I can't begin to express how great the fishing is here in the Old North State. Bugs are hatching everywhere, water temperatures and air temperatures alike are perfect, water levels, for the most part, are at a normal level, and trout are actively plucking adult insects off of the water's surface. If you enjoy fishing dries, virtually every evening from here on out hosts a decent aquatic insect hatch of some sort. Green Drakes, Light Cahills, a myriad of Caddis, Yellow Sallies, Sulphurs, March Browns, Hendricksons, endless midges, and on cloudy, rainy, cool days, Blue Winged Olives. Terrestrials such as beetles, ants, and crickets are out and the trout know it. We'll start to see more and more grasshoppers/inchworms the closer we get to June, adding to the list of terrestrials. Hopefully the water levels will stay where they should as we progress into the Summertime months. By June, July, August, and September, afternoon pop-up thunderstorms and infrequent tropical systems will be our best hope for rain. 9 times out of 10, the amount of rain you receive from both are too much for some streams to handle. We saw that 2 years ago with a very moisture laden tropical storm. The creek adjacent to our house rose way above flood stage as a result. 12"+ of rain fell here with that storm in a span of only a few days. The field bordering the stream was formed into a lake. The stream still displays major stream degradation.

Troutfest 2010 is set to occur in 72 hours. I'm ready. Sorta. Still need to cram all of the tying gear into a box or two. Then I'll be set to go. Looking forward to it. Joe, Lefty, and Bob will be flying into Knoxville Friday. Joe's plane lands Friday morning while Lefty and Bob arrive Friday afternoon. Check it out if your anywhere near Townsend, TN.