FLYMASTERNorth Carolina · river
Pigeon River
The Pigeon River of Western North Carolina and East Tennessee rises above Canton, North Carolina, is impounded by Walters Dam, enters Tennessee, and flows into the French Broad River, just past Newport, Tennessee. The river traverses the Pisgah National Forest and the Cherokee National Forest, and drains much of the northeastern Great Smoky Mountains National Park. From Wikipedia
- Length
- 70 mi
- Basin
- 704 sq mi
- Flows into
- French Broad River
Flow now
Pigeon River Near Hepco, NC, 5 mi from the river.
225cfsat build, Nov 12, 11 AM MT
The typical week here, from 10 years of record: 261 cfs to 591 cfs, around 371 cfs.
Also gauged at Pigeon River Near Canton, NC: 109 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: 261 to 591 cfs. Running 225 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
- Hunter Banks Fly Fishing AshevilleWebsite
Nearby waters
- North Mills River21 mi
- Oconaluftee River21 mi
- French Broad River22 mi
- Tuckasegee River24 mi
- North Fork French Broad River24 mi
- Davidson River26 mi
- Chattooga River41 mi
- Nantahala River46 mi
Open Pigeon 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.