Mary Gibson caught this nice brown trout on the South Holston River, September 9, 2011 (click image for full view)

Many anglers hope of sharing their love of fly fishing with the love of their life, and this is true for Clay Gibson and Claude Dawson. Joined by their wives for a weekend retreat to the South Holson River, they hired the Altamont Anglers guides for a day of instruction. Judging by the photos, the ladies were quick learners--whether or not they develop that deep love for the sport (some call it obsession), only the future will tell.

Since the TVA has reduced the flows, the lower end of the river has pretty skinny water, and the resulting warming of the water has brought the carp up from the lake and run the trout upstream in search of colder water. The Sulphur hatch is pretty much done now, and these fish were caught nymphing, although there are fish feeding on ants and beetles, and the midges never quit producing.

Click any of the thumbnail images that follow for a slide show of the fishing on September 9, 2011...

(Altamont Anglers operates on Pisgah National Forest Rivers under USDA Forest Service Permit #PIS6560)