MEND: MASTERING THE DRIFT ON THE SOUTH HOLSTON & WATAUGA
What Does “Mend” Really Mean?
It’s a word you hear constantly when fishing with a guide—whether you’re in the boat or wading.
“Mend.”
“Mend it.”
“Go ahead and mend.”
Mending is the technique used in repositioning fly line on the water—either upstream or downstream with your rod tip after the cast—to improve the fly’s drift and achieve a drag-free presentation in the current. On our home rivers—the South Holston and Watauga—mending usually comes down to one simple idea: drift is king!
That doesn’t mean a fly can’t ever swing or speed up and still get eaten. Fish break rules all the time. But when you’re hunting better trout—especially the fish that have seen it all—you’ve got to get everything as right as possible.
What We’re Watching When We Say “Mend”
Mending is about recognizing when your flies are starting to move unnaturally. As I fish, I’m always watching my line and leader, not just the indicator or dry fly itself.
The goal? A drag-free drift. On technical tailwaters like the South Holston and Watauga, drag shows up fast. The moment your fly line moves faster than the water your flies are in, the drift is compromised.
Tip: The mend happens before the flies reach the strike zone—not after drag has already affected the presentation.
Are You Fishing the Flies or the Indicator?
I’ve said it before, and I’ve heard it said plenty of times by other guides:
Are you fishing your flies, or are you fishing the indicator?
What that means is this—too many anglers fixate on keeping the indicator floating straight and clean, while the flies underneath are dragging, ticking, or racing through the drift.
The indicator is just a tool. The flies are what matter.
Good mending puts the flies first. It allows them to drift at the speed of the water they’re actually in, not the speed dictated by the fly line or the surface current.
When a Swing Is a Good Thing
Not all movement is bad. There are times—especially while anchored or wading on the South Holston—when a controlled swing at the end of the drift can trigger strikes by imitating emerging insects.
“A controlled swing at the end of the drift can be the difference between a refusal and a eat. But only if the drift was clean at first.” – Cy
The key is intentional movement, not accidental drag.
Mending Is Anticipation, Not Reaction
The best mends are subtle and early. Big, aggressive mends often lift flies out of the strike zone or ruin an otherwise good drift.
On rivers like the South Holston and Watauga, where currents stack and layer on top of each other, frequent light mends almost always outfish one large correction.
“If you’re constantly correcting, you’re fishing in the wrong place. Mend early and keep your fly where it belongs.” – Forrest
Why Mending Matters on the South Holston & Watauga
These rivers reward attention to detail. If you’re not getting strikes, it’s tempting to change flies, add weight, or adjust depth. Most often, the answer isn’t in your fly box—it’s in your mending which leads to your drift.
Watching your line and leader, and keeping your flies drifting naturally, will improve your catch rates dramatically.
If you want to get better at mending and see the difference it makes, come hang out at The Fly Box or book a guided trip with Jonathan, Forrest, or Cy. We’ll show you the “why” behind the mend while on the water.
Mending is one of those skills that really clicks when you see it in action. If you’re ready to sharpen your drift game, give us a call at 423-573-5668 or shoot us an email at info@theflyboxtn.com to book a trip—we’d love to show you how it’s done on the water!