Here we are in August and the good water conditions continue to hold up. August is generally the low point of the fishing season between spring and autumn. The best fishing in the Smokies is way up high during the hottest weeks of the summer. That’s the case this year, but good flows and relatively mild temperatures have kept the range of viable options better than they sometimes are in August.
View of the Smokies from the Foothills Parkway after a rainy afternoon
There have been several major rain events in the Smokies and the forecast seems to indicate more are on the way. Pop up afternoon storms have kept the streams topped off. Good flows always lead to cooler water temperatures. Furthermore, overnight lows on the mountain tops have been down in the 50’s and daytime highs rarely getting beyond the mid 70’s. Of course it’s much warmer down low, but the water originates up high where it’s much cooler.
Water conditions are nothing short of excellent for the height of summer in the Smokies
A wild Smoky Mountain rainbow shows off its colors
Heather Blank-Lukenbill shows off a nice native brookie she caught with Charity in the Smokies
August is when we start to see crowds thin in the Smokies. Schools are already going back in to session here in East Tennessee and that trend will continue to play out around the country. This means fewer people on vacation. September is a relatively quiet month as schools and colleges have returned to class and football teams take to the field. Many people are planning getaways for the fall color season and waiting for October to head to the Smokies.
All of this means anglers can find more quiet in the park and on the stream over the next few weeks. Take advantage if you can. If you can’t make the late summer slump be sure not to miss fall in the Smokies. It’s really an incredible time to be here, but also among the busiest times in the park.
One last important note
Little River Trail above Elkmont is closed Monday – Thursday through August into September. Work is being done on the trail to solve some drainage issues. Hopefully this will mitigate any siltation into the stream and make the trail less mucky in some spots. The trail is closed because of the presence of heavy equipment in use.
The trail will be open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays plus the Labor Day holiday so there will be opportunities to access the trail and stream.