It’s been a hot summer here in the Smokies. That means that some of the most popular streams aren’t fishing at their best. There are still plenty of productive streams to catch trout, you’ll just have to do a little bit of exploring. While some of the large streams are getting pretty warm, there are many small stream options available.
A typically colorful wild Smoky Mountain rainbow trout
We’re in our typical phase of late afternoon and evening thunderstorms, but those are erratic and distribute the water somewhat unevenly. This means that while many streams are low and warm, others will be almost perfect. Some may actually be too high to fish in the hours after a cloudburst. It’s all part of summer in the Smokies.
The best fishing will be found at 2000′ elevation or higher. This is actually most of the streams in the Smokies, but excludes many of the roadside streams, especially on the Tennessee side of the park. Even so, many of these locations will fish okay in the mornings. Water temperature will spike in the afternoon, though. Trout will likely go deep and go dormant in an effort to save energy.
Dry flies are always reliable in the summer and there’s no secret pattern. Parachute Adams and Stimulators are always good in #16 plus summer is ideal for terrestrials. We prefer ant patterns to hoppers in the forests of the Smokies. A #16 – 18 dropper nymph can work well under a bushy dry fly when stream flows are up after some rain.
Bee balm are in full bloom right now. Watch for humming birds.
Getting back from the most popular areas also puts you in some pretty interesting spots, though. Some of our favorite days on the water every year come from hiking in to remote streams in the summer. The water is definitely cooler and the fish are far more aggressive. Plus you’re very likely to see much more than trout.
Black bear looking down at us from a tree
It won’t be long before the bears will be up in the trees eating wild cherries. This is perhaps the most predictable time to spot bears. If you know what a cherry tree looks like, be sure to look up and always listen for the sound of snapping branches. This will peak in the next few weeks.
A bachelor group of three bucks seen on Little River earlier this week.
We’re also seeing elk with calves in North Carolina and whitetail bucks in velvet all around the Smokies. Spotting wildlife along the stream is one of the best parts about fly fishing in the Smokies.