Current streamflow- 51cfs
Water temps- upper 40s-mid 50s
Hatches:
Blue-winged olives
Midges
Tan caddis
October caddis
Hot flies:
Mops 16-12
Eggs 18-14
Squirmies 16-12
Rainbow warriors 20-18
Perdigons 18-14
Jigged buggers 14-12
The Tellico River Delayed Harvest section continues to produce some quality fish, despite low stream flows. Water temps are great thanks to cooler daytime temps and low overnights. Stocked trout have continued to spread out from their initial stocking points from a couple of weeks ago, so covering longer stretches of water will help you find fish. Many trout have moved to fast flowing pocket water and faster flowing pools and runs. These areas provide overhead cover and security during low flows. A stealthy approach and careful presentation with light tippet is still the best method for skinny water and spooky trout.
Over the past two weeks, we have found some fantastic fish, but have yet to find 'the magic fly'. Carrying a variety of small nymphs such as rainbow warriors, perdigons and walt's worms as well as standard stocker favorites such as squirmies, mops and eggs and switching up flies often seems to be the best way to find the most fish. We haven't seen the same number of fish looking to the surface and keying in on midges as we did last year under similar conditions, but we suspect that more trout will begin to look up and take dry flies as air and water temps drop, encouraging more frequent midge hatches.
Wild trout streams are still fishing well despite low streamflows. Wild trout and native brookies will be spooky, so stealth is required for a successful day. Small parachute adams and Griffith's gnats are the best choice right now on the tributaries. Brook trout should begin their spawning season in the next week, so watch your step in sections of sand and gravel streambed and leave spawning fish to do their thing if looking for brook trout this fall.