Brookies on the Caney

FlyFishMagazine.com's Tennessee troutmeister, Jay Moore will have a few thousand new opportunities on his favorite tailwater, the Caney Fork. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission recently stocked Brook trout in Jay's home waters. From an article in the Tennessean.com

An estimated 4,800 brook trout were released Thursday with 25,000 more expected in the weeks to come, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

The stocking of the third trout species isn't an effort to restore an ecosystem, but rather a recreational and economic plum for the angling world that's taking advantage of a situation unlikely to change any time soon.

"We'll actually have bigger brook trout here than you can catch anywhere in the mountain streams," he said, adding food is limited in the high reaches of East Tennessee where some are found.

Jay Moore catches fish, decries editorial fishing advice

Saturday Jan. 5th I got the opportunity to try the Caney Fork river in Middle Tn. I was fishing by myself this trip and got to the river about 20 minutes before sunrise. It was cold, overcast and rain was in the forecast, in other words, perfect conditions to have the river mostly to myself.

I tied a size 20 zebra midge on with the help of my headlights and headed to my favorite spot. I tied the small midges the night before because my editor refers to the flies (midges) I typically use as freakishly large. I hooked up with two nice trout very quickly and had a few strikes then the activity stopped. I switched to a woolly bugger and landed two more fish, but the action could not be described as hot and heavy. After two hours and four fish I switched back to my trusty size 16 (editor's note: they look more like 12's to me) zebra midge that I tie with a copper wrap. I was drifting the midge beneath a grasshopper dry fly and things changed quickly. With this set up I was able to reach the fish holding in the shallow waters near the banks and to make a long story short; an hour and a half and twenty four more fish, I loaded up my gear including my freakish flies and headed to the recliner.

I’ll take a 30 fish day anytime even if I am fishing with all the wrong flies.

Jay Moore's Middle Tennesee Fishing Report

FlyFishMagazine.com Middle Tennessee Editor sent in the following fishing report:

It’s been a while since I posted a fishing report because until recently there has not been much to report. My friend Phil and I have been fishing the same places, catching a fair number of small fish, but nothing to write home about. A few weeks ago we tried a different spot and met a newcomer to the fly fishing world named Ryan. A local fly shop had sold him a lot of flies that were destined to never catch a fish, so Phil decided to help him out. I know I kid Phil a lot but he is a good guy and spent a lot of time with Ryan. He gave him some flies and and showed him how to fish them and in a few minutes Ryan caught his first trout on a fly rod. He ended up landing about ten trout that morning and was completely hooked on the sport.

While I am on the subject of my friend Phil, two weeks ago we had a great trip to the Caney Fork. Phil only landed 5 fish but the fish were some of the largest we have seen this year. He landed a 19”, 16”, and 15” rainbow and did a great job bringing them in. I also caught three large rainbows but nothing that beat Phil’s big fish. He said it was the best he has caught on the Caney and it was certainly one of the largest I have seen in a long time. All these big fish were hooked on either a size 16 black zebra midge or size 16 Blue Bomber tied in the Moore house kitchen.

I thought I would include something for my daughter Mylisa in this report. She gave me a fishing cap for fathers day and I have worn it the last three trips and I think it’s my new lucky hat. I have landed almost 60 trout since I started wearing it and I will keep it on until the luck runs out. Thanks Mylisa, I need all the help I can get.

Fishing The Caney Fork

Jay Moore sent us some snapshots from his latest trip to fish the Caney Fork tail water in Tennessee. Much of the trout caught on this trip were within yards of a major interstate highway. Jay was accompanied by his new fly fishing protege, Tammy. It looks like she is catching on just fine.

New Fishing Report - Caney Fork Tailwater

Tennessee Editor, Jay Moore, has posted a new fishing report from his most recent trip to the Caney Fork in Middle Tennessee. We won't spoil it for you but this time he dukes it out with a three pound brown trout. It seems he "forgot" his camera, but we have seen enough of Jay's fishing skills to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Post your own fishing reports by visiting our aptly named "Fishing reports page" at Flyfishmagazine.com. If you are a professional guide or shop we will be happy to include your contact info for a bit of free advertising. If you are not a professional, take advantage of the chance to post a report and brag a bit or take potshots at your fishing buddies.