Too Warm For Trout

 The last day of August was still very hot in the Tennessee River Valley.  Temperature in the upper 90’s and no rain for the entire month so Mary and I were both ready to find a cooler pace with some water before the hoards of similar minded folks invaded it for the Labor Day weekend.

Tellico Lake is formed by the Little Tennessee River and the Tellico River flowing together at Vonore, Tennessee.  The Tellico River is noted for its beauty, cold clear water and excellent trout fishing above the village of Tellico Plains.

Our first stop was just upriver from the Cherohala Skyway, a beautiful spot but dipping my hand in the water was a disappointment – it was a warm 80 degrees or so!  No trout here

Mary found a cooler spot.

A few miles further upstream Mary tested the waters in this pool and called it nearer to 70 degrees – still too warm for trout but much more comfortable for people.  We continued up the river almost to the North Carolina State Line where we visited the Tellico Fish Hatchery, a first for Mary.  

When she asked if the water here was cool enough, I had her touch the inlet pipe which was in the 50’s – perfect temperature but, no fishing allowed here.

We ambled back down the river and got some lunch at “The Crab Shack” in Tellico Planes and wandered back to Vonore along Citico Creek (another tributary of Tellico Lake).

While we didn’t get much relief from the heat, we did have a great day trip.