Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:41 am, the temperature is 35 degrees.

Strong winds blew all day yesterday, with a force up to 100 miles per hour recorded at Cove Mountain in Wears Valley. Many roads in Great Smoky Mountains National Park were closed yesterday due to downed trees. Some roads remain closed including Laurel Creek Road and Little River Road.

Today will be partly sunny and windy with a high temperature in the low 40’s and a low in the upper 20’s tonight.

Tomorrow will be mostly sunny with a high in the middle 30’s dropping to the middle 20’s overnight.

Snow is likely Monday with a high in the low 30’s and a low in the low 20’s.

Little River is flowing at 583 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.79 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 317 cfs. The water temperature is 43.7 degrees this morning.

Most streams in the Smokies are flowing higher than median flow for this date. Water temperatures are below the trout’s preferred range. Access to streams in the mountains may be limited due to closed roads. It will be windy today, especially in the higher elevations where gusts to 55 miles per hour are possible.

This is not a good day to be fishing in the mountains.

You might catch stocked trout in the low elevations outside the Smokies. Try nymphs, egg patterns, Squirmy Worms or streamers.

You could fish in a tailwater today. There are generation schedules that offer breaks at several dams. Visit the TVA website from the link below to see what is going on at your favorite tailwater.

This will be a good day to hang out a Little River Outfitters. Jack Gregory will be conducting a Free Fly Tying Demonstration today between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. Jack is a well-known local angler who grew up fly fishing in the Smokies. You will learn a lot from Jack about fly tying and fly fishing. Don’t miss this one.

Bob Stephan will be demonstrating tomorrow, Sunday January 14th from 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm. Bob is President of the Clinch River Chapter of Trout Unlimited and is a very skilled fly tyer and angler. He is also a very active fly tying instructor. Bob lives in Norris Tennessee and love to fish on the Clinch River.    

You do not need a reservation to attend. Just show up at the shop.

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

Byron Begley
January 13, 2024

We are hold two all-day Beginner Fly Tying Classes on Saturday January 27th and Saturday February 17th. Taking one of these classes will give you a huge jump start into the wonderful hobby of fly tying. The class costs $100, which includes all the materials you will need for the day and the use of our vises and tools. We will also provide lunch for you. Space is limited so call the shop at 865-448-9459 soon to book your spot.

Join us on the weekends during the Winter for our Free Fly Tying Demonstrations.   You don’t need a reservation. Just show up. You can view our schedule by CLICKING HERE.

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com