Conditions for April 3rd, 2014
Holston River below Cherokee Dam
Location: River Mile 7-8
Sunrise: 7:19 AM
Sunset: 7:58 PM
Time Fished: Noon until 4:00 PM
Sunrise: 7:19 AM
Sunset: 7:58 PM
Time Fished: Noon until 4:00 PM
Temps: 75 F rising to 79 F by 4:00 PM
Barometric Pressure: 29.97(inHG) Falling to 29.91(inHG) by 4:00 PM
Moon Phase: Waxing Crescent 16% visible
Winds: 10-15 MPH towards the SW
Weather Conditions: Periods of sun and clouds
Generation Schedule: 8 AM-9 AM 1; 9 AM-2 PM 0; 2 PM-3 PM 1; 3 PM-8 PM 0
Water Conditions: Low Flow
Water Color: Clear with 2-4 feet of visibility
Water Temps: Held steady at 54 F
Spring is here and the insect activity on lower Holston River is really starting to show. The Black Fly activity is starting to slow considerably and the Mayflies and Caddis are starting to appear. I found three different types of Mayfly Nymphs today with the one pictured below being the most abundant. I believe it is a large Blue Wing Olive Nymph, Drunella Cornuta. There were also several Caddis Larvae in the river with some Caddis Pupae floating freely near the top of the water column. TVA is still in the process of filling the Cherokee Reservoir so the one hour pulse every four to five hours is providing great low water wade fishing opportunities. A size fourteen Bead head Pheasant Tail Nymph above a size sixteen or eighteen black Zebra Midge fished under an indicator close to the bottom provided my best result. Warmer weather is bringing the water temperatures up so it will not be long before we begin to see our green bodied Caddis hatching in abundance. Hang in there, Spring has sprung and great dry fly fishing is close at hand.
Pictured below is Annette with her first Holston River Rainbow
Pictured below is a large Blue Winged Olive Nymph(Drunella Cornuta)
Underside of the same Nymph