High Water Returns to the Clinch River

Word on the street is that TVA has suspended work on the weir dam below Norris indefinitely with the advent of last weekend's rain. With that suspension comes the end to the low flows we've been privy to over the last couple of weeks and with them the excellent dry fly fishing. Fear not, however, as I can confirm that the hatch has continued unabated despite the 9,300 cfs cranking from beneath Norris. Scott Anderson, owner of the Montana Fishing Company and an East Tennessee native, was is in town yesterday and we decided to give the Clinch a go despite the high flows. During the middle of the day, at the peak of the hatch, the streamer bite was descent if not pretty good. Sometimes you just gotta play the hand your dealt, and sometimes you might even just get lucky.

Sulfurs Hit-or-Miss on the Clinch River

Floated the Clinch yesterday on an slightly improved and definitely unexpected rec. schedule that TVA threw at us out of the blue (0ff till 11, 1 generator 11 - 4, and 2 or More from 4 on). On low water the fish were tough and spooky, as to be expected. When the first generator caught up to us the fish were willing enough on a bead head pheasant tail but the top water bite and hatch was extremely sporadic. The bugs finally did show at the end of the day (6:30 or so) on the lower portion of the river but their emergence coincided with the arrival of the 2nd pulse of water from the Norris Dam upstream. The fish were up for about thirty minutes or so before the heavy water forced them back down. The good news is that there are plenty of sulfurs to go around, you've just got to catch the water right in order for the fish to be willing. 

Clinch River Fishing Well, Bugs Aplenty

Low water is back on the Clinch River below Norris Dam after what feels like a long, long time. Maintenance on the weir dam is the culprit and for once I'd say we're all happy about TVA's determination to attempt a little good. The good news is, of course, not only does the maintenance comes when we all could use a little fishing time and its also coinciding with a descent sulfur hatch. Bugs are showing mid-day sporadically and building. The kicker here is that there is a new player on the block in the form of some larger than usual sulfurs (size 12/14). If you're headed up that way make sure you have a few bigger bugs in your box.

Low Water Back on the Clinch River

The Clinch River below Norris Dam is back on a day time low water schedule as work on the weir dam resumes. This is great news for the wading angler, although, not entirely so. The low flows will also mean wary trout. Most anglers are reporting very good fishing early in the morning before the fog burns off entirely and then slow fishing from then on. Sulfurs are beginning to pop and the reports are mixed as to whether the fish are keyed in on them. This should improve as water temperatures increase and hopefully the afternoon bite will increase as well. The forecast is for spotty afternoon showers for the next couple of days. Clouds equal cover and cover equals comfort for the fish. If I could sneak away from the shop I'd be up on the Clinch in the afternoon hoping for a passing rain shower.  

Clinch River Sulfur Action

Mercifully the Clinch River below Norris Dam actually is posting some wadeable/float-able flows over the weekend. Reports of sulfurs in good numbers are trickling in from yesterday's anglers. Most reported good fishing early but frustrating fishing in the afternoon. While the bugs were out in decent numbers the fish weren't really keyed on them yet. This may be a good sign as the good fishing may still be out in front of us. 

Clinch River Low Water Schedule in Place for a While

If you've been paying attention to TVA's release schedule for the Clinch River below Norris Dam you may have noticed a lot of day time down time with low water-no generation ruling the day light hours. The reason behind the odd schedule of late is that TVA is making repairs to the weir dam at present and will likely be doing so for the next couple of weeks. The good news: the weir dam is being repaired and there are wadeable flows on the Clinch. The bad new: the low water routines have the fish spooked a bit. Fishing seems to be fine in the early morning hours before the fog has been burnt off but slows considerably during the light of day. If I were headed out I'd try to make it up there early or on an overcast day.  A few sulfurs have been spotted but not in numbers that warrant repeating.

Clinch River beginning to show signs of life

The Clinch is currently running a night time only generation schedule due to scheduled maintenance on the weir dam. As such, anglers can expect low water wading condition to prevail for the next three weeks. Sulphurs have been spotted on the lower to mid-river and that trend should continue. With warmer weather predicted the fishing should steadily improve.

Clinch River Clicking Along, Low Water Conditions Loom

Warm weather prevailed all weekend long and I took advantage of it fishing Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Friday and Saturday were spent on the Clinch with mixed results. Norris Dam is currently down to two turbines meaning max flows are limited to about 6,500 cfs. Believe it or not, this is a very fish-able flow for both streamer fishing and nymphing certain sections. Friday head 3RA Guide Jon Oody hit the water in the jon boat in order to chuck streamers. The fish wanted to cooperate on the leading edge of that front with Jon hooking into some solid fish pulled from the banks on Big Horn colored streamers. By afternoon, with winds kicking 20+ the bite slowed. We ran into Mike Bone coming off the water with clients up stream and he concurred that the nymph bite had been good early but slowed by mid- to late-afternoon. Saturday we floated the river in a drift boat on a falling 6500 flow with very little to show for it but sore shoulders and wind burned faces. Reports that are just now trickling in from Sunday suggest that the low water conditions were good and people were finding fish on the usual suspects: bh pheasant tails and zebra midges. Both days I was on the water I did see several sulfurs on the water which hopefully is a sign of good things to come.

Finally, rumor on the street is that the weir dam, damaged last year during our winter high-water flows (and probably degraded further this year) is set to be repaired sometime in the next couple of weeks. From the sounds of it, this will require a low water flow for a week or two while repairs are made. 

Midge City on the Clinch

Warm weather and the occasional favorable flow from TVA has the Clinch midge hatch happening. If you can find the right flow get out there and get after it while this warm weather persists.

Clinch Clicking in Fine Fall Form

Warm weekend temperatures and favorable flows combined for some excellent midge hatches on the Clinch River. Action was hot pretty much all weekend with an olive zebra midge (size 20, silver bead w/silver wire) doing the most damage when rigged shallow. Look for TVA to give us a little fishing time on #turkeyday and with any luck the fish will oblige. 

Cloudy Clinch Fishing Well

Fishing reports are flooding in here at 3 Rivers Anger Headquarters while I slave away behind the counter on this blue bird Fall afternoon. More than a few reports have come through stating that the water has a murky-tent to it probably indicating that Norris Reservoir has turned. Despite the tinge, 3 Rivers Pro-Staffer Kevin Smith tells me that the fish are cooperating. The usual suspect are hooking the most fish; size 16 bh pheasant tails and zebra midges in about any color. Sunday Fun-day looks like a golden opportunity to get out there and enjoy the last of these sunny days.

Clinch Still High but Fishing Well

Norris is nearly down to its winter pool which means it won't be long before we get some sweet low water time. In the interim, boating anglers have been having success on deep nymph rigs. Most fish are staging on the upper river so focus your efforts closer to the dam.

Clinch Cantankerous but Capable

The Clinch reports have been rolling in all morning and while the fishing has not been super hot most anglers are reporting decent catches with the average size of the fish being good or great. No surprises fly wise, small bead heads and midge patterns are working well enough to continue to use them. The surprise that keeps coming up is that a number of anglers are having success (considerable) using small leach patterns (size 14) in an olive color.

Clinch River still Fishing Well

Clinch River is still fishing as good as it gets for this time of year. Again, no surprises here. Find the right flow and tie on a bead head with a midge dropper and you are sure to get hooked-up in no time.

Clinch Catches on the Up and Up.

The Clinch River continues to fire on all six cylinders with consistent and good action throughout the day. No surprises here, bead heads and midges are working bur rumor is you might want to have a crane fly or three in your box.

Midge Madness!

September's midge madness on the Clinch River continues and looks to get even better as the weekend schedules look extremely favorable to the wading angler. Pattern wise, keep it simple, but you'll need to have a number of different colors in the box. The better fishing has been high-up on the river from Miller's Island to the Dam.

Clinch river Killing it...

Favorable reports are flooding in regarding the fishing on the Clinch at the moment. Fishing seems to be better up high and early with the usual suspects (bh pheasant tails and zebra midges). If you can make it up early before the fog burns off you stand to have an excellent day and might even make it home before momma even realizes you were gone!

Clinch clicking by all accounts...

Word on the street is that the Clinch was in fantastic form over the holiday weekend. Anglers on both the upper river and lower reported good numbers of fish caught on the usual suspects; bead head pheasant tails and zebra midges. Of the two, the bead heads seemed to outperform the midge patterns. May have been due to the large number of crane flies on the water. 

Clinch so-so fine.

From the reports coming in over the weekend the Clinch was fishing fine over the weekend on what was one of the last few recreation schedules we've got left in the season. I didn't here any reports of anything exceptional but most anglers reported healthy catches. Combine this with the current high pressure and you've got a recipe for some goodness. If I had my druthers, however, I'd be out there in the jon boat today on these low-high flows. If you haven't checked, the 2-or-more TVA is currently running is a paltry 6000 cfs.  Streamer perfection.

Sunny days and Rec schedules look promising.

With the rain (almost) out of the forecast for the weekend the prospects on the Clinch look excellent.  If I wasn't in the shop I'd be there in the morning to see how the fish decide to behave on the change in pressure associated with this front having rolled through. The Clinch being what she is (the Grinch), when any variable changes I want a piece of it.