Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 6:03 am, the temperature outside is 41.7 degrees.

The rain is over for now. Today will be cooler than yesterday but still fairly warm. After the chance for showers early this morning, it will be cloudy at first, then sunny later today.

Much of the area is under a wind advisory today, with gusts up to 50 miles per hour at the high elevations of the Smoky Mountains.

Tomorrow will be sunny and warmer. The unseasonably warm temperatures will remain through Tuesday.  

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PREDICTED HIGHS AND LOWS TODAY

Little River is flowing at 946 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 3.29 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 301 cfs. The water temperature is 50.7 degrees this morning.

Little Pigeon River at Sevierville is flowing at 2,430 cfs, 3.97 feet, and that compares to median flow of 530 cfs for this date.

Oconaluftee River’s flow at Birdtown is 1,690 cfs, 3.24 feet, compared to median flow of 507 cfs. The water temperature is 47.8 degrees.

Tellico River at Tellico Plains is flowing at 1,000 cfs, 3.20 feet, compared to median flow of 284 cfs.

Cataloochee Creek is flowing at 348 cfs, 3.37 feet, and that compares to median flow of 119 cfs. The water temperature there is 46.2 degrees this morning.

The good news is, the water is warm and within the trout’s preferred range, especially in the low elevations. The trout are active. They will be feeding.

On the other hand, the streams are flowing high, much higher than normal for this time of the year. Don’t be surprised to find your favorite stream flowing too high to wade. The water will slowly recede all weekend. Fishing conditions will be better tomorrow than they are today.

Be careful wading. Don’t take chances. The current is strong. If the wind is blowing strong, you might want to stay out of the forest.

You may do best fishing a smaller stream. You can “high stick” heavily weighted nymphs and probably catch some trout. I talked to one customer yesterday who did well, fishing a smaller stream.

I would use nymphs or possibly streamers. My nymph choices would be Tellico, Prince, Hare’s Ear or Pheasant Tail. I would use a Muddler Minnow for my streamer. Add plenty of weight. You can slide a tungsten bead, used for fly tying, onto your tippet, or pinch on some split shot to get your flies down. I like the beads because they don’t weaken your tippet.

I would use heavy tippet, in case you hook a large brown trout. Try 8 or 10 pound test tippet. If you are not catching trout, drop down to a finer tippet, maybe 4X. I would also use non-slip loop knots to tie on my flies, to give them better action in the water.

The Park Service has not updated their Roads Twitter Page since January 1st. Little River Road, from Metcalf Bottoms to the Townsend “Y” was closed December 28th, due to downed trees and debris on the road. Apparently, it is still closed.

Dave and Melissa Harrell will be holding fly tying demonstrations at the shop today from 10 am until 2 pm. They are both excellent anglers and fly tyers. The Clinch River is their home water. Come by and spend some time with them today. Learn how they fish the Clinch and other streams.

This event is free. All you have to do is show up. Come on by and enjoy your day at the shop.

Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.

Byron Begley
January 5, 2019

Fly Tying Classes January, February and March 2019 Taught by Walter Babb and Brian Courtney Beginner to Advanced CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com