Duck River Tennessee Fishing Report & Options for Selecting Flies: Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
We also have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes. They make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Type of Stream
Tailwater
Species
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Size
Small
Location
South Central Tennessee
Nearest Towns
Shelbyville
Season
Year-round
Access:
Good
Non-Resident License
State of Tennessee
Normandy Dam:
TVA Discharge Schedule
Weather
National Weather Service Link
Seasons:
Year-round
Spring:
Springtime flows are subject to being high.
Summer:
Summertime is good near the dam.
Fall:
Fall is good, especially for the brown trout.
Winter:
Trout can be caught on warm, Winter days.
Recommended Tackle & Gear
Fly Line:
5 or 6 weight
Leaders:
Dry fly: 9 & 12 ft., 5 or 6X, Nymphing:
71/2 ft., 3 or 4X, Streamers 0-2X
Tippets:
Dry fly: 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 3 or 4X,
Streamer 0-2X
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly Superb Five or Ultimate Six
Fly Reels:
For 5/6 fly line
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
Floatants, KISS Strike Indicators
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Copyright 2013 James Marsh
Fly Fishing Duck River (Normandy Dam) Tailwater Tennessee
The Duck River is another of Tennessee’s tailwaters that’s rarely mentioned among anglers other than those that live near Lake Normandy. Like its neighbor, the Elk River, It’s located in the farming country in the hills of South Central Tennessee. It is also called the Normandy Dam tailwater.
This stream is very small and is easily waded provided the stream flows are acceptable. There’s a link on your left that provides the water release schedule at Normandy Dam. You have to keep an eye on the water because like many other TVA tailwaters, it can rise
suddenly. Fly fishing the Duck River usually requires nymphs or streamers for success. There’s only a few occasions when dry flies will work.
The Duck River is stocked with both brown and rainbow trout. I am not aware as to its holdover status or even if many trout do holdover or live throughout the year. I am
sure there’s little or no reproduction of the trout due to the unsuitable bottom composition.
You can float the Duck River but you need to do so in a canoe or small personal pontoon type craft. It’s very small and most regular drift boats wouldn’t work well at all. The best way to fish its waters is to wade.
Access is provided just below the dam, at the Normandy Road Bridge, the Cortner Road Bridge, and the Three Fork Bridge. Fly fishing the Duck River is subject to the dam discharges, so make certain you check the schedule prior to making a trip to the river.
As is the case with many tailwaters, there’s not a lot of aquatic insects in the river other than midges. There are a few black flies, plenty of baitfish and sculpin and a few
odd and end species of mayflies and caddisflies.