October What?

I write this fishing report on October 24th....

I have never seen a timeline of my life disappear like the last 26 days have, since Helene hit. Every year,, beginning in May or June, we look forward to this time of year, and now somehow it is almost already gone. October for many of our creeks is like the rut for white tail deer. Fish just get dumb and start eating nearly any dry fly that is presented with a drag free drift.

Water temps in the low to mid 50s create conditions where trout reach a peak metabolic rate which causes them to eat without discretion.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Waters

Flies of choice will be clousers...just kidding! Small Natural Nymphs and big Orange dry flies, specifically Orange Stimulators and October Caddis. Of course good drift are still required.

If you are out there first thing in the morning before the sun breaks the fog , Blue Winged Olives will be prevalent and certainly an option all day long. I tend to see the BWOs when water temps begin to cool off or warm up in those transition times for water temps.

WNC Fly Fishing Trail -Jackson County

The saying about trout carrying banking hours is beginning to come into play now as we approach November. Enjoy breakfast, a morning cup of coffee and take your time getting to the water. Things will not really get cranked up on these waters until the sun burns off the morning fog.

Similar fly patterns the Smokies are seeing but with a terrestrial kicker. In the warmth of the afternoons we are still enjoying success with hopper patterns.

Tuckaseegee Delayed Harvest

There are a few gems to be had out there wading and pulling streamers but the distribution of fish just isn't there since Helene. North Carolina Wildlife still has not announced if or when they will stock DH waters. So, for now hold off on the Tuck and enjoy the other 5,000 miles of trout waters we have.