In this episode of Southeastern Fly, we sit down with David Knapp and Pat Tully from Trout Zone Anglers for a Wisdom From the Guides conversation all about fly fishing the Clinch River in Tennessee. This episode has been a long time coming, and we dive into the river’s unique structure, food sources, flows, fish behavior, and the small details that make the Clinch such a special tailwater.

The Clinch is a river that rewards time, observation, and patience. From low water midge fishing to high water nymph rigs, from deep ledges and weed beds to sneaky frog water along the edges, David and Pat share the kind of on-the-water knowledge that only comes from spending a lot of days rowing, wading, guiding, and learning.

Key Highlights:

• Two Confidence Flies: David and Pat both lean heavily on pheasant tails and midges, especially sulfur-style nymphs and micro tubing midges.
• Reading the River Bottom: The Clinch is full of shoals, ledges, weed beds, troughs, and midstream wood that can hold fish but also steal flies.
• Flows and Fishing Strategy: Low water, one generator, and two generators all fish differently, and each flow has its own challenges and advantages.
• Clinch River Food Sources: Midges, sulfurs, scuds, sow bugs, worms, snails, caddis, sculpins, and even small rainbow trout all play a role in the fishery.
• Overlooked Water: Frog water, shallow edges, and slow flats often hold fish that many anglers walk past or spook before noticing.
• Big Fish Stories: David and Pat share memorable stories about large brown trout, hard-fighting rainbows, and the ones that still keep them coming back.
• Local Stops: Pat shares a couple of favorite food stops near the river, including Valley Quick Pack and the restaurant near the weir area.

Resources:

• Trout Zone Anglers
• Visit southeasternfly.com
• Sign up for our newsletter

Produced by NOVA