Authenticated User Menu

Biggest browns caught on South Holston River

Wed, 05/12/2010 - 08:20 -- jmaslar

Want to catch a trout of a lifetime?  The South Holston boasts some of the biggest brown trout in the world, and you don't have to travel to New Zealand to catch one. Our guides specialize at finding these giants and then dialing up the right combination of stealth and fly presentation to hookup with these old fish.

Every year at this time the big brown trout migrate up from Boone lake to find colder waters.  They enter the river on the lower end and begin to stack up in grass flats and deep pools.  Here they begin dialing in on our ample spring time hatches.  We are seeing thirty inch fish on  a daily basis and sightfishing to those fish that allow us.  . 
 
Two footer caught 4/30/10 on dry fly
25 inch S. Holston River Brown
For those looking to hit the water themselves, your better numbers will be caught in the bug laden riffles and runs.  Fish size 16-20 BWO and sulfur nymphs, small olive scud patterns, and tiny midge larva mostly sizes 20 and smaller.Your best for dry fly activity will be from 2pm till dark. Be sure to fish your dries on 6 x tippet with 12 ft leaders. Down and across presentation is usually best.
 
This report is provided by Justin Shroyer of the  in Boone, NC Trophy Water Guide Service