FLYMASTERNorth Carolina · river
Nantahala River
The Nantahala River is a river in western North Carolina in the United States, within the Nantahala National Forest, and near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Two-lane U.S. Highway 19/74 runs along the river, picnic areas dotting the route. From Wikipedia
- Rises at
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Flows into
- Fontana Lake
Flow now
Nantahala River Near Hewitt, NC, 3 mi from the river.
74cfsat build, Nov 12, 11 AM MT
The typical week here, from 10 years of record: 175 cfs to 531 cfs, around 370 cfs.
Also gauged at Little Tennessee River At Needmore, NC: 364 cfs, Nov 12.
The season, November
Usually workable this week. Pick your window and fish it well.
- Midgessizes 18 to 22
- Small eggs and worms
- Pheasant tail and zebra midge nymphsunder an indicator
Typical for the week over 10 years: 175 to 531 cfs. Running 74 cfs today, below that range. Flows are not forecast; check the gauge the day before.
Brown Trout are spawning (October to December). Stay off clean, light-coloured gravel in riffle tails and pool tailouts, and leave paired fish alone.
Brook Trout are spawning (September to November). Stay off clean, light-coloured gravel in riffle tails and pool tailouts, and leave paired fish alone.
Mountain Whitefish are spawning (October to December). The egg bite behind spawning whitefish is the best winter nymphing of the year: an egg pattern below the riffles.
- Flows swing a lot this week most years. Carry both a heavy nymph rig and a dry-dropper and let the gauge decide.
- Egg patterns in the runs below the spawning gravel, never on it.
Written by the app's rules engine from the calendar, the gauge record and the snowpack, not by hand, so it says only what the data says. The weather for the week comes with the app.
Fly shops on this water
Nearby waters
- Tuckasegee River23 mi
- Oconaluftee River26 mi
- Chattooga River37 mi
- North Fork French Broad River45 mi
- Pigeon River46 mi
Open Nantahala River in FlyMaster for today's plan, the flies, and your own log here.
Flows from the U.S. Geological Survey, snowpack from the NRCS SNOTEL network, text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Built Nov 12.