Trout fishing in the summer can be difficult in the Mountains of the Southeastern USA due to low water levels and the resultant stress on the trout populations. Trout can be stressed and endangered by low water levels that do not provide cover from predators and warm water that does not provide the oxygen levels necessary to sustain the trout populations. We have seen some bad drought conditions in the last two or three years.
However, do not despair as some of the best trout fishing conditions are still available at the tailwaters of the dams on the major rivers. For example, the water flowing in the South Holston, Caney Fork, Watauga Rivers in Tennessee, the waters of the Nantahala, Tuckeseege Rivers in North Carolina and Chattahoochie River in Georgia remain cool all summer long. The temperature in these waters typically remain about 48 degrees to 50 degrees in the summer months.
For your convenience, I have listed some of the most popular dam release schedules here.