We’ve been out on the water most of this week and quite simply, fall is here. Leaves are certainly changing and the Fall Color Report from Great Smoky Mountains Association says that colors are at peak in the highest elevations near Clingmans dome and other peaks approaching 6000′.
Fishing has been pretty good, although the dry fly fishing has yet to peak. We expect the dry fly fishing to only improve as the days go by. It usually peaks from mid-October thru early November as we see good hatches of Blue Wing Olives and micro-caddis.
[youtube]http://youtu.be/fPQlSR702tI[/youtube]
Here’s a great video from the Great Smoky Mountains Association that shows the September transition into fall. It’s a great 60 second vacation with some excellent brook trout moments.
More of a tailwater angler? Generation on the Clinch has bumped up a bit more, but you can still do some wading upstream of Highway 61 early and wrap things up around lunch as the water rises there. Weekend schedules are still a sure thing through October so we can still count on that.
Don’t count out smallmouth on the Holston and French Broad. Schedules are better on the French Broad and you can expect fish to take poppers very well. That bite should continue for about another month or as long as water conditions are favorable.
It’s only about a week before North Carolina’s Delayed Harvest streams kick into gear as well. The Tuckaseegee and Nantahala are among the most popular, but far from the only destinations.
It doesn’t matter where you go, just be sure to take advantage of this great weather and go fishing!