It was a cold autumn weekend here in the East Tennessee Smokies. We fished in blowing snow last Saturday and while it wasn’t bad by mid-winter standards, it was a little shocking for early November.
A light dusting of snow fell from the upper ends of Elkmont and Tremont all the way to the crest of the Smokies
Charity and I were both on the streams and focused our anglers on fishing with nymphs. We both saw a few fish looking up, but nymphing was the clear path to success. Both of us rigged our anglers with dropper rigs; mine with a Zelon Nymph and Pat’s Nymph and Charity used a Prince Nymph with a Pat’s Nymph. Both of us found the Pat’s Nymph to hook nearly all of the fish.
This week will have some beautiful weather. We’re expecting sunshine and 60’s all week long so the stream fishing should be excellent. The Clinch River is continuing its perfect float schedule so we may make it over there as well. Nymphs and streamers have been excellent on the Clinch and I even had some anglers pick up a few fish on dry flies as well last week. Midges and small black caddis are hatching all day long and we’re finding plenty of willing fish in slow currents along the bank.
