Great Smoky Mountains Fishing Report 10/14/16

Great Smoky Mountains Fishing report for 10/14/16 – The fishing across the Smoky Mountains and surrounding region is fantastic right now! Cooler than normal temperatures have brought water temps down and have really increased trout activity. It’s kind of hard to get used to but we see huge swings in temps and weather here in the Smokies. We have a saying here: If you don’t like the weather, just wait 15 minutes! Lol!

This week it’s a toss up of where the best fishing is at:

On one hand you have the Tuckasegee River, which is loaded with stocked Rainbow, Brown, and Brook trout. These fish average between 12-28 inches and are very aggressive right now. We are seeing lots of fish put in the nets. This is a great choice for newcomers to fly fishing.

On the other hand you have the Great Smoky Mountains National Park which is absolutely on fire with fantastic dry fly action for wild Rainbow, Brown, and Brook trout. The difference is the trout in the Smokies are wild and not stocked and certainly won’t be that big, however they are absolutely gorgeous fish. The prettiest trout, and prettiest streams we have in the entire region are in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The hottest flies this week in the park have been October Caddis dries, Dark Stonefly nymphs, Beetle dry flies, Cinnamon Caddis, Orange Stimulators, and Pheasant Tail nymphs.

There’s been a little frost on the pumpkins this week in the high country of the Smoky Mountains. Places such as Mt Leconte, Mt Guyot, and Clingmans Dome have seen some frost and cold temps. The valleys of Gatlinnburg and Bryson City have been hovering around 40 in the mornings and warming nicely during the day to mid to low 70’s. We are going to warmer for the weekend, morning lows will be in the low 50’s and highs reaching mid to upper 70’s. It’s shaping up to be a gorgeous weekend!

Fall is certainly around us and the mountains are a buzz with people enjoying the sights and smells of the Smoky Mountains. A stroll down the streets of Gatlinburg offer a treat for the senses. The smell of fresh Caramel Apples from Kilwins and Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen is hard to resist. Spiced Apple cider is also easy to find this time of year. If that doesn’t get you, the sounds of bluegrass played by musicians along the streets will certainly remind you that you are in the Appalachia in the Fall. Colors are really starting to pop in the medium to high elevations. Newfound Gap and Clingmans Dome offer those looking for a nice drive some incredible views. For those who like, us are more adventurous, a hike up the Cimney Tops or out to Charlie’s Bunion offers some of the most dramatic views in the park.

Expect heavy traffic all across the region, as this weekend is typically the one associated as being the peak for leaf colors. While this is certainly not going to the case, we expect the peak colors are still a week and a half away. There will be heavy traffic across the park and especially around Gatinburg and Pigeon Forge.

Hope y’all have a great week, we’ll see you on the water!

Faith, Family, and Fishing