The Clinch River is super cold year round, with an average water temperature near 50 degrees. It’s also a very rich tailwater, full of aquatic invertebrates.
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Where can I fly fish on Clinch River?
Where to Fly Fish on the Clinch River. The Clinch River offers most access on the upper river in the first few miles below Norris Dam. Millers Island is probably the most popular, but the long flat water above the weir dam or the riffles below are also popular.
Does the Clinch River have trout?
Types of Fish The Clinch River is known as a premier trout fishery, and is home to rainbow, brown and brook trout! The average trout there will be 11 to 12 inches in length, so you can look forward to the possibility of a big catch!
What kind of fish are in the Clinch River TN?
Largemouth bass, rock bass, redbreast sunfish, longear sunfish, and bluegill sunfish are available, as well as musky, black crappie and freshwater drum. Anglers who are looking for catfish will find both channel and flathead catfish in good numbers and sizes. The Clinch River will provide good fishing in 2013.
How deep is the Clinch River in Tennessee?
However, the deepest point on the river is located at the Clinch River At Speers Ferry reporting a gauge stage of 3.87 ft.
Can you eat fish from the Clinch River?
Is it safe? The Lower Watts Bar Reservoir and the Clinch River/Poplar Creek are safe for recreational uses such as boating, skiing, swimming, and fishing. Eating fish is safe as long as people avoid eating striped bass and limit consumption of catfish and sauger to one meal per month.
How do you catch fish in the Clinch River?

What flies to use in Tennessee?
For flies, you’ll want caddis, blue-winged olives, and sulphurs for springtime. In the fall, and into the winter delayed harvest, use stoneflies, baetis, and white streamers.
Are there trout in Norris Lake TN?
Norris Lake is home to 14 different species of fish. You can catch crappie, walleye, trout, muskie and more!
How long does it take to float the Clinch River?
Paul offers fun tubing tours down this rippling river. Generally, the tubing tours take about two hours and is safe for 3 year olds and up. A three-minute shuttle ride back to your starting point means you can do it all again in one day.
How do you catch stripers in the Tennessee River?
Baits and methods vary but drifting live skipjack herring or gizzard shad with planer boards is a preferred method for the big ones. The bigger the bait the better! Large artificial lures such as Redfins and top water baits such as the Zara Spook can also be productive.
What kind of fish are in Norris Dam?
Anglers may expect catches for Largemouth, Spotted and Smallmouth Bass. The lake is popular for the large size of Smallmouth Bass caught. The lake is stocked annually with Walleye and Striped Bass.
Can you wade the Clinch River?
Whether wading or floating; anglers can pursue dry fly, wet fly, or streamer fishing with spectacular trophy fish. The Clinch River Tail-water is stocked with rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout from March through September.
Is the Clinch River man made?
Course. The Clinch River is dammed twice: by Norris Dam, the first dam built by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA); and by the Melton Hill Dam, the only TVA dam with a navigation lock that is not located on the main channel of the Tennessee River. An important tributary of the Clinch River is the Powell River.
Is the Clinch River polluted?
In fact, TDEC has designated the Clinch River downstream from Kingston as impaired for recreation, in part due to the high level of mercury pollution in the river.
Why can’t you eat fish out of the Tennessee River?
The advisories warn of elevated levels of mercury and/or polychlorinated biphenyls in fish tissues. Pregnant women, nursing mothers and children should avoid eating the specific fish species included in each advisory, and other people are advised to limit their consumption.
Where is the cleanest water in Tennessee?
Norris Lake Has The Clearest Water In Tennessee.
What is a Sulphur fly?
The Sulphur mayfly is a member of the order Ephemeroptera (mayflies) and is found within the family Ephemerellidae (spiny crawler mayflies) and the genus Ephemerella (which also includes Sulphurs, Pale Morning Duns, and Hendricksons).
Is the Clinch River navigable?
Fishing and Floating the Clinch River The Clinch is considered navigable from the town of Richlands in Tazewell County to the Virginia/Tennessee line in Scott County. Therefore, boating is legal in that stretch, and the river is becoming popular with float fishermen and canoeists.
Who was the Clinch River named after?
Clinch River, river rising in Tazewell county, southwestern Virginia, U.S., and flowing about 300 miles (480 km), generally southwest, through the Great Appalachian Valley into eastern Tennessee.
What lake is Norris Dam on?
About the Park. Norris Dam State Park sits on more than 4,000 acres located on Norris Reservoir.
Where is the best trout fishing in Tennessee?
- Watauga and South Holston Rivers. The Watauga River has some of the best trout fishing in the state.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
- The Knoxville Tailwaters.
- Caney Fork River.
- Harpeth River.
- Reelfoot Lake.
- The Mississippi River.
When can you fish for trout in Tennessee?
Clinch River – Dr. Thomas Walker, in his Journal of 1749- 1750, says that Clinch River took its name from one Clinch, a hunter who first found it.
When can we fly fish in Tennessee?
Catch-and-release season is Oct. 1 through last day of Feb. From March 1 through Sept. 30, trout creel limit is 7 trout of all species combined and only 2 may be brown trout.
What’s the biggest fish in Norris Lake?
The fishing is always great in Tennessee. If you’re fishing for trout in or near the Smoky Mountains, late March through June will be the best times to fish. The water is warm and the trout are abundant.