Planning Your Trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park – July, August, September

When To Come and What To Expect:

July, August and September:

July:
July will begin to limit the productive fishing on the streams at the lower elevations. The Tube hatch (float tubing) will be in full force. You will need to fish early to avoid them in popular tubing areas or even better, just get off the main roadside streams and fish areas that are not inhibited by the tubers and swimmers.

The water will tend to be too warm everywhere in the park except for the small streams in the higher elevations. Unless you fish these streams for brook trout, you options may be limited to fishing early and late in the day.

Stream water levels may decline to the point the water becomes low during the month. On a wet year the Smokies may receive as much as eight feet of total rainfall in the higher elevations. The water levels can vary greatly during the month of July depending on the rain. Low water makes for tougher fishing conditions, but still provides plenty of opportunity to catch trout. It just takes a little more skill in your approach and presentation.

You can continue to “wet wade” in July and through the month of August if you prefer. Hiking, backpacking and camping in remote sites is popular throughout the summer. Many anglers may not be aware that the temperatures in the highest elevations of the park may be very cool during the evenings. In fact, if you camp in the highest elevations, you may find it cool enough for a jacket during the night and early morning. It may not be hot until mid afternoon even on the hottest days.

August:
August is still a good month for those that want to explore the small brook trout streams in the higher elevation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is commonly called the “dog days” but that doesn’t mean that you cannot catch trout. You will just need to fish in the higher elevations or early in the day.

Low water may become even more of a problem and this may create some tough fishing conditions. As I mentioned before, it strictly depends on the rainfall. Low water conditions just adds to the challenge. The trout will be able to spot you much easier and you will have to make longer cast. With the low water conditions, you must stay hidden from the trout at all times. Lighter and longer leaders and tippets will help prevent the trout from being alerted of your presence. You will be able to get around in the streams much easier than you can when the water levels are high. Low water will provide some clearance from the heavy brush along the banks of the streams.

The park’s beautiful native brook trout will continue to provide plenty of action. Cool nights in the high elevations help keep the water cool even on the hottest days. August limits the area of the park you can fish, but is still a good time to fish the highest elevations. If you can only come once or twice a year, we suggest you choose another time. If you can visit fairly often, give the small streams in the higher elevations a try.

September:
September days normally continue to be hot in the Smokies – that is everywhere except the higher elevations. It is common for people to forget or even be unaware that even on the hottest days of summer, the temperature in the higher elevations of the park are usually mild and cool. Before the month is over, the air temperatures will begin to drop and the water will become cooler everywhere in the park. Your chances of success in the streams located in the mid elevations from 2000 to 4000 feet will increase. The highest elevations will be even cooler during he evenings. Before the month is over, the nights can get rather chilly.

September is normally a dry month but keep in mind that the Smokies receive more rainfall than any area of the United States. Isolated thunderstorms will occur randomly and can improve the conditions. Water levels become an important consideration. A stream on the north end of the park may be very low while another at the south end of the park may be normal. The same thing is true of streams on the Tennessee side of the park versus the North Carolina side. Conditions can vary greatly depending on the isolated thunderstorms.

The tourist crowds, swimmers, and tube floaters will decrease as the month goes by. School will have started back and many anglers make the mistake of putting their fly rods in the closet thinking the fly fishing season is over. That is a huge mistake. In some angler’s minds, the best is yet to come.

Copyright 2011 James Marsh