Fishing Season: Year Round

Clinch River - TN

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

45

Smoky Mountain Gillies's Tip of the Week

When it's hot out an Ant can be deadly!

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Map of Clinch River

Water Flow Data

Tidal Conditions

5-Day Outlook as of 7/27/21

Today A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 4pm. Cloudy, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Tonight A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm, then a slight chance of showers between 7pm and 10pm. Patchy fog after 2am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Wednesday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph. Wednesday Night A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 67. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Thursday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Thursday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Friday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Friday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Saturday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 91. Saturday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Sunday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny and hot, with a high near 92. Sunday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Monday A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 92.

Techniques & Tips as of 7/27/21

On low water Sulphur with a Midge dropper.

Current Conditions as of 7/27/21

Today A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 4pm. Cloudy, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Tonight A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm, then a slight chance of showers between 7pm and 10pm. Patchy fog after 2am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Wednesday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph. Wednesday Night A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 67. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Thursday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Thursday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Friday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Friday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Saturday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 91. Saturday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Sunday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny and hot, with a high near 92. Sunday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Monday A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 92.

Local Species Available Year Round

  • Fish Icon

    Trout

Smoky Mountain Gillies's Recommended Fly Patterns

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

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Midge N/A 18
Sulphur Emerger N/A 16
Shaky Worm Red 14
Tunghead Pheasant Tail N/A 16,18
Partridge&Yellow Yellow 16
Cicada N/A
Tunghead Hot Spot Pheasant Tail Jig N/A 16
Sulphur Parachute N/A 16
Purple Para purple 16
Adams Para Dry N/A 20

Midge

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Smoky Mountain Gillies'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:

Midges Sulphurs Ants

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/Wier