Fishing Season: Year Round

Clinch River - TN

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

45

Orvis Sevierville's Tip of the Week

It's gonna be a pretty rainy week ahead of us so plan those fishing outings accordingly! Sulfurs and Cicadas are out on top water!!! If you are able to make it out, Midges, buggers and smaller nymphs are the ticket items for this week on the Clinch! You may see some caddis, Sulphurs or BWO out. Keep an eye on the generation schedule provided by TVA so you plan your time on the water accordingly.

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Map of Clinch River

Water Flow Data

5-Day Outlook as of 6/16/25

Today - Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Tonight - Showers and thunderstorms likely before 2am, then a slight chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Tuesday - A chance of showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 11am. Patchy fog between 7am and 8am. High near 87. Light southwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Tuesday Night - Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 5am, then a chance of showers after 5am. Low around 70. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Wednesday - A chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Wednesday Night - Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Juneteenth - A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. High near 87. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Thursday Night - Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 2am. Low around 68. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Friday - A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Friday Night - A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 67. Saturday - A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny and hot, with a high near 91. Saturday Night - A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly clear, with a low around 70. Sunday - A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny and hot, with a high near 93.

Techniques & Tips as of 6/16/25

Sulfur Hatches are out on the water so keep an eye out for those bugs! Nymphing and tossing some streamers has been producing pretty successful days out on the water. Long, light leaders (6x fluorocarbon ideally for nymph rigs, mono for dries), Midges size 18-22, colors- black, olive, purple and red have been working pretty well. Pheasant tail- sizes 16-20 with or without bead head heads have been getting hits on the water all under an indicator.

Local Species Available Year Round

  • Fish Icon

    Trout

Orvis Sevierville's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Bead Head Stonefly olive 14-20
Bead Head Woolly Bugger Streamer olive/black 6-8
Rojo Midge N/A 16-20
Rojo Midge N/A 18,20
zebra midge Red 18-22
San Juan worm Red 14-16
Vernille San Juan Worm red 14-20
Bead Head Brassie™ Purple 20
D and D White 2
Mini Dungeons N/A 22

Bead Head Stonefly

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Item #0027

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Orvis Sevierville's Recommended Gear

Description: About Clinch River

The Clinch River has alternately been described by one local guide as the “Cinch” and the “Grinch”, depending on the day. Regardless of one’s individual experience, there is no denying that some of the largest trout in Tennessee reside within its cold depths. In fact, the Tennessee state record Brown Trout (28lbs. 12oz.) was caught in 1988 just upstream from the Miller’s Island Boat Ramp. Fly-fishermen are primarily concerned with the 13 miles of river between the Norris Dam and the public access at the Hwy 61 bridge in Clinton. How you are going to fish the Clinch is largely dependent on the TVA’s electrical generation schedule. With the water off, there are myriad wading opportunities around Miller’s and upstream of the Hwy 61 bridge. It takes 4-5 hours for the water released from Norris to reach this lower access point. Kayaks, kickboats, and canoes can allow access to productive water in the Weir Pond below the Dam, and in the vicinity of the Peach Orchard access. On one generator release, the river becomes ideal for drift-boats. The upper float from Miller’s to Peach Orchard is more of a half-day endeavor, so you can wade down in Clinton until the water comes up, and then run and float the upper section. If you are more interested in a full-day float, row down to the shoals below Peach and wade fish until the water is on. Two generators are considered unfishable. The new slot-limit (14”-20” fish must be released) should dramatically increase the number of fish that escape the frying pan and grow into that healthy 18”+ range.

Nearest Airport:

Knoxville, TN (TYS)

Hatches:

Small Pheasant tail nymphs DnD's Dungeons Zebra Midges Scuds Pheasant Tails

Best Time to Fish:

Depends on Generation Schedule

Best Stretch:

Wade: Hwy 61 all day w/ 1 hour pulse. Millers when the water is off

Best Access:

Millers Island / Weir Dam