Current streamflow- 102 cfs
Water Temps- low to mid 60s from North River upstream
Hatches:
Yellow sallies
Golden stoneflies
Salmonflies
Tan caddis
Flies:
Olive walt's worm 18-14
Frenchies- purple or orange 16-14
Rainbow warrior 20-16
Neversink caddis 16-12
Klinkhammer 16-12
Parachute Adams 16-12
It's been a warm and dry week in East Tennessee. Air temps in the mountains remain in the upper 70s despite the heat in the valley thanks to higher elevations.The Tellico river and tributaries are running fairly low and clear, although stream temps from North River upstream on the Tellico River and on the tributaries have all been in the range for safe catch and release with proper handling. If you plan on fishing lower elevations of Tellico River and Citico Creek or lower sections of Bald and North River, be sure to check stream temps if you plan to catch and release. If water temps are 68° or lower, you're fine to fish, just play fish quickly and leave them in the water as much as possible. Anything above 68° and we recommend moving to higher elevations to find cooler water.
Lower streamflows usually mean better dry fly fishing, and that has been our experience this past week. A dry and dropper rig will catch fish on both the stocked sections and wild trout streams. Focus on the pocket water and faster runs where current offers overhead cover for fish, providing security, and the turbulent water provides extra oxygen and prime feeding lanes.
The forecast for the week remains dry and sunny with highs in the low 90s at lower elevations, meaning temps in the 70s and low 80s at higher elevations. There is rain in the forecast for next week, so hopefully, that'll bring some extra flow to our streams.
STREAM REPORT 6.13.24
Current streamflow-147cfs
Water temps- low 60s
Hatches:
Yellow sallies
Golden stoneflies
Salmonflies
Tan caddis
Sulphur
Hot flies:
Klinkhammer 16-12
Grizzly Wulff 14-12
Neversink caddis 16-14
Garcia's Mini-hot 16-14
Chubby chernobyls 12-10
Frenchies 18-12
Olive perdigons 18-14
Walt's worms 18-12
It's been a beautiful week so far in Tellico Plains, and the forecast looks sunny and warm for the weekend. Water levels and temps are in excellent shape, and water temps will be in the low 60s thanks to cooler air temps in the mountains.
All of the big summer hatches are in full swing; yellow sallies, golden stones and sulphurs are on the water in good numbers, with yellow sallies being the most prevalent. Yellow dry flies in a size 16 or 14 to match the yellow sally hatch will produce some excellent dry fly action on the wild trout streams. Nymph rigs or dry and dropper are your best choice for the Tellico River and Citico Creek. We have had better luck on smaller, more natural nymphs instead of the big attractor patterns like squirmies and eggs.
We've been finding some quality brown trout on the river lately, and word has it that there are a few banana trout (palomino) swimming around too, so if either one is on your bucket list, this would be a great week to pursue them.
STREAM REPORT 5.30.24
Current streamflow- 359cfs
Water temps- upper 50s-low 60s
Hatches:
Yellow sallies
Black Caddis
Golden stoneflies
Blue-winged olives
Hot flies:
Purple or Orange Frenchies- 16-12
Quill perdigons- 18-16
Walt's worms- 16-12
Croston's FMJ- 14-12
Klinkammer- 14-12
Neversink Caddis- 16-14
Foam-back caddis- 16-14
Yellow Stimulator- 16-12
With all of the wet weather that we've had in the past few weeks and last weekend, we've finally gotten a week of sunny, drier weather. This has the Tellico River and its tributaries in beautiful shape going into the weekend.
Water temps are excellent, in the ideal range for trout to live comfortably and feed actively. Streamflows are alsp excellent, with enough water to help trout feel secure and feed heavily but not enough to make wading difficult. There are a variety of hatches on river at any given time, with Yellow sallies and blue winged olives being the most prevalent. There is also a wide variety of terrestrial insects that occasionally make their way into the water, so a wide variety of dry flies and nymphs will get a trout's attention.
The lowland rivers and lakes are also still fishing very well, with carp and bass still keying in on cicadas. The peak of the cicada emergence has past in our neck of the woods, but there will still be enough cicadas on or near the water for the next week to have fish still seeking them out and falling for a good imitation.
There is a bit of rain in the forecast for Saturday night and Sunday morning, but this should not be enough to make a noticeable impact on streamflow for the weekend besides a possibly a slight stain Sunday afternoon.
STREAM REPORT 5.22.24
Current streamflow- 280cfs
Water temps- high 50s-low 60s
Hatches:
Yellow Sallies
Golden stones
Cahills
Black Caddis
Blue winged olives
Flies:
Neversink caddis
Purple haze
Front end loader caddis
Palomino caddis
Blue winged olive dry
Olive, orange or pink perdigons
Hot bead pheasant tails
Quill-bodied soft hackles
Prince nymphs
Walts worms
It has been a beautiful week on the Tellico River despite frequent rains, with some very consistent fishing. The Tellico and its tributaries are at the perfect levels currently for wading while still having enough flow to keep trout feeding enthusiastically.
There really isn't a bad dry fly or nymph choice right now, as long as it's in the size 16-12 range and you give a solid presentation. All tributaries and the main river are fishing very well. Yellow sallies and blue winged olives are the most consistent hatches this week, with golden stoneflies, black caddis, and other mayflies hatching out less frequently but still present on any given day.
Although we've hit hight temps in the 80s this weekir in town, air temps in the higher elevations have remained in the high 60s and low 70s and water temps are in the 50s and 60s which are optimal for trout activity.
There's scatterd rain in the forecast each day for the rest of this week and the weekend, but we don't expect it to accumulate enough to bring streamflows up for long or blow the river out this weekend.
STREAM REPORT 5.17.24
Current Streamflow: 354cfs
Water temps: Hi 50s, low 60s
Hatches:
Yellow sallies
Blue-winged olives
Golden stoneflies
Hot flies:
Walt's worms
Hot bead pheasant tails
Olive perdigons
FMJ nymph
Quill bodied nymphs
Elk hair caddis
Yellow stimulator
Parachute adams
Ausable wulff
Thanks to recent rains, water temps and streamflow levels have been fantastic all through the Tellico area's rivers and streams. Dry fly action has been very consistent and productive on all wild trout waters and the trout are not picky, as long as your fly is presented well. They will take a variety of maylfy, stonefly and caddis imitations as well as general attractor patterns. Nymphs are also producing well, especially if you're on the river after a recent rain, when streamflows may be higher and off color. Choose heavier, darker nymphs for high and off color water and smaller, more natural nymphs for clear water and lower streamflows.
Low elevation streams are heating up for bass and panfish. Streamers and poppers will work well for warmwater species.
STREAM REPORT 5.10.24
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.