Great Smoky Mountains Fishing Report 9/4/16

Overnight lows in the low 60’s across the Smokies gave us a nice fog cover this morning. Beautiful scenes this morning around the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, all that was missing was the Elk. We saw those out grazing on up river near Tow String in the fields. The fog quickly burned off by around 10:30 am and everything is warming up nicely! Highs today are are 84 in Gatlinburg and 82 in the higher elevation of Bryson City.

Expect high traffic volumes near Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge as the holiday goers enjoy the last few days of Summer. Gatlinburg at the Spur looked like a Chinese fire drill. It took about 45 minutes to get from Sugarlands Visitor Center down to the Aquarium. Give it a couple days and the congestion should start clearing up just in time for the Rod Run madness the next two weekends! No break in the crowds on the roads it seems. However you will notice a dramatic drop in the amount of hikers and people playing in the streams. Fisherman love this time of year as you have streams all to yourself for the whole month of September.

I’m seriously going to miss wet wading this year as cooler temperature loom about a month away. As much as I love Gortex for its capabilities, there’s no such thing as breathable in the humid Smoky Mountains during the summer. Nothing feels more refreshing than stepping off into a clear cool Smokies trout stream in just shorts and wading boots.

Our guides today all reported great success rates with both dries and nymphs. Water is low as normal all across the Smokies. Stay stealthy and move deliberately and slowly through the streams and success is only a good cast away. Presentation is key!

See you on the water!