With summer winding down Tara and I ventured south to good ole rocky top Tennessee for one last weekend getaway before school starts. The school part use not to be an issue but not anymore as we have a use to be lil one that’s starting school. We’re having a hard time believing that but our little girl is growing up way too fast. I’ve always loved Tennessee and actually have a great-great grandpa that’s buried in the Smokemont area of Smoky Mountain National Park. He died in a logging accident I was told by my grandmother during the logging boom before the park was established. Maybe that’s why I feel like I’m at home when I’m down there especially when I’m in those mountains.
The wild trout and the beautiful rivers and streams they live in are another draw to the volunteer state. I really like how Tennessee manages their fisheries. Take the South Holston River near Bristol for instance which is where we spent the weekend fishing.
The SoHo, as it’s called by the locals, is a tailwater fishery. The water is always cold coming out of the bottom of the South Holston Reservoir which allows the wild trout to thrive year round. The Tennessee Valley Authorities (TVA) also constructed weir dams to improve the fishery as it adds dissolved oxygen to the river. The combination has created one of the best wild trout fisheries on the east coast and is a well-known destination for trout anglers.
The TVA manages the release schedule for the river as its water is used for hydro power. When they’re releasing the river flows fast and you pretty much have to float it to fish. Once the generator is turned off the river drops back down to 200 cubic feet per second (cfs) and it’s easy to wade.
In today’s technology TVA has an app where you can check the release schedule on your phone and plan accordingly on how to fish. Anything goes on the SoHo as far as bait and fly restrictions. Both spin and fly fishing are allowed and you can fish with whatever you prefer.
There are two areas that are closed from Nov-Jan to protect spawning fish so they can reproduce and replenish the river. This saves from having to raise and pay for fish that then need stocked. The wild trout are way more colorful and challenging to catch. It’s the same reason why Montana is such a well-known trout destination and why they stopped stocking several years ago.
The TVA was generating all day on Friday when we arrived. I had our boat in tow and we met up with our fishing buddies Zach and Cat ready to float a new section of the river for us. Upon arriving at the put in Zach spotted a big brown not 3 to 4 foot off the bank right at the bottom of the boat ramp.
“Somebody cast to that fish” I said while fooling with the boat. Tara rigged her rod up and proceeded to cast to the big brown. Her first drift was going towards it and the fish moved but she got hung up and broke off. She tied on another fly while I continued to get the boat ready for launch.
All of a sudden I hear Tara start yelling “I got em, I got em”. I looked down and saw her rod bent over and the big fish taking her down the river. Zach quickly grabbed his net and followed her. I just sat back and watched the battle. The brown took her into some swifter water but she managed to work it out of it towards the bank.
Zach was ready with the net when the brown decided to start head shaking like crazy. Then it happened, I heard a loud groan followed by a few choice words as the brown managed to throw her fly. It was definitely over 20 inches and what we came for.
It went all downhill after that. After launching the boat I dropped the anchor to wait on Zach and Cat to put in. Tara was looking for the big brown while I rigged my rod up. Zach and Cat went around us and started down the river. I went to pull the anchor up and it was hung.
I tugged on the anchor rope and it wasn’t budging. I looked down to see what it was hung on and there was an old rusted rail of some sorts. That dang anchor was under it and stuck! I had no option but to cut the rope. I back rowed as hard as I could back up to the put in and found a big rock to substitute for the lost anchor.
The rock actually worked quite well so all wasn’t lost. We fished our way down the new section of river without much luck or no luck at all I should say, not even a bite. Over half way through the float Tara and I were anchored below Zach and Cat.
Tara’s phone started ringing and she received a quick text from Cat telling us to grab their oar. Zach somehow lost an oar and it just so happened as soon as Tara received the text, here came the oar. We ran it down and retrieved it for them as they floated on down to get it back.
Zach dropped his anchor and I returned his lost oar while laughing at him for being the knucklehead that he is. It didn’t end there as Zach went to pull his anchor up it was hung too. He also had to cut the rope and just drift on down to the take out because he didn’t have a rock to slow him down. By then we were all ready to get to the take out which was sketchy. Long story short I had to un hook then re hook the trailer just to make it back out.
The new section of river wasn’t what we hoped it would be and I think we’ll just stick to the section up river next time. On Saturday and Sunday TVA didn’t generate so we had to wade fish. They pulsed for an hour in the afternoon which triggers the Sulphur mayflies to hatch.
We all managed to fool a few of the picky trout to make up for the day before. Tara caught a nice plump 15 inch rainbow and I got a decent brown. You sure do have to work for those fish as they aren’t easy to catch.
Overall, it was another fun and interesting trip down south. I enjoy fishing and seeing new scenery and as the old saying goes, “trout don’t live in ugly places” sure is true. Take care until next time.
