The Fly Box. We put our orders in the day before and had great lunches ready for us the next day. If you are looking to DIY the Missouri River, using their rental boats and lunch system is perfect.
When fishing the Missouri, stop by the Craig Taphouse for some cold drinks and dang fine burgers. We frequented the taps and grill more than once during the week. While you are there, be a good neighbor and throw up a dollar bill on the board, and look for ours hanging up as well. Another stop was going to Izaak’s Restaurant in Craig. The Huckleberry Mule goes down easy after a hot, fun day of fishing.
Traveling to fish Montana should no doubt be on the top of every East Coast fly angler’s list. Not only will it be fun and help you become a better angler, it will help you to see how great of a fishery we have in our own backyard of East Tennessee. The fishing was great and Rocky Mountain views can’t be beat, but the best part of the trip was getting to share it with our Fly Box Family. Thank you to all of our customers that came on this trip with us, we had a blast!
Until next time Montana…
Interested in traveling with The Fly Box? We handle the logistics and planning so that you can focus on making the most of your fishing vacation. Give us a call or stop by the shop to see where the next adventure will take us!
If you're interested in traveling with us or have any questions about the gear mentioned below, don't hesitate to reach out. Give us a call or visit our shop, and our knowledgeable staff will be more than happy to assist you. We love sharing our expertise and helping fellow anglers prepare for their next adventure out West. Whether you're on the East Coast or anywhere else, we're here to provide guidance and make your fly fishing experience unforgettable. So get in touch with us today and let's plan your dream trip together!
Planning a fly fishing trip to Montana and not sure what gear to pack? We've got you covered! After years of experience, we've put together a comprehensive list of essential items that strike the perfect balance between having enough gear and avoiding overpacking. So let's dive into the details:
Yeti Flip Cooler: This may seem like overkill, but it's great for storing lunches and drinks while driving between different rivers or when renting a boat without a cooler.
Fishpond Submersible Lumbar Pack: An excellent fishing pack with enough space to store your tools, flies, and terminal tackle.
Fishpond Dakota Carry-On: This luggage can accommodate rods up to 9 feet in length, making it TSA-approved for easy overhead storage. It's ideal for carrying multiple rods and reels on your trip.
Fishpond Grand Teton Rolling Bag: A fantastic bag to organize and store all your clothing, wading boots, and other gear for the week.
Tools: Abel pliers, Loon Mitten Scissor Clamps, scissors for trimming indicators, a Hatch knot tensioning tool, and Hatch nippers.
Indicators and Flies: Carry a Fishpond puck with yarn indicators, Airlocks, Oros, and an assortment of dry flies and small streamers in a Fishpond Pescador and RiverMag.
Weights and Accessories: Pack a selection of Loon River camo weights, rubber bands for Dorsey-style indicators, and a Yakoda Utility Wallet for leaders.
Leaders: Bring a pack of 9-foot 4X and 3X nylon leaders, along with a 10-foot 4X stealth leader for stealthy presentations to picky fish. For streamer fishing, a spool of 16-pound Hatch fluorocarbon tippet.
Tippet: Carry 3X and 4X nylon tippet, as well as 3X and 4X fluorocarbon tippet.
High & Dry Liquid Floatant: Use this for applying on yarn indicators and hoppers.
Liquid Spray: Easy to use on PMD-style dry flies.
Powder and Brush: Use high and dry powder with a brush for larger hoppers and dry flies.
Easy Dry: Great for shaking out bigger hoppers and dry flies.
Rods: Depending on your preferences, consider bringing a few 4, 5, and 7-weight rods like Red Truck Diesel, Scott Centric, or Winston Air 2.
Reels: Pair your rods with appropriate reels, such as Hatch 4+ for the 4 & 5-weights and Nautilus XL for the 7-weight rod and spare spools with floating and intermediate sink lines.
Lines: Scientific Angler MPX is a recommended choice for 4 and 5-weight lines, offering versatility and ease of use in windy conditions. Wolf Triangle Taper lines are also a great option. For the 7-weight we recommend, SA Sonar Titan Int - 3 - 5.
Waders: No waders only wading boots with a built-in gaiter
Accessories: Pack a few hats, visors, buffs, and sun gloves to protect yourself from the sun and elements.
Belts: Opt for a quick-drying nylon belt for added convenience.
Spare Boot Laces: Yakoda Extra boot laces in various lengths can come in handy in case of emergencies.
Rising Net: Consider a collapsible net like the Rising Net, which fits inside your bag.
Clothing: Skwala sun hoodies, wading pants, fishing shirts, and rain jackets for varying weather conditions.
Bonus Items: Yeti Cups, two pairs of Bajio Sunglasses
This event is presented by Loon Outdoors.
We will have for sale Eric's Top 10 Loon Fly Tying Tools.
Every ticket will include an Loon Ergo All Purpose Scissor and Loon hat. All Loon items in store will be 15% off this night only.
This is a limited seating event so make sure you buy your tickets fast! This will sell out quickly. This is a seminar so no need to bring your tying kit.
If you have any questions, give us a call! (423) 573-5668
Discover how to get the most accuracy and distance from your cast, fight wind, and consistently feed fish with Chase Pritchett.
“If you had to choose only one fly rod and one river to fish for the rest of your life, where would it be?”
We posed this question to our friends and partners at the Atlanta Fly Show this year. Here were the responses:
Pat Dorsey - Orvis H3D 9’ 5WT in the Cheesman Canyon (CO)
Kevin Sloan Skwala - Winston B3X 8’6 3WT on the East Gallatin River (MT)
Rich Hohne Skwala Sage LL 9’ 4WT on the Yellowstone River (MT)
Gardner Imhoff Skwala- Sage X 9 7WT on the Rio Baker (Chile)
Drew Carlson Yakoda - Scott F1 6’6 2WT on Boulder Creek (CO)
Rob Hermann Yakoda - Douglas Sky G 9’ 5WT in the Cheesman Canyon (CO)
Chase Pritchett - Echo Prime II 8’10” 8WT for Louisiana Redfish
Jimmy Dobes - Thomas and Thomas Exocett SS 8’8” 200 on the Nolichucky River (TN)
Chris Maney - Winston Air 2 8.5’ 3WT on the Luftee River (NC)
Thankfully, we do not have to choose just one.
Join us for some great mid-winter fun as we host the 4th Annual TU Chili Cook-off & Gear Swap. We are looking forward to seeing you all there to compare recipes, swap fishing gear, and have a good time.
