June River Report 2023 - South Holston & Watauga Rivers
South HolstoN RIVER
Fishing has been really solid throughout the month of June! We have thankfully got some afternoon generation during the last couple of weeks. On low-water you can still find rising fish either on Sulphurs, Baetis, or midges. In the mid-mornings and afternoon once the water comes up, we have seen fair-to-excellent hatches.
Nymphing on low-water has been good. We have been fishing a lot of dry-droppers lately using Sulphurs or Midge dries as a top fly. In flat water, try sizing down and using something like a Hatch Birchell’s Midge for an indicator with a single zebra midge below it. We fish mostly 5.5x-6.5x tippet on low-water flows.
On high water, we have been bottom-bouncing and deep in-line fishing. Both have been producing results. If you are having a slow day, be sure to switch it up and try something different. Adjusting split shot number and weight has made a significant difference for us. We have found 3 or 4 pieces of #B split shot is usually the first combination we try. Scuds, mayflies, and midge patterns have been leading our fly selection as usual. A #16 rainbow sow bug has produced when midge and mayfly patterns slow down.
Dry Fly Fishing
On both high and low water, the dry fly fishing has been consistent! We are seeing a good amount of Sulphurs and fish eating them regularly. On high water, typically about 2-3PM is when they start popping off through the afternoon.
If you can stay on the water late, there is a good chance you will find an excellent spinner fall. On low-water, we find the majority of bugs start hatching around 10AM. Sneak in slowly and make your shots count. Enjoy the lifelong path to become a dry fly ninja.
Click here for the South Holston Dam generation schedule!
Suggested Patterns
Nymphs
Purple Frenchie #18
Master Baetis #18
PMD Auto Emerger #18
Sulphur Split Case #16
Dry Flies
Black Fly Emerger #20-22
Sulphur Comparadun #20
Pink Albert #16
Sulphur Puffdaddy #18
Beer of the Month
Things are heating up, which means the beer selection is critical to a great day on the water. If you're seeking the perfect summer companion, look no further than the beloved classic: the Summer Shandy.
Crafted with a blend of citrusy goodness and traditional beer flavors, this delightful brew is here to cool you off and guarantee to catch you more fish.
“It’s like a party in your mouth.” - A beloved customer
Have a suggestion for July’s Beer of the Month? Let us know!
WATAUGA RIVER
During June, the Watauga was fishing well. The flows remained low most mornings then generation would pick up in the afternoons. Low-water nymphing was more consistent than high-water nymphing for us. Like the South Holston, on low-water, around 10AM is when we started to see the most Sulphurs coming off the water.
We ran a Chubby Rig or a Yarn In-Line Rig when nymphing low water most of the time. If you are wade fishing, don’t overlook a classic Dry-Dropper Rig with a Pink Albert dry fly and small nymph like an Olive Quill #20 beneath it.
When we’ve been nymphing high-water, our best bet is a Squirmy Worm with an oversized bead mayfly below it. We usually make our in-line rig about 3-4ft deep. A small Oros indicator is also a good option if your yarn indicator keeps sinking or becomes too hard to cast. Nymphing high-water on the Watauga has been spotty at best.
Dry Fly Fishing
The dry fly fishing was consistent for most of the month. Fish were keened in on Sulphurs or small Baetis and midges. Sulphurs popped off typically around 10am then could be found for the rest of the day in select locations.
Even if there was not a prominent hatch, you can still find some fish rising on small bugs. If you slow down and watch, you can find pods of rising fish sipping very slowly. These fish tend to be more selective.
A go-to rig for these fish would be: 9ft 6X leader + 18” of 6.5x nylon to your first fly + Hatch Birchell Midge + 18” of 6.5x nylon + Morgan’s Midge #18. The white parachute on the Hatch Birchell Midge really helps anglers locate the flies. Add or subtract leader length as needed.
Click here for the Wilbur Dam generation schedule!
Suggested Patterns
Nymphs
Squirmy Worm
Keslar Dark and Dirty #18
Olive Quill #16-18
Pheasant Tail #16-18
Dry Flies
Morgan’s Midge #18
Hatch Birchell Midge #18
Sulphur Puffdaddy #16
Sulphur Comparadun #18
