All the major streams except the Oconaluftee River are near a normal level and it is just a little low. We still didn’t receive any reports from anyone fishing yesterday. None of the streams is likely to be low very long. Rain and snow is forecast for today, tonight and tomorrow morning. The high temperature for today should reach about thirty degrees. The higher elevations and mountains are under a Winter storm warning. They could get as much as 6 or 8 inches of snow. Tomorrow should be the coldest day of the winter so far. The good news is there is a warming trend following.
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 199 cfs at 2.01 ft
(Good wading up to 250 cfs and with extra caution up to 350 cfs)
West Prong Little Pigeon River (Gatlinburg): Rate 44.6 cfs at 3.03 ft (Good wading up
to 65 cfs and with extra caution up to 95 cfs)
Oconaluftee River: Rate 332 cfs at 1.59 ft, (Good wading up to 550 cfs and with extra
caution up to 700 cfs)
Cataloochee Creek: Rate 70.1 cfs at 2.44 ft. (Good wading up to 60 cfs and with extra
caution up to 100 cfs.
Hazel Creek and the other larger NC streams flowing into Fontana Lake:
The streams are all near 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
Midges: 20/22 Red, or blood midges, or cream midges (we now also have them pre-rigged with larva and pupa in tandem)
larva
pupa
adults
Blue-winged olives: 16/18
nymphs
emergers
duns
spinners
Winter 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