With our middle Tennessee tailwaters running fast and high due to the less-than-fantastic weather lately, its time to find where your local warmwater stream is being stocked. Just remember that it is a madhouse out there when the stocking truck is around, and its the holidays, so try not to go crazy in the crowds. As crazy as the crowds can get, there is still good fishing to be had with plenty of eager rainbows being stocked in the midstate throughout the winter months.

As far as your fly box is concerned, keep it simple. Most days on these streams, if the fish are feeding, any basic nymph or bugger pattern will produce. Just think about what they are used to eating at the hatchery…..  For those of you that tie your own flies, the winter stocking program is a great opportunity to put new patterns to the test. break out the fleece, hats, and gloves, and get out of the house for a few hours.

Remember, a lot of these streams will see a ton of pressure during this time, and help us to spread the word and set the example to keep them clean by leaving the resource cleaner than you found it!