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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:50 am, the temperature outside is 33.3 degrees.

It is warmer than was predicted yesterday. Today will be even warmer, and partly sunny. Though it will be cold tonight, a warming trend will bring much higher temperatures to our area through Saturday. Expect rain Thursday. Sunday will be cold.

Little River Road from Metcalf Bottoms to the Townsend “Y” was opened yesterday, after being closed due to a rock slide and trees on the road. Now it is closed again temporarily “due to weather”.  Cherokee Orchard Road, Laurel Creek Road to Cades Cove, and the new section of the Foothills Parkway from Walland to Wears Valley were also closed yesterday due to weather. US Highway 441 (Newfound Gap Road) has been closed for a while.

The Park is updating their Roads Twitter page. You can access the page by CLICKING HERE. You may find some roads re-opening today. I think several will open later this morning.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PREDICTED HIGHS AND LOWS TODAY

Little River is flowing at 382 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.45 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 284 cfs. The water temperature is 43.5 degrees.

The streams are flowing fairly high to high. Little River is certainly fishable, but the current is strong is spots so be careful wading.

The water temperature in Little River is warmer than expected. The water temperature at Birdtown on the Ononaluftee River is currently 4.26 degrees while at Cataloochee Creek, the temperature is 40.1 degrees. Water temperatures are falling at all three gauge sites that have temperature probes. I think they will stabilize soon and possibly get warmer later today.

For that reason, I think fishing may be fair. After a cold night tonight, very warm air will move in and that should raise the water temperatures significantly through the end of the week. Fishing will improve for sure.

I would start with weighted nymphs and streamers this morning. You may see a blue wing olive hatch or other aquatic insects on the water today and through the week.

If the water temperature climbs to the mid 40’s or warmer, trout will be active. I think that will happen this week and the water may get warmer than that. At 50 degrees, fishing will be good. Fish the lower elevations where the water is warmer.
  
WBIR interviewed Phil Francis about the government shutdown and how it affects the Park. Phil should know, he has been through this before. You can read the article by CLICKING HERE.

I have known Phil for a long time. He was the Deputy Superintendent at Great Smoky Mountains National Park when we were in the early years, forming the Little River Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Phil was a huge supporter of our new chapter. Phil also served as Acting Superintendent during his tenure at this Park. He retired as Superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway, after 40 years of service at the Park Service.

I saw Phil, the last time at Troutfest though he was supervising Blue Ridge Parkway at the time. From what I remember, he was a trout fisherman, but I can’t remember if he fly fished. I think he did. We reminisced about the good old days, when our park was the first National Park to actively work with a TU chapter.  

We have a great free program for you Saturday. Guides Rob Fightmaster and John Oody will be conducting fly tying demonstrations and talking about fly fishing. They will be demonstrating between 10 am and 2 pm. These guys have a lot of Smokies and tailwater trout fishing experience, they are willing to share with you. All you have to do is show up.

You can see our entire Free Saturday Demonstrations schedule on our website by CLICKING HERE.

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

Byron Begley
January 15, 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