The streams on the Tennessee side of the park are all near normal levels and safe to wade. Those on the North Carolina side of the park are still high but may could be waded safely with extra caution. Just for information regarding future hatches be advised that In order for the Quill Gordons, Little Black Caddis and Blue Quills to hatch, the water needs to average 50 degrees or higher for a few, say 4 or 5 days in a row. Remember, our fly selection shown below is for the current date or only a very few days from today. To purchase flies for a trip later on you need to call Perfect Fly at 800 594 4726 or email them at sales@perfectflystore.com providing them the dates you plan to fish or you can select a custom selection of one of three different sizes for specific time frames. Hatches of Quill Gordons, Blue Quills, Little Brown stoneflies and Little Black Caddis will be taking place soon. Be sure to see the fly selection you should be using right now below. Today’s high temperature should be a very cold 24 degrees with snow flurries. Tomorrow’s high should be around 35 with clear skies. Saturday’s high should be 41 degrees with no change for rain. Sunday’s high should be 48 with no chance of rain and next Monday’s high should be 60 degrees with no chance of rain. There is snow on the ground in the higher elevations of the park that will be melting soon and will add some time needed for some streams to warm up.
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 431 cfs at 2.57 ft
(Good wading up to 239 cfs and with extra caution up to 300 cfs)
West Prong Little Pigeon River (Gatlinburg): Rate 104cfs at 3.52 ft (Good Wading up to 125 cfs with extra caution up to 250 cfs.
Oconaluftee River: Rate 1010 cfs at 2.54 ft
Cataloochee Creek: Rate 244 cfs at 1.96 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 at borderline levels and stained. You may could wade them with extra caution.
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
Aquatic Worms, size 12, pink, red, and others
Midges: Cream and Red (Blood) midges sizes 20/22, larva, pupa and adult. Our larva and pupa midge flies, pre-rigged in tandem, are very popular here. You can fish them under a strike indicator keeping the larva fly near the bottom. https://perfectflystore.com/product/pre-rigged-tandem-midge-larva-pupa-tippet
Blue-winged Olives: 18 Nymphs, emergers, duns and 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