Current streamflow- 1140cfs and dropping
Water temps- uppers 50s
First of all, we want to give a big shout-out to Jerald, Will and Tanner, who stuck it out on a very rainy, very muddy day on a guide trip earlier this week. Although expectations were low due to the conditions, Tanner managed a monster brown trout, and both Tanner and Will each caught bows, a brown and a native brook trout, completing not one but two slams that day! Congratulations, guys! You were absolute troopers, and we're very happy it paid off for you with a memorable trip!
Now for the current report: Due to some pretty severe rains a couple of days ago, the river is still running high but dropping fast. Today will see the river continue to drop and clear and we expect the river to be around 500cfs range by Saturday morning. This is on the high side but definitely fishable. Sunday should bring even better conditions. Focus on heavy, dark colored flies such as Pat's rubber legs and jigged buggers, wither with a tungsten bead or added split shot for weight. It will also be a good weekend to throw streamers. Tributaries will drop and clear faster than the main river, so you may find dry fly action on North, Bald, Sycamore or other tributaries.
We are getting more and more reports of cicadas on local lakes and lowland rivers and creeks, but haven't seen or heard any cicadas in the higher elevations or on local trout streams. We'll keep you posted as the Hatch progresses.
STREAM REPORT 4.25.24
Current streamflow- 220cfs
Water temps- mid 50s
Hatches:
Small golden stoneflies
Cahills
Sulphur
Mahoganies
Bwos
Hot flies:
Griffith's gnat- 16-14
Yellow stimulator- 16-12
Parachute adams- 16-12
Klinkhammer- 16-12
Frenchies- 18-12
Walt's worms- 18-12
Perdigons, asstd colors- 18-12
Hot bead pheasant tails- 18-16
It's shaping up to be another beautiful spring weekend with temps on both Saturday and Sunday reaching the upper 70s/low 80s with clear skies. We had a decent rain last weekend, and so water levels are near perfect going into the upcoming weekend. This should mean great wading, great hatches and hungry trout. If you like to throw dry flies, this will be your weekend. The dry fly action on the tributaries has been phenomenal. You may wish to drop a nymph off of your dry fly, but recent trips have shown the majority of fish pouncing on the dry without hesitation. Any dry fly in the size 16-12 range
A dry and dropper or tightlinging a couple of nymphs will produce fish on the Tellico River or Citico Creek. Focus on faster runs and pocketwater and the heads of pools. Most trout have moved into faster water to be first in line for hatching the hatching mayflies, caddis and stoneflies who's nymph stages make fast flowing water their home.
All in all it's going to be a beautiful spring weekend in the mountains.
STREAM REPORT 4.11.24
Current Streamflow- 257cfs
Water temps- mid 50s
Hatches:
Tan caddis
Small golden stoneflies
Bwos
Hot flies:
Klinkhammer, olive- 16-12
Parachute Purple Haze- 16-12
Elk hair caddis, brown- 14-12
Chubby chernobyl, purple- 12-10
Hot bead pheasant tail- 16-14
Walt's worm- 16-12
Perdigons, various colors- 18-12
Pat's rubber legs, coffee/black- 12-10
Despite recent rains, the Tellico River and its tributaries are in beautiful shape, running clear and very wadeable. There are good numbers of stocked trout on the Tellico River, although they are fairly spread out for the most part so you may have to keep moving and cover water throughout the day to find good numbers. With water temps pushing into the mid 50s, many trout have moved into faster runs and pocket water where they are feeding heavily. Any well well drifted nymph in the 16-12 size range should elicit a strike.
Insect hatches have been consistent enough that it doesn't take much entice wild trout to the surface. Any well presented dry fly size 14 or 12 should do the trick. Our favorites are klinkhammers, elk hair caddis and parachute style dries in a variety of colors.
We have more rain on the way this afternoon, but it shouldn't be enough to bring water levels up for very long. We have a beautiful weekend ahead of us, so it should be a great weekend to be in the mountains.
Give us a call, send us a message or stop by the shop for the latest conditions.
STREAM REPORT 4.05.24
Current streamflow- 257cfs
Water temps- low 50s
Hatches:
Bwos
Tan caddis
Brown stoneflies
Shmedium-sized golden stones
Hot flies:
Griffith's gnat- 16-14
Purple Haze- 16-12
Elk Hair Caddis, Brown- 16-12
Klinkhammer- 18-12
Walt's worm- 18-12
Perdigons- 18-14
Pat's rubber legs- 14-10
Prince nymphs- 16-12
Olive/black streamers- 10-6
It's been a great week on the Tellico as spring marches on, despite some setbacks in the weather department. This past week's storm brought some rain and high water earlier this week, but streamflows are back down and running steady around 250cfs which is a great stream level for wading.
Fishing on the Tellico River has been great, with lower than normal fishing pressure thanks to the River Rd closure and forest road detour routes. Small streams also continue to fish very well as water temps warm and spring hatches become more consistent.
Nymphs should be the main focus on the Tellico River with some potential for dry fly fishing on calmer pools where hatches are concentrated and trout are looking up for an easy meal. Dry flies are producing a lot of wild bows and brookies on the tributaries but you may still want to run a nymph below your dry fly to increase your catch rate and potentially find some of the bigger fish which sometimes aren't as eager to rise to a dry fly.
The weather looks beautiful for this weekend with sunny skies and temps in the 60s and 70s for both Saturday and Sunday.
STREAM REPORT 3.28.24
Current streamflow- 268cfs
Water temps- upper 40s to low 50s
Harches:
Black caddis- 18-16
Tan caddis- 16-14
Early brown stoneflies- 14-12
Hendrickson mayflies- 14-12
Bwos- 18-16
Hot flies:
Klinkhammer- 16-12
Griffith's gnat- 16-14
Purple haze parachute- 16-12
Blowtorch- 16-12
Walt's worm- 18-12
Bloody Mary- 16-14
Perdigons- 18-12
The month of March has brought cool, rainy weather these past few weeks, but spring is in full force and there's no stopping it now. The iconic trillium and lily varieties are making their annual appearance along the creek banks, like old friends, indicating that it's time to toss dry flies to wild bows and native brook trout on small mountains streams.
This is the first weekend in March that we haven't had high water or rain or both. Water levels are the perfect level for wading and sunny skies and warming air temps will prevail this weekend. Nymphs are going to produce the most fish on the Tellico River this weekend, while a dry only or a dry and dropper will do the trick on the tributaries and wild trout. Either way, it should be an excellent weekend to get on the water.
Don't forget that this Friday is Good Friday, meaning that the Tellico River is open to fishing this Friday.
Stream Report 3.13.24
Current streamflow- 386cfs
Water temps- low to mid 50s
Hatches:
March Brown
Quill Gordon
Black Caddis
Hot flies:
Purple haze (purple parachute)- 16-12
Parachute Adams- 16-12
Elk hair caddis- black- 16-14
Frenchies- 16-12
Perdigons- 18-12
Walt's worms- 16-12
Egg patterns- 18-14
Prince nymph- 16-14
They say variety is the spice of life, and the variety of places to go and fish species to catch doesn't get much better than in the springtime in East Tennessee. With warming temps on both the streams and lakes, the opportunities are increasing by the day. The big spring insect hatches are ramping up on trout streams in the area. Brook trout are waking up from their winter slumber and eagerly taking dry flies on sunny days. Wild rainbow trout are beginning their spring spawn, but until they are on the redds, they'll eat nearly any well presented nymph or dry with a passion. The Tellico River is being stocked weekly now for anyone looking for larger-than-wild rainbows and occasional brown trout.
Alternatively, the area lakes are coming alive as temps warm. Largemouth, crappie, white bass, carp, and others are making their way towards spawning grounds in warmer coves and creek mouths.
As for the Tellico and its tributaries, we have some rain coming in on Friday, which may bring streamflows up a bit on Saturday, but streams should remain clear and fish well through the weekend and into next week.
Give us a call, send us a message or stop by the shop for the latest conditions.
STREAM REPORT 3.07.24
Current streamflow: 730cfs
Water temps: low to mid 50s
Hatches:
March browns
Quill gordons
Winter black stoneflies
Midges
Blue-winged olives
Hot flies:
Parachute purple haze- 16-12
Parachute adams- 16-12
Griffith's gnat- 18-14
March brown dry fly- 14-12
Pat's rubber legs- 12-8
Heavy egg patterns- 16-12
Blowtorch- 16-12
Perdigons- 18-14
Walt's worms- 18-12
Jigged buggers and leeches- 12-6
It's beginning to feel a little more like spring everyday. The cherry trees are blooming in the square and country roads are lined with blooming daffodils and the white blossoms of Bradford pears. Spring peepers can be heard if you listen closely in soggy, lowland areas. This is just the beginning of our favorite time of year. March browns, quill gordons and the other big mayflies of spring are hatching with more consistency every day and trout are starting to take notice.
However, with the spring season comes spring rains, and this week is no exception. Yesterday's rain has brought river flows up, and more rain is in the forecast for Friday and Saturday. Expect high water this weekend. The Tellico is a healthy river, so it won't take long for the stream to clear, but flows will be high. The Tellico Hatchery stocks rain or shine, however, so the fish will be there regardless.
If you're more interested in targeting wild trout, streamflow on the tributaries will drop quicker than on the main river, so it may be a good weekend to look for those wild bows, browns and brookies.
STREAM REPORT 2.21.24
Current streamflow- 231cfs
Water temp- low to mid 40s
Hatches:
March Browns!!!!
Black Caddis
Blue winged olives
Hot flies:
Parachute Adams 16-12
Grey or black Elk hair caddis 16-14
Griffith's gnat 18-16
Blowtorch 16-12
Perdigons 18-14
Walt's worms 16-12
Jigged buggers 12-10
We are excited to report that some of the most anticipated hatches of the year are starting to make an appearance! Earlier this week, we witnessed good numbers of black caddis, March browns, and bwos on the water, and trout were keying in on the hatching insects. While still sporadic, these hatches should increase in consistency on warmer days as we approach early spring. Quill Gordons should be right around the corner. Nymphs and other subsurface patterns should still be the main focus, but have some of the above-mentioned dry flies on hand in case you see a hatch going on and trout sipping on the surface.
The Tellico is still fishing decently well, although fish are largely spread out and not as concentrated in pools as they once were since it's been a month or so since the last stocking. There are still some great fish to be found if you take the time to cover water until you find them.
Wild rainbows are feeding aggressively on warmer days, putting on their spring colors and gearing up for spawn, which should happen sometime in mid-March to early April. You should be able to find decent action on the tributary streams for wild fish on warmer days.
Catch and keep season begins March 1st on the Tellico River. From that day forward until August 15th you will need to purchase the Tellico/Citico Daily Permit in addition to your fishing license and trout stamp if you wish to fish within the designated stocking areas. During this time, the stocked sections of both rivers will be closed to fishing on Thursday and Friday. Tellico will be stocked every week from the North River confluence up to the NC state line. Citico Creek will be stocked every other week, starting in April. More information on stocking and regulations can be found in the TWRA Tennessee fishing regulations handbook.