I woke up this morning thinking the streams in the park may be high again but they aren’t. It is raining. We received a good report from a customer fishing the North Carolina side of the park yesterday. Today should have a high in the upper fifties. Rain will likely bring the stream levels up but not too high we think. Accumulations may be up to a half of an inch. More rain will occur tonight and early tomorrow morning. The high temperature should be in the mid fifties. Friday through Sunday will be sunny and cold, with highs in the forties. The streams are all in pretty good shape with mostly clear water. Today will be sunny with a high temperature in the mid fifties. Tomorrow will be sunny with a high in the upper fifties. Expect more rain Wednesday.
- For fly and gear recommendations for any time you plan on fishing the park, give us a call us at Perfect Fly at 800 594 4726 or Email us at sales@perfectflystore.com. Check out our sister websites: www.flyfishingyellowstonenationalpark.com & www.perfectflystore.com
Smoky Mountain Stream Conditions:
The streams with links that have nearby USGS Station Real-time stream data: Click the links to see updates:
Little River: Rate 279 cfs at 2.24 ft
(Good wading up to 250 cfs and with extra caution up to 307 cfs)
with extra caution up to 375 cfs)
West Prong Little Pigeon River (Gatlinburg): Rate 104 cfs at 3.50 ft (Good wading up
to 72.5 cfs and with extra caution up to 3.29 cfs)
Oconaluftee River: Rate 458 cfs at 1.88 ft, (Good wading up to 550 cfs and with extra
caution up to 750 cfs)
Cataloochee Creek: Rate 95.5 cfs at 2.59 ft. (Good wading up to 90 cfs and with extra
caution up to 145 cfs.
Hazel Creek and the other larger NC streams flowing into Fontana Lake:
The streams are all flowing at a normal level.
Weather Forecast: (click the boxes below for more detailed weather information)
https://forecast7.com/en/35d71n83d51/gatlinburg/?unit=us
https://forecast7.com/en/35d48n83d32/cherokee/?unit=us
Trout Flies Currently Needed Now:
Streamers:
Brown Sculpin: 6
White Belly Sculpin: 6
Articulated Sculpin and Leeches: 4
Blue-winged olives: 18
nymphs
emergers
duns
spinners
Slate Drakes: 10/12
nymphs
spinners
Great Autumn Brown Sedge, size 10,
pupa
adults
Needle Stoneflies: 16/18
nymphs
adults
Recommended Fishing Strategy:
Keep in mind, the strategies I am recommending is for the maximum odds of catching numbers of fish. Many prefer or favor a dry fly and by all means there isn’t anything wrong with that. It’s just a fact that if nothing is hatching at the time, it reduces your odds of success. You can still probably hook some trout, just not as many as if you fish subsurface. Of course, this is also based on using good techniques and the right flies. Some guys don’t know how to fish below the surface.
Strategy:
Not all of the insects you see above will be hatching in the same location. It is usually only one or two. It varies with the elevation. Some are just starting in the low elevations and some about finished in the higher elevations. If you fished the day or two before and know where something is hatching, fish the nymph or larva stage of it. If you haven’t fished the day or two before, until I spotted something hatching, I would fish the BWO nymph. If you spot something hatching (coming off the water), change to the appropriate emerger, dun or adult imitations of the insect.
Tips for Beginners:
Don’t let anyone intimidate you by contending that fly fishing is more difficult to learn and master than other types of fishing. It isn’t.
Thank you for visiting our website
James Marsh