The TVA ran all their generators for almost the whole month of April in order to counterbalance all the large rain producing storms we have had this spring. With the generators rolling, fishing conditions were impossible for waders and tough for boats, mainly being limited to throwing heavy streamers on sinking lines. Well, the TVA has seen it in their hearts to cut back the generation just in time for the spring mayfly season, on both the Watauga and S. Holston rivers, to get cranked up. With the great generation schedules we have been on the water a lot lately. We’ve been catching fish mainly on sulfur imitations in all forms: nymphs, emergers, and dries. The blue wing olives are still hanging around and cloudy days are a good bet for the last of these winter mayflies to hatch.  The key to getting into fish right now is long drag free drifts. Downstream presentations utilizing big reach casts are a deadly way to present a fly, as the fly is the first thing the fish see…not the leader or the line.  Another good thing to remember on the tail waters is when you are drifting nymphs, Always Be Mending. This will not only allow your flies to be presented drag free it will also allow your flies to sink to the depth they need to be at so they wind up in the corner of some unsuspecting trouts mouth and not just floating over all the fish. For the rest of the month we will continue to see Sulfurs on both the Watauga and South Holston with the intensity of the hatches becoming greater as the month goes on. By the end of the month Crane Flies will be added to the mix on the Watauga…they look a lot like sulfurs except for their long dangly legs. In order to be prepared for the month I would make sure my tailwater boxes are full of Pheasent Tail variations (16-20), PMD Split Cases (sz. 16), Soft Hackles (sz. 14-18 Yellow and Orange), CDC Comaparduns (Sulfurs: sz. 16) ( BWO’s: sz. 18-20) and the usual suspects as far as midges are concerned. Have fun because the fishing is going to be great all month, and swing on by the shop and let one of our professional guides show you why a float trip in TN is your best shot at landing a wild fish over 18″ that you can find in the South. Here are some pics from our most recent float: – David Grossman