The stream levels are all near normal or a little above normal. West Prong of Little Pigeon river seems to have received more rain that most of the other major streams. The rain helped the overall situation. There is a chance of light showers off and on today but there isn’t any rain in the forecast after today for the next five or six days, so it will be needed for sure. The fishing situation yesterday wasn’t so good. We had some strong storms with high winds, hail and heavy rain in Pigeon Forge. Our power was out for a few hours. Rain is likely today and tonight with a high temperature around 60 degrees and a low tonight in the upper 50’s. Heavy rain is not predicted today. It will be mostly sunny tomorrow with a high in the low 70’s.
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 345 cfs at 2.38 ft
(Good wading up to 250 cfs and with extra caution up to 375 cfs)
West Prong Little Pigeon River (Gatlinburg): Rate 194 cfs at 3.75 ft (Good wading up
to 65 cfs and with extra caution up to 105 cfs)
Oconaluftee River: Rate 572 cfs at 2.01 ft, (Good wading up to 550 cfs and with extra
caution up to 750 cfs)
Cataloochee Creek: Rate 116 cfs at 2.68 ft. (Good wading up to 70 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 safe to wade safely this morning.
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
Light Cahills: 14/16
nymphs
emerging duns
duns
spinners
Blue-winged olives: 14
nymphs
emergers
duns
spinners
Little Yellow Stoneflies: 14/16
nymphs
adults
Eastern Green Drakes: 8/10 (Abrams and Cataloochee)
nymphs
emergers
duns
spinners
Green Sedge caddis: 14/16 (mostly Abrams Creek)
pupa
adults
Hendricksons/Red Quills: 12/14
nymphs
emergers
duns
spinners
American March Browns: 10/12
nymphs
emergers
duns
spinners
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