We’re in the middle of one of our slower months for guiding in the Smokies as it’s after Labor Day but before fall color season. So far this has been one of the hottest Septembers on record with most days 90 degrees or warmer in Knoxville. It’s been pretty dry as well and we’re starting to flirt with those record low flows from past years. Overnight temperatures have been relatively cool up high in the mountains so we’re fortunate to not have to worry about water temperatures since the nights have grown longer.
A colorful wild brook trout caught in the Smokies this week
Right now it looks like the Little River watershed has the least water while the North Carolina side of the park is much closer to a normal flow. As always, the higher elevations are best when the heat is on. Hopefully we’ll get some rain along with more seasonable weather to get us back to a more normal temperatures. By the way, normal temps in the Smokies for mid-September are mid to high 70’s with overnight lows in the high 50’s. Right now we’re 10-15 degrees above that.
At the moment there isn’t much chance for rain in the extended forecast but we’re hoping for something to come along soon. In all honesty it’s been pretty odd this year as we’re looking a drought dead in the face while we’re in the middle of the second wettest year on record. In fact, we surpassed our annual rainfall total some time back. Unfortunately all the water just heads on downstream when it’s here and we can’t bank it for times like these.
We are so looking forward to the cool and colorful days of fall!
While it’s no surprise to us, many anglers are surprised that our tailwaters are running high in spite of dry conditions. This is pretty typical, especially in September. First of all TVA is lowering the reservoirs for winter which takes a good deal of time and that usually starts in mid to late August. The second reason is that because the intense heat has air conditioning units working over time all over the Southeast, TVA is using that water to generate electricity. You can still find good flows on the weekends on the Clinch, but the river fishes best when the flows are consistent day to day.
If the past can teach us anything it’s that our trout are very resilient and doing pretty good in spite of our worries. We’re not only giving them a break in the toughest areas to help them out, but in all honesty it’s pretty tough to have any angling success when the trout are this skittish. We’re heading to areas with more water as much for our success as the health of the fish.
Smallmouth fishing is actually pretty good right now in areas with those fish so that’s a viable alternative as well. Small popping bugs are great on river and stream bass this time of year.
One of Townsend’s newest residents, a young bull elk
Another piece of information that you might find interesting is that an adventurous and enterprising young bull elk seems to have made Townsend his home. The elk migrated over Newfound Gap from Cherokee, NC back in June and has mainly kept to himself. When he does show up it’s like a rock star has arrived, jamming up traffic as well as any Cades Cove bear could. We’re anxious to see if any more join him in the months and years ahead!
We’ve also heard that several elk have made their way over to Hartford along the Pigeon River in Tennessee and others have moved over towards Bryson City, NC from Cherokee. It probably won’t be much longer before a population gets established in Cades Cove.