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 9/15/21

Today A slight chance of showers between 11am and 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Tonight A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Thursday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph. Thursday Night A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Friday A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Friday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Calm wind. Saturday A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph. Saturday Night A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Sunday A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Monday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Monday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Tuesday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.

Techniques & Tips as of 9/15/21

On low water Sulphur with a Midge dropper.

Current Conditions as of 9/15/21

Today A slight chance of showers between 11am and 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Tonight A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Thursday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph. Thursday Night A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Friday A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Friday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Calm wind. Saturday A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph. Saturday Night A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Sunday A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Monday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Monday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Tuesday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.

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