Right Summer Wrong Dog

The dreaded sub-season of the summer, The Dog Days, have arrived. For many this means the start of school for children has arrived or soon will be. Hot days with only minimal relief at night help us look forward to the very need Autumn. However, something is different this summer.

This summer has been very cool relative to previous years. I have always heard of the high ridges of the Smoky Mountains seeing snow during the summer months, and this year made me a believer of those longstanding record cold temperatures. It did not snow in June or July but is has been cooler than normal. On average this summer we have seen day time highs in the low 80s and over night lows in the low 60s. A cold front might move through and kick us to the mid 50s even.

With all this being said, the dog days are looking more like the puppy days, thus the trout are still rising and biting. The Nantahala has been fishing incredible, and the Great Smoky National Park waters are still nice and cool in the morning hours. There are even some trout being caught in the Tuckaseegee mixed in with Smallmouth and Spotted Bass. So if you are looking to get some summer fishing in before the fall and avoid crowds this is the time to do it!