Great Smoky Mountains Fly Fishing Report
Fall is beginning to make its way into the Great Smoky Mountains, and we’re finally getting to one of our favorite times of the entire fly fishing season.
Stream levels remain low throughout much of Great Smoky Mountains National Park after an extended stretch without enough meaningful rainfall. The good news is that rain is showing up in the forecast, and we are more than ready to see it.
Fishing is still good if you adjust to the conditions. The streams are clear, trout are spooky, and a little extra stealth goes a long way right now. The upcoming rain could be exactly what we need to put some more water into the creeks and kick the fall fishing into another gear.
Current Stream Conditions
Little River was flowing around 70 CFS at the Townsend gauge early this week, which is definitely on the low side. Similar low-water conditions can be found throughout many of the freestone streams in the park.
That doesn’t mean the fishing is bad.
It means you need to fish accordingly.
With clear, lower water, concentrate on the broken water, deeper pockets, plunge pools and shaded runs. Stay back from the fish whenever possible, keep your casts under control and avoid unnecessary wading.
These wild trout make a living avoiding predators, and in skinny, crystal-clear water they can see a lot more than most anglers realize.
Longer leaders and lighter tippet can make a noticeable difference. On smaller streams, don’t overlook the pockets right against the bank or behind larger rocks. A surprising number of trout will hold in water that anglers walk right past.
Rain Is On The Way
We don’t complain very often when rain shows up in a Smokies forecast, and right now we’ll gladly take it.
Rain chances increase heading into the weekend, and if the mountains receive a good soaking, it should help recharge the smaller tributaries and bring some much-needed water into the larger streams.
A moderate rise in water is exactly what we’d like to see.
More flow gives trout additional holding water, reduces their ability to inspect every little detail of your presentation and can encourage fish to move around and feed more aggressively.
If we get enough rain to add some color to the streams without blowing them out, streamer fishing for brown trout can become especially interesting.
As always in the mountains, rainfall can vary tremendously from one drainage to another. A creek on one side of the park can be clear and fishable while another drainage received a heavy downpour overnight. Check conditions before committing to a particular stream.
Tennessee Side of the Smokies
There are plenty of good choices on the Tennessee side right now.
Little River
Little River remains one of our favorites and gives anglers a tremendous amount of water to explore.
With the current lower flows, concentrate on the faster pocket water and areas with good overhead cover. Early mornings are productive, but as temperatures cool moving into October, the productive window should continue expanding.
The Middle Prong and upper reaches of the Little River system are also excellent choices for anglers looking for smaller water.
Tremont and Lynn Camp Prong
Tremont is always worth a look this time of year.
Pocket water, plunge pools and plenty of structure make this drainage particularly well suited to low-water fishing. Fish carefully and don’t overlook small pockets.
Lynn Camp Prong is another great option for anglers who enjoy getting away from the larger roadside water.
West Prong of the Little Pigeon River
The West Prong gives you plenty of opportunities as you move up through the mountains from the Gatlinburg area.
During lower water, look for deeper runs, shaded pockets and faster broken water. Moving farther upstream can also put you into cooler water and increasingly beautiful country.
Abrams Creek and Cades Cove
Fly fishing in Cades Cove offers a completely different experience from many of the park’s higher-gradient mountain streams.
Abrams Creek has a rich aquatic environment and can produce excellent fishing, but it also demands respect. The stream can be difficult to wade in places, and the slick limestone is notorious.
North Carolina Side of the Smokies
The North Carolina side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers some of the best wild trout water in the Southern Appalachians, and October is a fantastic time to explore it.
Deep Creek
Deep Creek near Bryson City is always high on our list.
Its combination of pocket water, pools, runs and easy access to miles of backcountry water makes it an excellent fall destination. Rain should help this drainage considerably.
If you’re willing to walk beyond the easiest access points, there is a tremendous amount of water to explore.
Noland Creek
Noland Creek receives considerably less attention than Deep Creek and is a great choice for anglers who don’t mind putting some distance between themselves and the road.
Low water calls for careful approaches and delicate presentations, but the solitude alone makes Noland worth fishing this time of year.
Oconaluftee River
The Oconaluftee is one of the larger streams on the North Carolina side and offers plenty of room to fish.
Look closely at the pocket water, deeper runs and current seams. As water temperatures continue cooling through October, the larger streams should become increasingly interesting.
Hazel Creek
Hazel Creek is one of the truly special places in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Remote, beautiful and full of history, Hazel is about much more than simply catching trout. Reaching it generally requires crossing Fontana Lake, which is part of what keeps the experience so unique.
October on Hazel Creek is hard to beat. Fall colors, cool mountain water and wild trout in one of the most remote sections of the Smokies make this one of our favorite fall adventures.
Brown trout become particularly interesting as we move deeper into fall.
Forney Creek
Forney Creek is another outstanding North Carolina drainage that deserves more attention than it receives.
It’s rugged, beautiful and offers the kind of backcountry fishing that makes the Smokies special. Anglers willing to put some effort into reaching the water can find excellent wild trout fishing and considerably less pressure than they’ll encounter around the easiest roadside access.
October Is Here!
Ask a bunch of longtime Smokies fly fishermen to pick one month of the year, and October is going to get a lot of votes.
There’s good reason for it.
Water temperatures begin falling. The days become shorter. Tourist traffic on many of the streams drops compared with summer. Fall colors begin working their way down the mountains, and trout respond to the changing season.
We’re already beginning to see the first hints of fall color at the higher elevations. During October that color will gradually move down the mountains until the entire landscape changes.
But there’s something else happening underneath the water.
Brown trout and brook trout are approaching their spawning season.
As fall progresses, these fish become increasingly concerned with building energy reserves. Winter is coming, spawning requires energy, and opportunities to eat become important.
Brown trout in particular can become more aggressive as we move farther into October. Larger nymphs and streamers become increasingly important tools, especially following rain when the streams rise and develop a little color.
Brook trout are also preparing for their fall spawn, and their colors this time of year can be absolutely spectacular.
Please remember that spawning trout deserve some consideration. As we move farther into fall, watch for clean areas of gravel where trout have built redds. Don’t walk through them and avoid intentionally targeting fish actively sitting on spawning beds.
There are plenty of feeding trout available without disturbing spawning fish.
Late September / Early October Hatch Chart
| Insect / Food Source | Activity | Suggested Imitations |
| Blue-Winged Olives | Good, especially cloudy/rainy days | BWO #16–20, Pheasant Tail #16–20 |
| Little Blue-Winged Olives | Good | BWO Emerger #18–22 |
| Slate Drakes / Isonychia | Sporadic but important | Slate Drake #12–14, Isonychia Nymph |
| Mahogany Duns | Increasing into fall | Mahogany Dun #16–18 |
| Yellow Sallies | Declining but still possible | Yellow Sally #14–18 |
| Caddis | Sporadic | Elk Hair Caddis #14–18, Caddis Pupa |
| October Caddis / Autumn Sedges | Increasing | Orange/Brown Caddis #10–14 |
| Midges | Consistent | Zebra Midge #18–22 |
| Terrestrials | Still useful on warm afternoons | Ants and Beetles #14–18 |
| Craneflies | Present | Cranefly Larva / Adult |
| Stonefly Nymphs | Available year-round | Pat’s Rubber Legs #8–12 |
Our Favorite Fly Patterns Right Now
You don’t need a fly box containing 500 patterns to catch trout in the Smokies.
For dry flies, we’d carry Parachute Adams #14–18, Yellow Stimulators #14–16, Elk Hair Caddis #14–18, Blue-Winged Olives #16–20 and Orange Stimulators or October Caddis patterns #10–14.
For nymphs, it’s hard to go wrong with Pheasant Tails #14–18, Hare’s Ears #14–18, Prince Nymphs #12–16, Perdigons #14–18, Zebra Midges #18–22 and Pat’s Rubber Legs #8–12.
For anglers wanting to hunt larger brown trout, start putting some streamers in the box.
Woolly Buggers, Sculpin patterns, Zonkers and small articulated streamers can all be effective, particularly if the rain gives us some additional water and color.
Olive, black and natural sculpin colors are hard to beat.
Fishing Strategy for the Next Several Days
Until the rain arrives, think stealth.
Stay low. Wear colors that blend into the surroundings. Don’t wade through water you haven’t fished. Use the current and broken surface water to conceal yourself.
A dry-dropper rig is an excellent way to cover the pocket water right now. A buoyant Stimulator with a small Pheasant Tail, Perdigon or Hare’s Ear underneath will let you cover multiple levels of the water column without making things unnecessarily complicated.
If we receive the rainfall we’re hoping for and the streams begin rising, adjust.
Move toward larger nymphs. Fish the softer edges along faster currents. Work the banks. And if the water picks up some stain, don’t be afraid to tie on a streamer and hunt a brown trout.
Fall Is Arriving in the Great Smoky Mountains
We’re right on the doorstep of October, and this is when the mountains start changing quickly.
Cool mornings become more common. The first fall colors appear high on the ridges. Water temperatures fall. Brown and brook trout begin preparing for their fall spawning season, and the entire character of fishing in the park begins to change.
October doesn’t last nearly long enough.
If you’ve been waiting for the right time to fish the Great Smoky Mountains, the next several weeks are hard to beat.
We’ll be watching the rain closely. A good soaking could be exactly what these streams need to kick off another great October in the Smokies.
See you on the water.
