Oconaluftee River

Flow now

Oconaluftee River At Birdtown, NC, 3 mi from the river.

154cfsat build, Nov 12, 12 PM MT

The typical week here, from 10 years of record: 153 cfs to 425 cfs, around 230 cfs.

Water temperature at the gauge: 52°F.

Also gauged at Tuckasegee River At Barker'S Creek, NC: 263 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: 153 to 425 cfs. Running 154 cfs today, inside 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

• Fly Fishing the Smokies Bryson CityWebsiteFishing report, updated Oct 4
• Tuckaseegee Fly Shop SylvaWebsite

Nearby waters

• Tuckasegee River8 mi
• Pigeon River21 mi
• Nantahala River26 mi
• North Fork French Broad River31 mi
• Chattooga River36 mi
• North Mills River38 mi
• Davidson River39 mi
• French Broad River39 mi

Every North Carolina water