If you have an appropriate Hiwassee photo you would like to share (doesn’t have to be a big fish), email the picture and info , and I’ll probably post it.
Very nice 22″ brown from Steve Keeble, February 2k, caught near silo between Reliance Bridge and Quinn Springs, black wooly bugger.
Nice rainbow, sent to me by Steve Keeble (aka “Drifter”), below stairsteps, summer ’99, black wooly bugger.
Another picture from Drifter. September ’99,below stairsteps, wooly bugger. Steve’s first smallmouth!
This is from Steve Porter (aka Sporter),19″ brown, dry fly, sunny May day, above Little Rock Island.
My brother John and a Hiwassee rainbow
My 15″ male brown, kyped up and in spawning colors,13 Oct 2k, below powerhouse, brown hackle peacock.
My son Michael fishing at Fox’s Cabin.
Ronald caught this 17″ brown at big bend in dec. using a panther martin.
My friend Scott McElrath and the first trout he ever caught on a fly he tied himself!
Edwin Lamberth and a Hiwassee rainbow. Early brown stone hatch, 2 Mar 2k1.
My brother John and Mr. Wade Smith near Patty Bridge, April 2001.
My brother John and the first fish he caught on a fly his daughter tied for him. He proceeded to catch 8 more before retiring the fly. Besides her other accomplishments, Sheena is now a Master Fly Tyer!
My sons JP and Michael fishing with me on the Elk River. JP is the bigger one. Not the Hiwassee this time, maybe next time.
Michael Cox and Shawn Peterson. Michael is the tall guy. We have Petey’s rain dances to thank for our summer 2k1 rain!
Jim and Monica Shell. welcome to the addiction, Monica!
Steve Keeble sent me this picture of his handmade drift boat in front of Webb’s! Check out his web site.
This is Jason, new fly fisherman, one of his first trips with a flyrod. Caught 5 rainbows, tan wooly booger, powerhouse, September 2k1.
This 28″ 8 lb 12 oz rainbow was caught at Fox’s Cabin in July 1998 by the gentleman on the right, Mr. Spencer Singleton. Mr. Singleton is reopening the old “Adams Fly Shop” as “Reliance Fly & Tackle”, as soon as he can get it ready! (hopefully by January 2002!)
I caught this male brown 5 Sep ’97 at Little Rock Island on a crawfish pattern. 23″, 5 lb 6 oz. The fish of my life, so far (1 Jan 2k2).
Mr. Jerry Crane of Atlanta sent this photo of a fine smallmouth he caught a couple of years ago. Took him by surprise! Caught her on an olive wooly bugger with large cone eyes tied specifically to look menacing. Below the stairsteps.
(posted 2 Jan 2k2)
Last year I noticed a plant I’d never noticed before. Stayed up late surfing, and finally identified it. It’s called “frostweed”, and has an interesting property. In a heavy frost, water seeps from cracks in the stem and freezes into intricate formations! I found some like that 26 Dec 2k1, and this is the photo.
This is Dan Falls. Dan has fished the HI and other area streams for years as a spin fisherman. Wanted to try flyfishing for some time, had trouble getting off dead center. I finally talked him in to going with me Sunday 17 Feb 2k2, and this is his first trout on a fly rod! Congratulations, Dan!
Mr. Mark Sales of Dalton Georgia caught this brown on the Hiwassee 4/10/02. 18-1/2″, 3 lb 8 oz. This photo was sent in by Joyce Whaley of Reliance Fly & Tackle, which is now open. Congratulations on a fine fish, Mark! (posted 15 April 2k2)
This 5 lb 4 oz Smallmouth was caught on the Hiwassee 19 April 2k2 by Mr. Mark Stinnett of Athens, TN. Congratulations, Mark! Photo courtesy of Joyce Whaley of Reliance Fly & Tackle. (posted 10 Jun 2k2)
This fine brown, 7 lb, 23″, was caught on the Hiwassee by Mr. Wayne Ogle of Dalton, GA, 4 May 2k2. Photo courtesy of Joyce Whaley of Reliance Fly & Tackle. (posted 10 Jun 2k2)
Joyce Whaley of Reliance Fly and Tackle sent me this picture, 11 lb 8 oz 28″ brown caught by Bill Marion of Athens, TN 23 April 2k2! (posted 10 Jun 2k2)
This is Colonel Tom Obrien. He has been fishing the Hiwassee since the early 70’s, and has forgotten more about the river than I will ever know. The Colonel has fished many of the “best” trout waters in this, and other countries, and 2 or 3 times a year he chooses to come here from Columbus, GA and camp out for a week or 2. I try not to miss his visits, and I hope you all get to meet him sometime!
This is my son JP fishing with me above Cane Island the week of the 4th, 2k2. Both my sons fished with me when they were young, went through a period when they didn’t, and have started fishing with me again. Fishing with your kids is about as quality as time gets. Thanks, son.
Tony Smith of East Ridge caught this beautiful 6 lb 11 oz brown on the Hiwassee. Photo by Joyce Whaley of Reliance Fly & Tackle.
Shawn Lingerfelt from McMinn County caught this brown, 29 1/2 inches long and 15lb 10oz 12 June 2002 on the Hiwassee. Photos courtesy of Joyce Whaley of Reliance Fly & Tackle. From my conversation with Joyce, my understanding is Mr. Lingerfelt was fishing with friends from the bank at Fox’s Cabin, hooked the fish on a rooster tail, and it cooperatively beached itself shortly after!
From time to time someone asks me what is up the river above the powerhouse. I was at the powerhouse Saturday morning, 14 Sep. 2k2, when this 44″ 53 lb catfish was carried out by Mr. Randy Davenport, who caught the fish, and some of his friends. Photo by Joyce Whaley of Reliance Fly & Tackle
This is Tiger Trout (Chase Hafley), the grandson of Ron McCosh (Tellico Fly). You can find them often, fishing at the powerhouse. The young man has a fly rod that he is learning to use!
Late summer 2002 my friend Scott McElrath caught this obese 15 1/2″ rainbow below the powerhouse on a brown hackle peacock, weighed 2 lb 2 oz. Biggest trout he ever caught on a flyrod!
That is an 11 lb 11 oz 27-1/2″ brown caught by Mr. Steve Cline on the Hiwassee December 28, 2002. It was caught at the lower end of Cane Island on a rapala. Photo courtesy of Reliance Fly & Tackle.
My friend Edwin Lamberth drives up from Birmingham to fish with me once or twice a year. This trip, 7 February 2003, he caught this beautiful 26″ male brown, white wooly booger, Fox’s Cabin. Way to go, Edwin! (posted 2-7-03)
This awesome 22″ 5 lb 12 oz rainbow was caught 2-12-03 on the Hiwassee by Mr. Kevin Wise. Nice fish! Photo courtesy of Reliance Fly & Tackle. (posted 3-1-03)
This brown was caught 2/23/03 by Tony Smith. it is 21″ long and weighed 5lb 6oz. He says he would like to thank Jane Wright for pointing him in the right area to catch a nice fish. Photo courtesy of Reliance Fly & Tackle. (posted 3-8-03)
This young man is Chase Kenemer of Dalton, Ga. This 20″ 3-3/4 lb brown is his first big trout, and he says he’s going to get it mounted and put it on his bedroom wall. Photo courtesy of Reliance Fly & Tackle about 4-13-03.
This awesome 9 lb 12 oz 26-1/4″ brown was caught by Mr. Wayne Ogle 5-22-03 below the powerhouse on a rapala. Last May, Mr. Ogle caught a 7 lb brown on the Hiwassee. Photo courtesy of Reliance Fly & Tackle.
(posted potw 5-26-03, album 6-20-03)
Petey hisself (Sean Peterson) caught this brutish 18″ rainbow 6-14-03 floating with Rocky Raccoon! Flashy green booger, awesome! (photo courtesy of Mike Cox, posted potw 6-20-03, album 7-12-03)
I finally got a copy of this picture! Mark Scarborough caught this gorgeous 29″ brown 2-18-03 on a fly, and released it. Photo courtesy of Mark via Dane Law. (posted potw 7-12-03 album 8-2-03)
Mr. Eric Harris of Rocky Face, GA caught this fine specimen of a 22″ 3.75 lb brown 6-29-03 on the Hiwassee. Good work, Eric! (posted potw 8-2-03 album 8-17-03)
The old man finally got a POTW! I (Don Denney) got this 18″ rainbow at Little Rock Island on a size 8 isonychia nymph, 8-16-03, released it. (posted potw 8-18-03 album 8-29-03)
Mr. Tony Smith (TennMan) caught this 20″ 3 lb 10 oz brown below Little Rock Island on a hopper pattern 8-27-03. You can read his account on the message board (20″ Brown!!!). He says he’s really hooked on this flyfishing stuff now! Way to go, TennMan! (posted to album 1-05-04)
This young man is Garrett Casson, and he caught this 7 lb 5 oz brown on the Hiwassee 01-04-04 on a nightcrawler. Photo courtesy of Reliance Fly & Tackle. (posted POTW 01-05-04, album 3-5-04)
Danny Phillips (aka “Toadfrog”) got “Moby Brown” on a beadhead something or other on the Hiwassee 3-4-04! 28″, 13 lb, photo courtesy of “Shakey” (Jim Monfort). Congratulations, Danny! (posted 3-5-04 to “potw”)
note: Danny sent me a picture I like better, so I switched pictures 3-21-04. Also, uh, Shakey read the scale wrong and it was 12 lb. (posted 6-15-04 to “photos”)
Brian Carver (bcmercer of the “Georgia Coalition”) caught this rather robust rainbow May 15th, 2004 up above Devil’s Shoals when the water was down using a size 14 bead head Prince Nymph. Congratulations, Brian! (posted 6-15-04 to potw, 7-26-04 to photo album)
I fished at the boat ramp with my friend Scott McElrath Tuesday night 7-20-04. I rode up with Scott after work. Beverly had an appointment, so she drove up later to take me home to save Scott a long drive out of his way. Folks had recently been sighting a wild pig at the boat ramp, and it showed up. Tyler Geren happened to have his cell phone with him, took a picture, and emailed it to me!
Some guy hog tied the pig, was going to take it home, fatten it up, and turn it loose again a long way from the boat ramp. Folks had been feeding the pig at the boat ramp, and sooner or later someone would hurt it.
By the way, I was downstream and missed all this, but Beverly, Scott, and Tyler saw it. I didn’t even hear the squeals when the guy hog tied it! Thanks for the picture, Tyler! (posted 8-27-04
How about a 12 lb 4 oz 30″ Hiwassee brown, caught on 8-15-04, white roostertail, by Frankie Dodd of Spring City! The lack of colored spots and the black specs make it look like an Atlantic Salmon, closely related to browns. Congratulations, Mr. Dodd!
Photo courtesy of Jerry Weicken of Reliance Fly & Tackle. (posted POTW 8-27-04, album 9-13-04)
Cody Jellies of Cleveland caught this 6 lb 12 oz walleye above Fox’s Cabin 7-31-04 on a panther martin. I’ve always hoped I could get a good walleye picture for the site sometime, and this is a fine one! Photo courtesy of Reliance Fly & Tackle. Good job, Cody! (posted POTW 9-13-04, album 9-27-04)
This is my grandnephew Andrew Denney with a fine rainbow he caught at Colonel’s Flats, don’t have any more info. Congratulations, Andrew! Would you believe I once had a physique like that! Photo courtesy of Clinton Miles. (posted POTW 9-27-04, posted album 10-19-04)
Dean Tullock reading the water with a stunning Hiwassee sunset in the background. Beverly saw this photo at RF&T and was struck by the silhouette against the sunset. I agreed with her that it would make a good photo of the week. Dean has fished this river a long time, only lives 3 miles from it. A lot of us envy him. Photo courtesy of Jerry Weichen, RF&T. (posted potw 10-19-04, album 11-26-04)
Brian Carver of the Georgia Coalition sent me this photo he took of me one summer day in 2004 at Fox’s Cabin. I remember the day well. I was fishing a big isonychia nymph in a pool below the lower ledge on the railroad side, working on a limit I was keeping for a friend. A pulse came through, and the pool really lit up! In a short time, I finished my limit of stocker rainbows, caught and released a 12″ brown and a 13″ rainbow, and lost a much better fish. I got him on the reel, hurried him a little too much. The fishing was so good I wanted to land him so I could catch more fish! Thanks Brian, nice picture with the mist, and proof that I do catch a few now and then!
This young lady is Kennedy Starnes, and she’s holding a 26-1/2″ 7-1/2 lb rainbow she caught 2-6-05. Just to avoid confusion, let me say on the front end, THIS FISH WAS NOT CAUGHT ON THE HIWASSEE!! It was caught at a trout pond near the Hiwassee (sign on hwy 30). It was caught on a nightcrawler, she reeled it in, and her dad, Casey, grabbed it from the water. Good job, Kennedy, and good job on the photo, Casey! I took Beverly by there once and let her catch a couple of trout, and I’ve heard that a guide once showed up with clients, drift boat in tow, to catch some fish after a tough day on the river! Because the pond is so close, and because we have very few big rainbows on the river, some of us tend to be skeptical of reports of huge rainbows. Having said that, I still expect to see some “steelhead” this year! (posted 2-8-05)
To quote Mark Walker (aka “Stogie”), one of our “Georgia Coalition TU Hiwassee Chapter” members,
“…one of my favorite Hiwassee vistas while fishing one early spring morning on Coalition Ridge with low flows.” . Photo courtesy of Mark Walker, GC, taken by Brian Carver, GC. (posted 11-26-04 potw, 2-25-05 album)
Drew Turner was 5 years old when he caught this 30ish pound rockfish on the Hiwassee during a family outing in 2004. Actually his proud dad, Andrew, hooked up and Drew did the reeling in. Mr. Mark Craven of the Tennessee Aquarium tells me that rockfish (striped bass) have been stocked in Tennessee for over 10 years. Ordinarily they eat something like 3-5% of their body weight in a day, and even in a pre-spawn feeding frenzy that only goes to about 7-8%. I know someone who told me he heard a guy on a tv fishing show say rockfish eat their weight in trout every day. There is a lot of such exaggerated folklore, so I wanted to publish some actual facts here. According to Mr. Mike Jolley of TWRA, in Region III rockfish are currently stocked in Watts Bar and Cordell Hull, and make their way to other reservoirs via locks. They are stocked as fingerlings raised at the Eagle Bend Hatchery on the Clinch, and the Normandy Hatchery, something like 220,000 every year. In the summer when the lakes warm, they migrate to cooler water, hence their presence in the Hiwassee. Their preferred temperature is about 68 degrees. Their usual food is shad, and they feed on huge schools of them in the lakes. They almost always take fish from below, and sometimes eat rainbows, which often hang below the surface to feed. Browns tend to hug the bottom and are not as flashy as the rainbows, and the guides tell me they have never found a brown in a rockfish. The taxidermists I have talked to find mostly rough fish and crayfish. Some folks consider rockfish to be the biggest problem facing our fishery, and I’m sure they take some trout, but I would consider high water temperatures during late summer and minimal flow conditions to be a much more serious problem. Trout are scarce on the lower part of the river in summer because TWRA no longer stocks down there when the water warms up, not because rockfish have eaten them all. Mr. Jolley tells me they also get a lot of complaints about rockfish decimating other game fish populations on reservoirs. A study by Mississippi State University showed that perception to be incorrect, but it’s hard to convince some folks. Predicting doom and gloom makes a good story. In fact, one of the reasons TWRA stocks rockfish is to control shad populations in reservoirs, adult shad compete with game fish for space and food. Anyway, nice fish, and nice picture, courtesy of Andrew Turner via Reliance Fly & Tackle. (posted POTW 2-25-05 album 3-27-05)
A quote from Roy Conley:
“Here is a rare photo of Tic Smith actually working as a guide. The brown was taken on a streamer in the trophy section of the Hiwassee on Sunday. My best fish from the Hiwassee.”
Congratulations on a fine 23″ fish caught 3-20-05, Roy! Roy tells me he also caught a 17″ rainbow the same trip.(posted 3-27-05 POTW 5-27-05 album)
This is Colonel Tom O’brien with a nice 12″ rainbow he caught on his May trip this year. The Colonel lives in Columbus, GA, is a life member of our Trout Unlimited Hiwassee Chapter, and usually comes up, camps, and fishes for a week or so after turkey season. If you’re lucky you’ll meet him on the river sometime. I learn something every time I fish with him. Hear he may be back up this summer! Photo courtesy of Fly (Bill Stranahan). (posted POTW 5-27-05, album 06-19-05)
This is Mike Cox (Rocky) with an 18″ rainbow taken on Memorial Day 2005 on a sulfur dry. Petey did the rowing that day. Good fish, especially nice on a dry. (posted 6-19-05 featured photo, 8-17-05 album)
Earlier this year Mr. Marty Chastain caught this “steelhead” on the Hiwassee, 26 inch rainbow. I’ve been trying to get in touch with him, this fish may qualify for TWRA’s “TARP” program, and I’d like to get it registered. If you know him, ask him to call me (423-478-5451). Congratulations, Mr. Chastain! (posted 8-17-05 featured photo, 1-13-06 album)
This fine 27″ Hiwassee Brown was caught by Hap McConkey on 3-1-2002. Her son, Bill McConkey, is teaching a “First Cast” fly fishing class at McMinn Central High School, sponsored by our Trout Unlimited Hiwassee Chapter. Great fish! (posted 1-13-06 as featured photo, 1-29-06 to album)
This gentleman is Aaron Holdsworth, and if you fish the Hiwassee very much you will probably see him some time, and he will probably be catching trout. He fishes something called a “30 second fly”, just a bit of deer hair tied down on a bait hook, no body material. He gave me one once, and on a bright summer afternoon by Webb’s I caught 4 and missed some in about a half hour, then lost the fly in a tree. The fly is phenomenal, and I’ve posted the pattern on the “Community Flybox” page linked on the “Planning A Trip?” page. Thanks, Aaron. (posted 1-29-06 featured photo, 4-7-06 photos)
Mr. George Deroche went fishing Monday 1/9/06 and caught this very photogenic rainbow, about 15 inches, on a black wooly booger. Thanks for the photo, George. (posted 4-7-06 featured photo, 6-1-06 photos)
Mr. William Caylor (Seminolewill) caught this fat rascal about a mile or two below Patty Bridge. He did not see a spotted bass in my web photos, thought it would add a little class. Will has persuaded the guides to do float trips for bass! Thanks will, hope to see you up there some time. (posted 6-1-06 featured photo, 7-28-06 photos)
This is Ed Ditto at the Rock Garden on a misty morning in July 2006. It was one of those mornings when we felt sorry for pore old Bill Gates, because we were on the Hiwassee, and he wasn’t. (posted featured photo 7-28-06, album 8-12-06)
This is Mr. Vance Saffels, aka “redworm”, and friend. We get porkers like that when a lot of shad are coming through the turbines. There are more photos of Redworm’s fish here . (posted 8-12-06 featured photo, 11-12-06 album)
In August I was fishing with my friend Shakey (Jim Monfort) and happened to notice this striking image against Hiwassee mist. I got a print made and framed, gave it to Shakey. I’ve learned a lot from him, he once taught me how to smoke a pipe in the rain!(posted featured photo 11-12-06, photos 1-14-07)
On my last trip in 2006 I finally got a leathertail! Fishing with Shakey at Little Rock Island late December, 14-1/2″ male brown on a sz 16 pheasant tail. (posted featured photo 1-14-07, photo album 3-18-07)
This young man is Brandon Sherwood, age 13, and he caught this 16″ rainbow near the powerhouse 3-17-07. Good job, Brandon! His proud grandfather is “Redworm”, and he has expressed an interest in getting a fly rod. (posted featured photo 3-18-07, photo album 6-17-07)
On Memorial Day 2007 my friend Drifter was floating in his beautiful hand made boat, took this photo, and sent it to me. Thanks, Drifter. The guy who allegedly looks like a “garden gnome” is me. 🙂 I thought it made a nice picture, and plan to frame a print. I’m sure some yuppy will note that the loop is a little big, and the rod is extended back a little more than the casting instructors like to see, but it’s a 7′ rod, and when I don’t know I’m being photographed I like to throw a nice big loop, just works out better. I had a good day. (posted 6-17-07 featured photo, 6-29-07 photo album)
Kevin Borroto caught and released this beautiful 19″ brown above Cane Island earlier in the spring. The photo was emailed to me by his friend Jason Foote , who also mentioned that they caught some other nice fish early in the year on shad patterns when those were coming through. Nice fish, thanks. (posted 6-29-07 featured photo, 9-28-07 photo album)
This is Dr. Michael Freake, and that thing in the bag is a hellbender It’s a kind of giant salamander found in the Hiwassee and other places. The first time you encounter one it may scare the dickens out of you! Dr. Freake teaches biology and such at Lee University in Cleveland, TN, does research on hellbenders, is an Oxford graduate, has been a member of the Hiwassee Chapter of Trout Unlimited for years, and helped us set up our bug sampling program. Last saw him at the brookie sampling in August, and it occured to me that we really ought to have this photo in the album, thanks, Dr. Freake! (posted featured photo 9-28-07, photos 10-27-07)
Check this out! The young man on the left is Jacob White of Dalton, GA, age 10. That is his first trout on a fly rod! Caught on the Hiwassee 10-13-07 as part of Hiwassee Chapter’s fishing trip event. The guy on the right is Mike Holden, aka “Murray trout bum”. Thanks to Mike and all who participated for a memorable event. Photo courtesy of Jason’s dad, Ken.(posted featured photo10-27-07, album 12-15-07)
If you’re wondering what a dog photo is doing on a fishing site, there’s a story that goes with it. This is Jim Monfort (Shakey), his wife Marlene, and their dog “lady”. Around fall of 2005 we started seeing a stray dog up at the river. Pets up there are supposed to be on a leash. One reason for that is to keep them from following an interesting scent out of earshot and getting lost, but in this case we don’t think the dog was lost, we suspect someone just dumped her.
Cats can sometimes survive in the wild, there was one we called “bw” (it was black and white) that hung around the powerhouse for years. I used to leave it a bluegill now and then. We hope it was adopted by some of the construction folks when the turbines were replaced in 2004-2005.
Dogs don’t fare so well, and before long the dogs ribs were showing. She was afraid to come close to anyone. For a while some folks were leaving food and water bowls where she could find them, but the Forest Service folks took a dim view of that (might attract bears). Beverly eventually got the dog to eat honey buns out of her hand, but she was afraid to try to get her into the car.
Then one day a car drove up and a guy named Brent Calfee got out to go fishing. The dog seemed to take a liking to him and followed him. Beverly talked to Brent, and he gave up a day of fishing to take the dog home. She had been in the wild about 4 months. We offered to pay for shots and fixing, but the vet said she was fixed and apparently had her shots. Brent named her “river dog” and got her a collar with her name on it. Brent’s neighbors didn’t take well to a dog next door, and eventually we took her for a while. We really didn’t want a permanent dog.
Marlene expressed an interest in her, Shakey was reluctant, he remembered how skittish she had been. They came over to get acquainted, and Shakey decided they would take her on a trial basis. Now Shakey says she isn’t a good dog, she isn’t even a great dog, she’s a fantastic dog! They renamed her “lady”.
We recently had a scare. The scar on her hind leg was from the removal of a tumor. The biopsy was negative, so hopefully she’ll be around for a while. I am not really a dog person, but lady is exceptionally well mannered, intelligent, and affectionate. Even I like her, and we can’t imagine why anyone would ever abandon her. This isn’t all about catching fish. (posted featured photo 12-15-07, album 2-14-08)
This 9 lb 12 oz brown was caught on the Hiwassee by Mr. Bobby King of Ooltewah 2-9-2008. Photo cortesy of Jerry at Reliance Fly & tackle. (posted 2-14-08 featured photo, 6-8-09 album)
On the left is Danny Phillips (aka “Toadfrog”). On the right is “Moby Brown”, caught on a beadhead something or other on the Hiwassee 3-4-04! 28″, 13 lb, photo courtesy of Linda Harris of TVA (I just happened to be showing some TVA folks around one day working on a project, and we drove by Danny with his new mount). I was looking over the photo albums and didn’t have this in there. It really needs to be there. (posted 6-8-08 to “featured photo”, 6-30-08 to album)
This brown weighed around 8lbs at 24inches caught on the Hiwassee by Tom Hagler of Tunnel Hill around June 26 on a sz 16 soft hackle Pheasant tail. Photo courtesy of Bill Stranahan. Congratulations!(posted 6-30-08 to “featured photo”, 7-19-08 to album)
Blast from the past. On the left is Lynn Crisp with a 19″ brown, 3 lb, and on the right is his brother-in-law, Allen Easterly, with a 19″ 3 lb 4 oz brown. Both were caught above Fox’s cabin in Feb. 2000 on nightcrawlers. Beautiful fish, congratulations. I work with Lynn, and I went to school with his dad, Mitchell, and Mitchell’s twin brother Mike. Both of them live close to the river now. (posted 7-19-08 “featured photo”, 2-5-09 to album)
Another blast from the past. I think this was taken about February 2002. I was fishing at a hole the guides call “the leaning tree” just above the picnic tables above Big Bend. Winter stoneflies were laying eggs, and I was doing well with a Griffiths Gnat. I was trying to wade out by a log to get to a casting spot, took a step, and I was up to my armpits in ice water! Beverly was back at the picnic tables with a fire going to stay warm. When I got there I changed into some sweats I keep in the trunk for emergencies, and tried to dry out and warm up. Danny, Shakey, and Ron McCosh showed up, and I think it was Shakey that had a camera and took the photo. Apparently someone has told Murray Trout Bum about it, he now refers to the area as “Don’s swimming hole”. I have searched for the photo before, wanted to get it in the album, found it this week looking for something else. (posted 1-5-09 featured photo, 3-21-09 album)
I seem to be on a nostalgia kick lately. I was getting ready for the river cleanup this morning and waxed nostalgic about past cleanups. I looked up this old photo and it really needs to be in the albums.
The Hiwassee Cleanup on March 20, 2004 was a great success. Our turnout was about 30% better than the year before and we pulled several truckloads of garbage out of the river. With the help of some of Brad Montgomery’s Walker Valley High Aquatic Ecology students, and our own Danny Phillips, we even got a lot of the car parts out of the water at Patty Bridge. The students braved diving in very cold water to retrieve car parts off the bottom. Their wet suits were purchased in part with donations from our chapter. The students in the photo with Danny are Brad Watson, Justin Dalton, and Spencer Stewart. Last time I spoke to the students there they had a big mural of this photo on the wall in the hall near the biology classrooms.(posted 3-21-09 featured photo, 1-1-10 album)
This is witch hazel, used to make an herbal astringent. Coming across one of these leafless trees blooming on a bleak January day is also a pretty good treatment for depression. The flowers turn into little seed pods that explode to scatter seeds, sounds like a rifle shot. There is something blooming every month of the year on the Hiwassee. (posted 1-1-10 featured photo, 2-26-10 album)
This brown was recently caught on the Hiwassee by Mr. Jim Elliot, 21″, 4.25 #, photo courtesy of Rocky Cox. Beautiful fish, we hope to see more of these. (posted featured photo 2-26-2010, album 6-12-10.)
Walter Rose, Jack Rose’s brother, caught this 17″ brown above Childers Creek in early June. Congratulations, Walter, Jack says he taught you everything you know! (posted featured photo 6-12-10, album 7-29-10)
Ken Harris (forum name “still learning”) and his wife camped at Black Bear Cove June 2010, and he actually caught some trout! Unusual there that late in the year. He also took this photo of an osprey in flight there, and sent it to me. Thanks, Ken! (posted featured photo 7-29-10, album 8-10-10)
Early in 2010 I was working on a website, setting up a links page. The client requested a link to the Chilhowee Gliderport. I didn’t even know they had a site! I googled it, and found the best sunset photo I have ever seen. It is reproduced above with permission, courtesy of Sarah Kelly Arnold, Owner/Operator Chilhowee Gliderport, (423) 506-9015, http://www.chilhowee.com/ . (posted featured photo 8-10-10 album 10-11-11)
This was taken 10-8-11, Apalachia Powerhouse with fall colors. (posted featured photo10-11-11, album 2-19-12)
Mr. Kent Ensley of Chattanooga recently sent me this photo of an awesome 30″ 8 lb 13 oz brown caught near the powerhouse February 1978 on a rooster tail/rapala combo. He doesn’t fish anymore for health reasons, but has shared a lot of info about the river with me. Thanks Kent! (posted fp 2-19-12, album 12-21-12)
Dave Jones caught this 22″ brown 11-17-12 in the Big Bend area on a wooly booger and 6x! Dave is a retired north Georgia football coach who has fished the river a long time. He once told me about a day when he caught 4 trout in the quality zone 16″ or better, 2 of them 20″ or better. Congratulations on this one, Dave! (posted featured photo 12-22-2012, album 3-28-13)
Some evidence that the delayed harvest program is working as intended. Cindy Hogan caught this 18″ rainbow 3-23-13 above the boat ramp on wax worms. Thanks for sending the photo Cindy, and congratulations on a good fish! (posted featured photo 3-28-13, album 7-3-13)
While at Reliance Fly & Tackle recently some postcards on the counter caught my eye and I bought this one, and got permission to publish it with credit given. We see a lot of nice sunsets on the Hiwassee, like the photo in album 11. We see fewer such sunrises because of the morning mist that often hides them. This one is a keeper. The postcard, and others, are available at RF&T. Photo by Niki McLeroy. Thanks, Niki! (posted 7-3-13 featured photo, album 9-5-13)
Seek and ye shall find! When I first started this website around 1998, like a lot of folks I was curious about why the area above Towee Creek was called “Fox’s Cabin”. I did some research and posted the information I could find here . I have been searching since then for a photo, had not found one. Harold Webb once told me that as often as people were in and out up there it was surprising that no one had a photo. I made the aquaintence of Mr. Kent Ensley by email in Feb. 2012. He sent me a photo of a big brown he caught. The fish was caught in the 70’s, I emailed him back and asked if he knew Nevins Fox and had any photos of Fox and/or his cabin. He said he did, would have to find them. He finally found one this week, and may find more some time! Thanks, Kent! (posted 9-5-13 featured photo, posted album 5-16-14)
This fine 18-1/2″ 2.4 lb rainbow was caught by Mr. Josh Denton 5-31-14 on a black roostertail above Big Bend. This is probably one of the brood fish that were stocked around that time. A gentleman named Scott Travis had been managing the stocking. In the past, I was always told that brood fish did not travel well and most were released near the hatchery at Erwin, so the stories about brood fish were just good stories, often preferred to the truth. Trucks usually carry about 750 lb of trout. Scott reduced it to 500 and has had success bringing some brood fish to the Hiwassee. We are also getting some holdovers, the deferred harvest program seems to be working well. congratulations, Josh! Hope to see you on the river sometime! (posted 10-16-14 featured photo,03-23-15 album)