The Frozen Tundra ~ Appalachian Angler

HAPPY 2011!!

Outfitter Mike Trotter in Southern Patagonia taking the brunt of the Pacific!!!

See any Moose?

With all of the snow and cold it has been a true challenge to get out post-holidays to wet a line!! Pretty much all of the small streams around Boone are frozen over, literally. The little bit of thaw we had has been wiped out with this most recent "Northwest snow flow" event. If the forecast has the words squall or clipper in it - don't count on getting out and doing any fishing....With 30+ mph winds you would instantly regret it......BUT there has been some loyal troops hitting the streams and it is confirmed that the spawn is still strong on the South Holston. With daily generations from 5am - Noon it can get really tricky to cheat the water and do some wading - but if you want to target some post spawn browns that will be your best bet...Get way down in the lower river and then when it comes up take a break and wait for it to fall at the dam. This will result in the biggest crowd but unless you have a boat this is about your best bet. If you can float it - the float from the dam riding the wave has been productive with streamers and one day last week with some blue wings for about 2 hours. On the wade fishing blue wing patterns, especially soft hackles have been producing, with your standard black midges working well as always...There is also an egg bite for the post spawners but remember to debarb those hooks and treat the egg eaters with as much respect as the midge eaters!! We can not afford to rip apart our spawning populations! No recent reports from the Trophy Section to be noted.

With all of this Winter Wonderland BS I felt it was appropriate to include some photos from last season in our last frontier, Alaska.