This rain pumps me up. After a shitty fishing season due to the drought last year, this year kicks off to a awesome start. We decided to load up the outcast pac 1400 and head out to the Watauga River in Tennessee  for an all day float. The bite was good, as Chris(Bent Rod Media contributor) pounded the banks and stuck many fish on an olive bugger. Most of the fish caught were on the smaller side, but his effort did yield a nice 17 inch brown. Later that day we decided to anchor the boat up in an area known as the caddis riffle.. We began fishing a micro nymph rig( 6x tippet, sz 22 olive zebra midge trailed behing a size 20 bwo emerger) with great success. My wife Angela was hooking a fish on almost every cast. Chris was not catching any fish and he was changing flies like underwear, so I  gave him a zebra midge. You should have seen his face, when he was getting out fished by my wife. Once Chris tied on the zebra, he then began hooking some nice fish. One fish was a nice 20 inch bow with some deep colors. After everybody had caught fish, I grabbed the rod caught some myself. After about an hour, we decided to float down river. I told Chris it was his turn on the sticks, because I was tired of playing guide. I pounded the banks with steamers all the way to the takeout. the bite was a little slower after the caddis riffle, because of the daily drift boat hatch. It seemed like there were two boats in every hole. This is normal as the day winds down and the guide services head for the takeout to get there clients home. Despite the rain and cold it was one hell of a spring day. We are now awaiting the Mothers Day Caddis hatch. Check back for more postings, videos, and pics.


                                                   
                                                                     Ryan "Raul" Dunne
                                                           bent rod media founding member