After visiting McNabb Creek, Don Denney and his wife Beverly gave me a driving tour of the area en route to the Hiwassee River. The impromptu tour resulted from a road closure. Of all things, a cabin fell off a trailer, blocking both lanes. As of 5/12/06, a photo of the cabin in the highway was posted at www.cherohala.com, in case you are interested.

First, Don and Beverly, active members of the Hiwassee chapter, brought me to the upper river, near the dam. Don showed me the power station. To increase head, the power house is miles downstream from the dam, and the water is run down in pipes. This design makes the dam an efficient hydropower producer, but running the water through the sun-baked pipes warms the water considerably. Elevated summertime water temperatures are stressful to trout and an impediment to making this blue ribbon fishery even better. We saw many anglers in the stretch downstream from the powerhouse. A quick survey of license plates reveals that the Hiwassee draws anglers not only from Tennessee, but from Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina as well. Part of the Hiwassee’s appeal is its location. The Hiwassee is the farthest south of the major Tennessee fisheries, making it more accessible for southern anglers. The other draw is the quality of the angling experience.

The river is beautiful (see the photos HERE). Lush green hillsides envelop the valley. The river itself alternates between smooth shoals and deeper pools that just ask to be fished. Fingerlings are regularly stocked here, some of which eventually grow to great proportions.

Don and I left the rods in the car until we got further downstream, near the Highway 411 Bridge. We waded into a shallow riffle and worked the deeper pockets around a couple shoals. I started with a nymph, but after the third fish smacked my indicator, I joined Don fishing dry flies. The hatch never really got going, but we had a good time catching little rainbows on stimulators, adams parachutes, and the like. Don runs a great website in conjunction with the Hiwassee chapter of TU. At www.hiwassee.net, you can find out more about the chapter, and the river itself.

I have no doubt that minutes after Don and I left the Hiwassee, caddis and sulphurs started exploding from the water, but instead of waiting for the evening hatch, I had to drive north to the Clinch.

“Should have been here yesterday.” The day before I got to the Clinch, Steve Brown, the TU Tennessee Council chair, had the best day fishing he has had for years. Although the river was off color, he caught numerous trout, including a hot 18” rainbow. Just my luck, conditions had changed dramatically overnight. The water had cleared, and the bite was off. We caught a few on nymphs and soft hackles, but it was like pulling teeth.

Still, I was glad we made it out. I learned a lot about TU efforts in the state from Steve. I was particularly impressed by the Coal Creek restoration. This effort started as a bank stabilization project and has evolved into a community-scale make-over. The Coal Creek Watershed Foundation has now not only stabilized this creek’s banks, they have also mitigated flood problems in the area by removing debris from bridge pilings, started programs in the community to teach kids about angling and science, and even started an annual health day, complete with free dental exams and physicals for students. Down here in Tennessee, TU volunteers not only help their fish, they also work for their entire community. To learn more, visit www.crctu.com.

When I could see them, the Smoky Mountains lived up to their reputation. Fog veiled the hills and yes, it is worth the trip to see. The rest of the time, rain pummeled the mountains (and me) and the vistas were totally obscured by clouds. The rain also raised the rivers, leaving the Little River big and unfishable. I was determined to catch a Tennessee brook trout before I left the state, so I fished the Pigeon Fork near Abrams Creek in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A few days before, after visiting McNabb Creek, I took a few casts on a tributary to the North River and stuck a little brookie, only to perform a “long distance release.”

On the Pigeon Fork, I found many obliging rainbows (all very small), before I finally landed a beautiful brook trout the size of my biggest finger. Yes, it was a small fish, but it was a native Tennessee brookie. The Little River and its tributaries are picturesque mountain creeks with rhododendron lined banks and large boulders worn smooth by the constant push of clear water. I can only imagine the backcountry angling opportunities, hidden from the tourist’s roadside view. I hope to make it back someday to hike into some of these creeks and see the Park as it should be seen, from within.

The South Fork of the Holston is my type of tailwater. This river is home to large, selective trout. The angler had better be prepared with a long leader, fine tippet, and a lot of patience. My first stop was the weir dam at Osceola Island. Unlike Southwestern Power Administration over in the Ozarks, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has been a good partner for coldwater anglers. While rivers are simply “shut off” in Arkansas, weir dams maintain a minimum flow and dissolved oxygen levels on some Tennessee tailwaters including the Clinch and the SF Holston. The weir on the Holston is specifically designed to increase oxygenation, thanks to a cooperative effort between TU, TVA, and the state. The result? Successfully reproducing wild brown trout!

I spent a morning on the Holston at minimum flow, and river was very wadeable. I walked downstream a half mile or so from the canoe access by the weir. In this stretch, the river bottom is composed of bedrock ribs protruding through “Madison River-esque” cobbles. Behind the ribs, the river has scoured deep pockets that are full of trout. A light hatch of dark colored caddis kept the fish chasing emergers. I saw a few nice trout in the 15-18” range, but they remained elusive. Fortunately, I was able to contribute to the education of a couple smaller fish… They now know what a #18 LaFontaine’s sparkle pupa looks and tastes like.

If you haven’t already, CLICK HERE to see the photos.