Tough fishing on lower Clinch

[waterwolf]

Originally Posted by cockeye valdez

I fish as much as I can, work hard at it, both me and my fishing pal. We're as serious about it as most. We have fished here, out west and in between. We fish with serious fisher persons who are serious about the sport. We regularly fish the most technical tail waters in this area and we catch fish.

I fish the Clinch, love to fish it early spring, have had great days, with strong fish, not quantities but quality. We have found that when the water is skinny is fishing is tough. We only see hatches for about 4 weeks. We don't regularly catch the quantities the above posts and my first thought is to call b.s.
I will admit it, I maybe average at best when it comes to fly fishing but I don't read many reports of regular catches of 20-25 fish. If you can produce these catches, I'd be grateful to carry the net and learn. I ain't too proud, I'll carry your net.

I read this post this morning, and laughed when I read it to be honest. I am just now getting around to posting a humble yet blunt response.

There are more then a few of the posters in this very thread who routinely catch 30+ fish in a half day on the Clinch, including myself. How do I know this? I have fished with, near, and around them for over 20 years. Granted that makes me sound old but at 36 I am far from old despite the pains I feel each morning, and the trouble I had tying a fly on this morning for some unknown freaking reason.

Screen-name "Oldschool" in his prime would embarrass everyone on this forum, period. When I was a younger pup and was even more arrogant, I can remember heading to the river with him, and thinking I got this cat. Little did I know I was about to be subjected to a thorough scorching at the hands of a man who caries days worth of gear in one shirt pocket. I bet age has taken a toll on him, and he has trouble even walking to the river now

Flat Fly N' has long been one of the "ninja's" of the Clinch. I will atest to his use of flies which most have never seen, and certainly never considered using, and he uses them with deadly results. His specialty for years was above the weir at low water, which can easily humble even the best tailwater folks.

Same things can be said for psnapp, fourx, and chem, they have all been around and know how to negotiate the river. No offense to other older Clinch folks who I left out.

Calling me BS on me or any of the other long time Clinch fisherman, is quite simply.....foolish.

Personally I grew up riding my bike from my house in Norris to the river almost every afternoon when the weather was decent. I skipped school most spring afternoons to fish, rather then pursue what could have been a pretty decent baseball career. I know every square inch of ledge, cut, riffle, trough, depression, etc etc in the river, from the dam to 61 bridge. I know almost to the minute when the water will hit any given area on the river, and am extremely aware of what water flows/levels offer the most ideal fishing conditions. In other words, I generally know when a fish is going to eat my fly before they even know they are about to eat it. I would say the same for many of the others who frequent this forum.

Add to that a healthy dose of travel to locales all across this country as well as foreign destinations, and I have a pretty good resume when it comes to catching fish on a fly/.

So yes, the above is probably sounding arrogant and is, but at the same time calling BS on something/someone you know nothing about is incredibly arrogant or misinformed (pick your poison) and I would caution you from this thought process. Most likely one of us you are calling BS on might be the person you bump into who passes on a shred of our knowledge which might help you be more successful.

I am sure 20-25 fish sounds like BS to you, but I was being a little humble for once. Generally it is probably more like 35-40 or more depending on the day. But it isn't about the numbers, I just used the numbers to try and illustrate a point.

My final point in this nightmarishly arrogant response, is that if myself or some of the others mention tough fishing. You might want to listen, and pay attention, as those words don't happen often, and you might learn something if you chose to heed the words of those with decades of experience.

[MadisonBoats]

Originally Posted by Flat Fly n

I miss Ron Whaley. The man fished a 7wt rod and could cast across the Clinch with it, all the while with a 7x tippett and a cigar hanging from his mouth.

First person to ever show me a bead head PTN when they came out.

PS...I still have John Poore's boat...didn't change the name....and that's about the only thing I haven't change except the motor! HA....it runs like a scalded dog!

here's a pic of some low and slow, and gin clear water fishing...
might take note of the 17 1/2 foot leader. Oh yeah, I don't use a silly loop to loop connector, cause when you do catch a really big fish those don't go thru the guides well and break off your fish.


Another recent photo. Fishing a sculpin imitation. pS.....I showed this fly and more of the ones I tie at Troutfest for anybody that stopped by. Sink tip line, might want to try that instead of calling BS to those of us that have figured out SOME of the techniques...I'm still looking for a 8-10# brown. I know where a big bow over 24-26" hangs out, but he is smarter than me, for now.

Phil; ugh t oh... you let a pic of your streamer sneak out

[MadisonBoats]

Originally Posted by waterwolf

I read this post this morning, and laughed when I read it to be honest. I am just now getting around to posting a humble yet blunt response.

There are more then a few of the posters in this very thread who routinely catch 30+ fish in a half day on the Clinch, including myself. How do I know this? I have fished with, near, and around them for over 20 years. Granted that makes me sound old but at 36 I am far from old despite the pains I feel each morning, and the trouble I had tying a fly on this morning for some unknown freaking reason.

Screen-name "Oldschool" in his prime would embarrass everyone on this forum, period. When I was a younger pup and was even more arrogant, I can remember heading to the river with him, and thinking I got this cat. Little did I know I was about to be subjected to a thorough scorching at the hands of a man who caries days worth of gear in one shirt pocket. I bet age has taken a toll on him, and he has trouble even walking to the river now

Flat Fly N' has long been one of the "ninja's" of the Clinch. I will atest to his use of flies which most have never seen, and certainly never considered using, and he uses them with deadly results. His specialty for years was above the weir at low water, which can easily humble even the best tailwater folks.

Same things can be said for psnapp, fourx, and chem, they have all been around and know how to negotiate the river. No offense to other older Clinch folks who I left out.

Calling me BS on me or any of the other long time Clinch fisherman, is quite simply.....foolish.

Personally I grew up riding my bike from my house in Norris to the river almost every afternoon when the weather was decent. I skipped school most spring afternoons to fish, rather then pursue what could have been a pretty decent baseball career. I know every square inch of ledge, cut, riffle, trough, depression, etc etc in the river, from the dam to 61 bridge. I know almost to the minute when the water will hit any given area on the river, and am extremely aware of what water flows/levels offer the most ideal fishing conditions. In other words, I generally know when a fish is going to eat my fly before they even know they are about to eat it. I would say the same for many of the others who frequent this forum.

Add to that a healthy dose of travel to locales all across this country as well as foreign destinations, and I have a pretty good resume when it comes to catching fish on a fly/.

So yes, the above is probably sounding arrogant and is, but at the same time calling BS on something/someone you know nothing about is incredibly arrogant or misinformed (pick your poison) and I would caution you from this thought process. Most likely one of us you are calling BS on might be the person you bump into who passes on a shred of our knowledge which might help you be more successful.

I am sure 20-25 fish sounds like BS to you, but I was being a little humble for once. Generally it is probably more like 35-40 or more depending on the day. But it isn't about the numbers, I just used the numbers to try and illustrate a point.

My final point in this nightmarishly arrogant response, is that if myself or some of the others mention tough fishing. You might want to listen, and pay attention, as those words don't happen often, and you might learn something if you chose to heed the words of those with decades of experience.

It is ok can man! I do not think he meant to call you out. I think he is probably just curious on what you are fishing. I would not take one post personally. I do understand the frustration to try and acknowledge and support your posts as well though...

[waterwolf]

He certainly has a strange of way of asking what a person might use to have success or how they go about having success.

Be assured my worries about him and his comments, lasted about 30 seconds.

At the end of the day if he wants to call BS, then so be it, that is his right. I certainly won't lose any sleep over it.

[JohnH0802]

Waterwolf,
I think you took his comment out of context a little....as I read the post he said is first thought was to call BS....and ended the post making an offer of carrying a net to try and learn about how be better at fishing the clinch. I think it was really somebody that was just a little frustrated after a tough day. I think your reaction to first reading his post and laughing was probably really what he was looking for....just my two cents.

John

[Green Weenie]

It does sound like B.S. ....

until you're standing downstream of one of these guys and they are absolutely wearing them out. Seeing is believing, my friend.

Also, most of these guys (when asked) will gladly tell you where they caught them, how they caught them, and will usually give you a handful of flies.

"Don't confuse ignorance with a point of view." - Dilbert

[Rodonthefly]

I can test to those of us that put a big numbers, and big fish. Wolf, Phil, Chem, Scott Rogers, Mike, the late great Ron Whaley, John Thruman and the list can keep on going of Clinch vets. All of the names that I have listed I have learned and listened to all my life. I have fished the river my whole life again I don't think as my self as old (30). But I the same as Jim use to skip school to fish this river. My dad took me to the Creel when I was ( I can't remmeber how old I was) if I'm not mistaken Scott and Jim sold me my first Orvis fly rod. Do you remember that Wolf? It was then I spent countless hours in the Clinch, watching some of these older guys flat out smoke them. Beinng the young pup I was I was floored by the numbers they caught. That's when I learned to listen more then I spoke, asked questions when I could, and these guys would answer them and hand me flys out of their boxes. Sometimes even giving me the fly they were using. I feel like I now can hold my own when fishing next to any of these guys I listed. In return I feel as I have passed on alot of knowledge that was given to me and would share anything anyone asked me, sometimes I won't say the spot sometimes, for I don't want to be standing shoulder to shoulder with others. But you can take two flys to the Clinch and catch fish anywhere on that river between the dam and 61 bridge.

I guess what I'm getting at is sometimes it's best to keep your mouth shut and listen to one another. You can gain alot more when you listen more and speak less.

[cockeye valdez]

Wow, did that get a rise ! I was not calling anyone out or for that matter accusing anyone of embellishing quantities, I was simply stating that I had not had similar experiences on the river and yes, I would very much like to know the secrets to this sort of success.

By the responses it would appear as though I may have to carry the net for several masters of the sport.

I know some of the individuals mentioned in the previous post. Have sat with them at tying tables and had conversations with them. I respect them and they have even ask me to take them to the so. ho. I am happy to take them.

My post was not directed at anyone, just an observation.

offer still stands, I'll carry your net.

[David Knapp]

Originally Posted by cockeye valdez

Wow, did that get a rise ! I was not calling anyone out or for that matter accusing anyone of embellishing quantities, I was simply stating that I had not had similar experiences on the river and yes, I would very much like to know the secrets to this sort of success.

By the responses it would appear as though I may have to carry the net for several masters of the sport.

I know some of the individuals mentioned in the previous post. Have sat with them at tying tables and had conversations with them. I respect them and they have even ask me to take them to the so. ho. I am happy to take them.

My post was not directed at anyone, just an observation.

offer still stands, I'll carry your net.

You can come carry a net for me sometime...I have 2-3 trips of experience on the Clinch and can show you exactly how to catch weedfish, stickfish, leaffish, treefish, and rockfish (heavy ones but not the kind that pull back)...

[waterwolf]

Originally Posted by cockeye valdez

Wow, did that get a rise ! I was not calling anyone out or for that matter accusing anyone of embellishing quantities, I was simply stating that I had not had similar experiences on the river and yes, I would very much like to know the secrets to this sort of success.

By the responses it would appear as though I may have to carry the net for several masters of the sport.

I know some of the individuals mentioned in the previous post. Have sat with them at tying tables and had conversations with them. I respect them and they have even ask me to take them to the so. ho. I am happy to take them.

My post was not directed at anyone, just an observation.

offer still stands, I'll carry your net.

I couldn't handle having someone with me that referred to the South Holston as the So Ho. Sorry, but it is the South Holston, not to be confused with the Holston.

I guess we can start calling the Clinch, the Cli just so it sounds cooler then the real name.

You don't want to fish with me or near me, I have horrible gas, and curse an insane amount. I also talk to myself, and fall in alot.

In all seriousness, success on the Clinch boils down to keeping things simple and really understanding how the Clinch fish react to water levels, by far the greatest determining factor for success is the water flow/level IMO. Catch it right and fishing is amazing, catch it wrong and the fish will punish you.

As others will note, it is a fickle nasty mean river that is unforgiving and gives nothing away for free. Except for brookies and stockers, which will eat anything presented any way you choose on any water level.