March River Report 2022 - South Holston & Watauga

We have many good days of fishing ahead. Each week we get better and better weather. Early spring rains and late snows have given us the water we needed to get some great flows on the SOHO and the Watauga. All this combined with longer days makes for a great time to get out and enjoy the rivers we are lucky to call home waters.

The SOHO has been running great flows for drift boats the first couple weeks of March. The egg bite is winding down and we are starting to see some bug life. Deeper inline and bottom-bounce rigs seem to be the ticket. The browns are off the spawn and hungry. Reportedly, smaller Frenchies in all the usual colors are working along with our beloved midges. Sowbugs in gray # 18 and scuds in tan, tan/orange are also working. Pretty much you gotta keep changing to find what the fish will key-in on. When we do get rain and the feeder creeks add color to the main river, don’t forget Mr. Squirmy in pink and claret wine as good color options on the SOHO. When we get wadable water, the same long and thin leaders/tippets with smaller baetis and midges will do the trick. Be looking for those later afternoon BWO hatches. The streamer bite is starting to wake up a bit with all the usual olives, tans, and whites. Pound the banks, keep it moving, and get deep to get fish to eat.

The Watauga is also starting to wake up with the warmer weather and longer days. We are nearing the time to start trying caddis patterns mimicking the Grannom caddis that is coming. Other patterns to try are blow torches, imps, and larger Frenchies. BWO’s and midges are hatching in the mid-morning. The streamer bite has been really good on the lower sections using a lot of the same streamers listed below. Swinging wet flies in mid-water columns using partridge and yellow, orange, and green has been producing. This style of fishing is awesome for both beginners and advanced fisherman.

Suggested Patterns:

Nymphs:

Frenchies in purple or shrimp pink #16 with copper or silver beads

Pheasant tails in darker colors #16 & 18 with copper beads

Olive, black and purple midges #18 & 20

Attractors:

Blowtorch with pink, orange, or green tail in #14 & 16

Squirmy worms with pink or black beads in pink & claret color

Streamers:

Dungeons in olive, tans, and white (bring black as a back up)

Heisenberg

Swinging D

Drunk and Disorderly

Sculpzilla

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