The heat of summer has come in quickly here around the waters of the Chattooga River Fly Shop. Luckily we have received rain, to cool the water temperatures some, although we could use a little reprieve from the heat. The long range forecast is for cooler temperatures and a wet remainder of the summer, which we can all appreciate. This will benefit the fish and the fishing for us as well. While the heat is on, fishing deep has been the key. With the large stone fly patterns, cast them upstream, and let them dead drift into the depths of the water column and deep into the pools. This has proved to be very successful. Also dead drifting small streamers, and then a strip & pause retrieve has been equally successful. Using the Carolina Peach, Wounded Sculpin, Sculpzilla, and the UV2 Cereal Killers have been the best bet. Fishing terrestrials has proven to be quite successful as well of late. This trend will continue for the next month, as all of the major hatches have passed, and we await the fall hatches. The inch worms, black ants, foam spiders, and beetles will work great. Cast them towards over-hanging brush on the banks, and dead- drift and twitch them along the river banks and the over-hanging brush. Let’s remember that these terrestrials fall off the foliage with a splat on the water, so do not be concerned about a careful presentation. Sometimes a hard splat of your fly on the water brings even the most cautious big fish to the surface for a meal.
Let’s all remember to appreciate all of our public and private waterways, and please bring back with you what you walked in with. If we all practice this our rivers will be much cleaner for all of us to enjoy their natural beauty. Nothing hurts to pick up a little extra trash on our return hikes from the day of fishing out on the river to keep the beauty preserved. We here at Chattooga River Fly Shop hope to see everyone out on the rivers enjoying the summer fishing.
Karl Ekberg Chattooga
River Fly Shop
Chattoogariverflyshop.com
(864) 638-2806
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