The major streams on the Tennessee side of the park are very low. Those on the North Carolina side of the park are in much better shape flowing near a normal level. Very good late summer hatches are continuing to take place. Two uncommon and little know insects to many local fly anglers are starting to hatch mostly in the higher elevations. They are the Little Yellow Quills and Needle Stoneflies. Be sure to see the updated fly recommendations below. We continue to get good reports from Perfect Fly customers. Today’s high will be ninety degrees with clear skies. Tomorrow’s high will be eighty-eight degrees with a chance of thunderstorms. Saturday’s high will be eighty-six degrees with a chance of thunderstorms. Sunday’s high will be eight-two degrees with a change of thunderstorms.
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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 45.4 cfs at 1.34 ft
(Good wading up to 239 cfs and with extra caution up to 300 cfs)
West Prong Little Pigeon River (Gatlinburg): Rate 12.4 cfs at 2.67 ft (Good Wading up to 125 cfs with extra caution up to 250 cfs.
Oconaluftee River: Rate 197 cfs at 1.26 ft, (Good wading up to 550 cfs and with extra
caution up to 850 cfs)
Cataloochee Creek: Rate 37.5 cfs at 2.23 ft. (Good wading up to 200 cfs with extra caution up to 250 cfs.
Hazel Creek and the other larger NC streams flowing into Fontana Lake:
The streams are all a little above 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 or needed very soon;
Streamers:
Brown Sculpin: 6
White Belly Sculpin: 6
Articulated Sculpin: 4
Little Yellow stoneflies; 14/16 nymphs and adults
Green Sedge Caddis, size 16/14, larva, pupa and adults (mostly Abrams Creek)
Cinnamon Sedge Caddis, size 16/18, pupa and adults
Mahogany Duns, size 16/18, nymphs, emergers, duns and spinners
Little Yellow Quills: 16, nymphs, emergers duns and spinners
Needle Stoneflies: 16/18, nymphs and adults
Carpenter Ants: Brown, 16/18
Japanese Beetles: 14/16
Sandwich Hoppers: Brown 4/6/8/
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