Great Smoky Mountains Fishing Report for December 15th

Bundle up today if you’re headed out! Expect day time highs to only be in the low 30’s today across the Great Smoky Mountains and surrounding towns of Gatlinburg and Bryson City. Overnight lows in the Smokies dipped into the teens on most higher elevation peaks. Thick fog in Bryson City was frozen to tree branches and porch steps this morning. I found this out the hard way as I bounced down them on my arse first thing this morning! Nonetheless, it’s going to be a great day. The NRS Clearwater drift boat is hooked up and I’m rolling out to hit the Tuckasegee River with a long time friend and client who can lay out casts with the best of them!

The Tuckasegee River has seen an abundance of Blue Winged Olive hatches along with numerous midges coming off around 9:30 am and continuing through the day until the sun starts to set. Rising trout all across the river is a very welcomed sight especially in December. Who would have thought we would be targeting rising fish with dry flies this time of year. Very cool indeed!

The Cherokee Trophy section on the Raven Fork is producing fish water temps have cooled a couple degrees pushing fish into deeper water and holding tight to the bottom. They will feed all day long they just won’t move very far to take your fly. An accurate cast and dead drift are key to fishing here this time of year.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has been cold in the mornings so an early start isn’t necessary right now. Sleeping in and eating a big breakfast and opting for an extra cup of coffee is a better way to start. Not much has been happening before 9:00am this week inside the park. Once the sun comes up and light hits the water you start noticing activity on the side pockets and calmer water first.

Hope you all have a great week and spend some time outdoors. We’ll see you on the water!

Faith, Family, and Fishing