14 September 2024

I could also call this a late summer report, but I don't think anyone is late for anything. We are currently highlighting the Cumberland River in Burkesville, Kentucky for the next 60-90 days, and it is shining. I want to make sure that all of the southeastern anglers out there understand that while most of our regular haunts in East Tennessee and North Georgia along the Appalachian mountain chain are experiencing low water conditions, this is exactly the weather pattern that the Cumberland River thrives in. Lake Cumberland, the largest reservoir east of the Mississippi, has plenty of cold water in it. The water temperatures are excellent. The flow rates are excellent. The grasshopper and terrestrial population is prolific. There are a lot of rainbows and browns in the slot range coming to the net these days; many on large dry flies. The photos here are from a couple of weeks ago on the river. We have plenty of open spots over the next few months, especially if you have a tidbit of flexibility. A 2-3 day trip on the Cumberland River this time of year is hard to beat. 

Just a head's up that we also plan on starting up our fall Hiwassee River drift trips around the middle of October, possibly the 3rd week of October. we are waiting on a little cooler weather and water on the HI. 

As always, call or email to book a trip or just talk fishing.  

Thanks, Dane.  

24 July 2024

Mid-summer fly fishing update for all of the Southeastern Anglers out there. The second half is going to be big! We are in full swing now on the Cumberland River in Burkesville, Ky. Every day is somewhat different, but one thing showing some consistency is average fish size and quality. We are bringing some larger average fish to the net and more brown trout than last year. Most days are producing fish in the upper range of the slot limit and even some 20 inchers. Water levels are currently good with our anticipation of flows remaining favorable throughout the season.

The Cumberland River just may be some of the best fly fishing a Southeastern Angler can enjoy without getting on an airplane this time of year. We have good availability for August and September and a couple of open weeks left for October.

We will begin operating our Hiwassee River float trips after October 15th. Once the leaves are in full color and the season has changed, the trout of the Hiwassee River return from rest. Late fall through the remainder of the year is one of the best times for fly fishing on the Hiwassee.

This is how we score big in the second half. Please come and join us. As always call or email to book a trip or just talk fishing.

Thanks, Dane
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770-655-9210

 

07 March 2024

Howdy folks. Just a brief update on our early spring trout fishing. Overall conditions are excellent. We are seeing some very nice weather for early March. Adequate precipitation for the reservoirs and rivers coupled with warm ambient temps on most days for comfortable early spring fishing. Average water temps on the Hiwassee River are just under 50 degrees. These are healthy temps for this time of year. When the water warms on sunny days, the fish are very active. As spring temps warm, both the insects and fish will become even more active. The river has experienced a considerable shad kill from the reservoirs above over the winter and the fish have been well fed as a result. White streamers are still getting results as this is changing over to a bug bite. The next two months, although a little unpredictable as for the daily weather, will produce our largest rainbows and browns of the season. So grab a cap and jacket and let's go fishing.

It has been several years since we have seen anything resembling "typical weather." In reading the spring forecasts, it looks like we may have a more average spring weather pattern in place, which will certainly be appreciated for a change. Our plans are to be on the Hiwassee River in Reliance daily for the next 120 days through June. We will be utilizing the new inflatables (pictured) as well as the drift boats on some days. Sometime in May or June we will start transitioning some trips to the Cumberland River  in Burkesville, Kentucky for the first fishable spring days there as the river flows diminish. By July, we should be in full swing on the Cumberland River. 

The pics here are all fresh from the Hiwassee River in the last 30 days...except for the last one. It is about 16 years and 9 months old. The shirt is long since gone, but the memories certainly remain. 

As always, call or email me to book dates with our outstanding guides. I probably don't say it enough. I feel very fortunate and privileged to be associated with the finest guide team in the southeast or anywhere for that matter. I have fished with an awful lot of guides over the years in many places and our new fellows as well as the old hats are simply the best. Born of team spirit.

17 December 2023

2024 will mark 25 years for Southeastern Anglers guiding fly fishing trips on what we feel are the best trout fishing rivers of the southeastern United States. This note is all about a huge THANK YOU to everyone reading because you are the ones that have made it possible. Over the years SEA has grown into a team of guides that I am very proud to be associated with. I book and fish with other guides all over the place and often. I can say without hesitation that the guides of Southeastern Anglers are among the best. The reason is not only the organic quality and integrity of our guides but their desire to operate as a team and share the knowledge of one with the entire team in an effort to make each of us the best that we can be and provide the best experience possible to you, our valued clients, on each trip with us. Thanks for allowing us the opportunity to spend a day on the water with you.

07 November 2023

Time flies when you are catching fish and the same goes for our seasons. We are lucky here in the southeast to have four distinct seasons each with their own personality. It is finally fall with crisp mornings and cooler days for some great fly fishing. We appear to be headed towards 2024 in a much drier pattern than the last fews years. And frankly, I am ready for it. Overall weather patterns do seem to be different now than the last 20 that I recall. Nowadays,  our pleasant fall weather lasts right on into January and winter can be highly variable on a daily basis and last into May. Fall and winter are now proving to be some of our most productive times for quality trout fishing.  What this means:  For the next six months the Hiwassee River in Reliance will fish like a champ on most days. Our approach will be varied from day to day. Drift boats on the upper river at full flow and our new inflatables with possibly a little float and wade on the lower water days. Both will be excellent with opportunities for some dry fly fishing.  For the first time in several years we will be able to fish the Cumberland river in Burkesville, Ky. later into this year due to the drier fall and very attractive water flow schedules. The fish have experienced excellent growth rates during the last few months and quality fish continue to become more numerous. We are seeing some spawn activity and the brown trout are becoming more numerous.   We have good availability and flexibility over the next few months so get out your cool weather gear (or buy some new stuff, it is great!) and give us a call to get on the water. It could easily be your best trip of the year.  Thanks, Dane.  770-655-9210 danelaw@southeasternanglers.com

21 June 2023

Hello to all of the Southeastern Anglers out there! 2023 is showing itself to be a great year for trout fishing in our area. With a little less rainfall and generally cooler temps so far, our mainstay fisheries are in great shape. The Hiwassee River in Reliance, TN has been a consistent producer and will fish well through July with excellent lake levels, good flows, and cool water temps. The Holston River below Cherokee dam fished very well for the spring trout season, with more nice browns coming to the net than previous years. It is now transitioning to a smallmouth fishery in the lower reaches.  

Due mainly to the lower precipitation levels, we have been able to start on the Cumberland River in Burkesville, Ky. earlier this year than prior years. The catch rates are excellent with trout within the slot limit coming to the net daily. The sulphur hatch here has been strong as we move into the terrestrial season. Dry dropper fishing is among the best in the southeast. The Cumberland River will most likely be the most productive trout fishery in the southeast for the next 4 months.

As always, call or email to book your fly fishing adventure with us. Our rates have remained the same and will continue to do so through this season.  

07 February 2023

It is already February 2023; so hard to believe. We have come out of our fly fishing show season, straight into our patagonia trips, and our very own southeastern trout fishing season is already here upon us. If we missed you at the Atlanta Fly Fishing Show this past weekend, hang loose, we were at the Cincinnati Fly Fishing show and will see our Atlanta gang in ATL next year. 

Our spring here in the southeast looks plenty promising. Conditions are favorable. March through June will be prime season on the Hiwassee river and it is time to book the dates now. April and May are just about always the best months for the Holston river below Cherokee dam. Lake Cumberland is currently at its lowest winter level that I can remember seeing. This tells me that we are going to see some good spring fishing windows below Wolf Creek dam on the Cumberland river coming up soon. 
 
No need to ramble here. Just letting everyone know that we are looking forward to a very promising season and it is best to book dates soon especially for the early season. Rates remain the same!  All we plan on inflating is your ego. We look forward to seeing you on the water soon. 

Give us a call.  770-655-9210

02 January 2023

A happy New Year to all of the southeastern anglers out there!  Thank you for making 2022 one of our best years ever.  Just thought I would take a moment to usher in 2023 in a big way and present a little photo recap of some of 2022's best catches.  

First - The crystal ball says: Go ahead and book early season 2023 fishing trips and take them too. The 90 day weather forecast is for average precipitation and slightly above average temps for our area.  It has been years since NWS has forecast anything near normal weather for the Southeast.  TVA and USACE have the major reservoirs we fish below at perfect levels.  This spells excellent fishing opportunities for the first six months of 2023.  The Hiwassee and Cumberland rivers should perform as well as or better than last year during this period.  The Clinch and Holston rivers, which have been finicky during the last few wet years, should come much more back into focus for us as a spring fishing destination.

 We added boats and equipment in 2022.  The big items were a new center console jet and new 14ft Aire rafts set up for fly fishing.  These new rigs give us multiple boats for all conditions and situations.  I am especially excited about the fleet of rafts we have available for the variable flow conditions the Hiwassee will offer us for the first five months of the year.  This opens up float and wade options and the gorge section during spring hatches and lower flows.

 We continue to explore and host fly fishing trips to many areas of Patagonia.  In 2022 we were able to spend over 30 days from norte to sur in both Argentina and Chile.  Most of it was almost unbelievable fishing.  Some of it was not.  One week in Coyhaique I was able to land over 50 brown trout, 20 inches or better on large foam attractors.  Another day found us lake fishing from the shore in southern Argentina for very willing 15lb rainbows on streamers.  The first trip down in January 2022 was still plagued with covid travel restrictions and we probably should have postponed this trip.  As adventurous traveling anglers, we faced the storm and marched on.  Some fished daily for two weeks, some did not.  We all came home the wiser for it.  This particular trip goes under the column with volcano eruptions, earthquakes, and civil disputes.  Our early season 2023 Patagonia trips are full.  We are in the process now of kicking around early December 2023 venues which will be early spring time in Patagonia, with easy travel, reduced airfares, and pleasant weather in the north.  We are also starting plans for our January/ February 2024 summer Patagonia trips.  

Give us a call.  Thanks.

Dane (770) 655-9210