Fly Fishing Report for Pisgah National Forest, The Great Smoky Mountains National Park and waters along the Blue Ridge Parkway
Updated Every Thursday
Water Conditions:
Temp – 55-60
CFS – just above normal water levels
http://waterwatch.usgs.gov/?m=real&w=map&r=nc
Hatches:
Mayflies:
March Browns, Sulphurs/PMD’s, Yellow Drakes, Light Cahills, some Green Drakes in the evenings on certain streams.
Caddis:
Tan , Black, Olive
Stoneflies:
Little Yellow Sallies, Little Green Sallies, Golden Stones
Midges:
Assorted
Terrestrials:
Ants, Beetles, Crickets, Hoppers, Inchworms
Fly Suggestions:
Dry Flies:
Parachute March Brown, Flick’s March Brown, CDC Compardun Sulphur, Yellow Palmer, Yellow Mayfly Drake, Light Cahill, Green
Drake Dun, Coffin Fly (Green Drake Spinner) Tan Headlight Caddis, Black Elk Hair Caddis, Yellow Sally, Tennessee Wulff, Yellow Para Madam X, Yellow Stimulator, Ants, Beetles, Crickets, Hoppers, Inchworms
Nymphs and Pupa: March Brown Nymph, Olive Hare’s Ear, Tellico Nymph, Yallarhammer, Crow fly, Tan Braid Pupa, Olive Grand Poopah, Boss Hog Light, Yellow Tungsten Copper Stone
Streamers:
Spruce Fly, Hornberg, Muddler Minnow, various wooly buggers in medium size range.
General Information:
The rain we had early this week has filled up the streams again and cooled them down a bit as well. The fish are quite active and a short walk from the road can be very productive on certain days. Brook trout, Browns and Rainbows are all very active. The dry fly fishing has been spectacular. Some newer products to our stores are Dry Magic Floatant and the C&F Ruby cell Fly Dryer. Dry Magic is a great Dry Fly Floatant/Sealant that doesn’t leave a slick around the fly once the fly hits the water. Great for very smart trout that critique a fly before sipping it in.
The C&F Ruby Cell Fly Dryer is a wonderful alternative to a dry shake desiccant as it doesn’t leave any dust on the fly that could discolor the fly. Dry the fly off with the Ruby Cell Dryer and re-apply some Dry Magic and your flies will float high, dry and stealthy enough to fool those big ole’ wily trout. Also, we have been wet wading lately as the stream and air temperatures have become warm enough to do so comfortably. Try the new Simms Wading Sandals with StreamTread with added aluminum cleats for comfortable, cool wet wading over the summer months.
Projected Conditions:
Look for more of the same conditions next week with the help of a bit of rain mid-week to keep the streams cool and full. The Green Drake hatch will be on for another four weeks or so. Great fun with size 8 and 10 dry flies!