Clinch river Fall fishing roundup

Even though afternoon temps are still climbing close to the 90's, cooler mornings and more comfortable evenings can only mean one thing, Fall is just around the corner. Fall is my favorite time of year to be on the water. The crowds thin out, the weather is stable, and the changing colors here in East Tennessee provide a fishing back drop that is second to none. In Spring, everything is hungry, and the action is often fast and furious, Fall is different. Fall is fishing for the survivors, bigger, smarter, and seasoned by natural selection. I've caught some of my best fish in Fall, and had some of my most memorable trips.

I've been on the phone with two of the better Clinch fishermen I know this morning, having coffee and talking observations. We seem to be in agreement, the Clinch has one of the best populations of 14 inch or better fish in it this year than we've seen in a long time, maybe ever. Is it due to the TWRA slot limit regulations that have been in effect on the river for a few years now? Possibly the high water levels most of the season? Or maybe the return of the sulphur hatch? Who knows, more than likely a combination of all three. One thing we all can agree on, the Clinch has some great fish in it!

I'm not big on pattern lists, everyone has a favorite secret fly, but you could do a whole lot worse than a size 18 or 20, dark midge pupae, or bead head pheasant tail nymph, fished  a few feet below an indicator on 6x flourocarbon tippet. It may not work every time but it will work often enough to keep a smile on your face and really, that's all we're after in the first place. If you are willing to pay the dues required of dedicated streamer fishing the chance of catching a true trophy size brown are as good here as anywhere in the country, it won't happen every time, but it will happen. I like that, it keeps me casting when hope begins to fade, it may be the first cast, it may be the last, persistence is the only guarantee.

Lake water levels are dropping fast and that should mean more favorable water release schedules in the not too distant future. Norris lake was below 1010 this morning and coming down, that's good news to trout fishers on the Clinch. TVA has an excellent resource called an operating guide for each reservoir they post on line. I have a link to it in the "links section" , it tells you where they are,  where they want to be, and what the water levels were in the past for the lakes they manage. You may not always agree with the flows, but if you study the data, at least you will have a better understanding of the reason behind some of the generation schedules. Check it out if you're interested.

In closing, I hope everyone gets an opportunity to get out and enjoy the fishing this Fall. Go easy on the fish, and fellow anglers, and send along a few pictures or trip reports if the mood strikes. I'd love to hear about it! Good fishing everyone, and be careful out there!

Mike