Fly fishing conditions have been up and down this spring in the Smoky Mountains. We came out of the winter season exceptionally dry with extreme wildfire risk across Southern Appalachia. Believe it or not, we had humidity readings that would be taken for the Arizona desert, not the Smoky Mountain rain forest. Fortunately, things have moistened up and we’re back on track.
A common sight during spring in the Smokies. Budding trees turning the landscape green in lower eleveations while snow dusts the high ridgeline.
We’ve also seen all four seasons in a single week! We went from snow on the mountains to summer heat. It was actually 85 at Elkmont one day, which is hot even for summer! That passed with substantial rain and wouldn’t you know it, snow on the peaks of the Smokies.
Wind has been a relatively common thing this spring and rain is always a possibility. We’ve had a few rainy days on the water as well as some days with high water. However, choosing between high or low flows we’ll usually choose high since it usually falls out quickly and precedes some great fishing.
Charity caught this rainbow on a heavy nymph on a recent rainy day in the Smokies
Fishing has waivered between pretty good and harder that necessary, but rarely impossible. We’ve seen some good insect hatches. In spite of that we’ve seen fewer aggressively rising fish everyday. There have been some stories out there of fewer fish in the the streams, but that seems very unlikely as there were plenty last year and we have had some exceptional days on the water. All the up and down temperatures and stream flows seem to have the trout a little off this year, but a few days of a steady flow and weather pattern always seems to have happy fish.
We’re starting to see Hendrickson mayflies and the first Little Yellow Stoneflies. It’s really a mish mash of bugs out there and there’s not much of a need to be able to identify them. Lately most dry flies in the #12 – 14 range are pulling fish to the surface during the afternoons. Nymphs in the #14 range have done better than dry flies in the morning.
A chunky wild brown trout that took a dry fly last week
We’re still wearing waders but wet wading could start up any time over the next month. Overnight temperatures have the biggest impact on this. Cold nights keep the water colder and mild nights allow the water to be a little warmer. Of course you’ll want warm, sunny days for wet wading, but cold nights will keep the water uncomfortably cool.
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