The streams vary in the amount of rain received lately. Little River can be waded safely with caution. Little Pigeon River is too high to wade safely this morning. Oconaluftee is at a normal level in good shape but Cataloochee isn’t. It is too high to wade safely. Fish the lower elevations where the water is warmer regardless of the side of the park you fish. There’s a lot of insects hatching but the cold weather may bring about a lot of cripples. Notice we are adding Hendricksons/Red Quills to the fly list below. They hatch in the larger pools and should start as soon as this Red Bud winter is over. There is a chance of rain today with snow accumulating in the higher elevations. The high temperature will be in the low fifties. Snow flurries are expected in the lower elevations tonight and tomorrow morning. There is a chance for rain again tomorrow with a high in the low fifties. Sunday will be sunny and warmer.
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 205 cfs at 3.78 ft (Good wading up
to 65 cfs and with extra caution up to 105 cfs)
Oconaluftee River: Rate 635 cfs at 2.10 ft, (Good wading up to 550 cfs and with extra
caution up to 750 cfs)
Cataloochee Creek: Rate 170 cfs at 2.87 ft. (Good wading up to 60 cfs and with extra
caution up to 130 cfs.
Hazel Creek and the other larger NC streams flowing into Fontana Lake:
The streams are all below normal levels and safe to wade
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
Quill Gordons: 12/14
nymphs
emerging duns
duns
spinners
Blue-winged olives: 16/18
nymphs
emergers
duns
spinners
nymphs
adults
Blue Quills: 18
nymphs
emergers
duns
spinners
pupa
adults
Hendricksons/Red Quills: 12/14
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