Fishing Season: Year Round

Clinch River - TN

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

100%Chart created using amCharts library

Water Temp:

45

Orvis Sevierville's Tip of the Week

It's gonna be a decent week to fish with a mix of sunshine and rain in the forecast. 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 4/29/25

Today - Sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Tonight - Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Wednesday - A slight chance of showers between noon and 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Wednesday Night - A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Calm wind. Thursday - A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Light south wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Thursday Night - A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Friday - Showers likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. High near 78. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Friday Night - Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8pm. Low around 55. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Saturday - A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2pm, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Saturday Night - A 10 percent chance of showers before 8pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 45. Sunday - Sunny, with a high near 73. Sunday Night - Mostly clear, with a low around 48. Monday - Sunny, with a high near 77.

Techniques & Tips as of 4/29/25

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