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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:51 am, the temperature outside is 37.9 degrees.
Rain is in the forecast today. We may get up to one quarter of an inch. It will be fairly warm, in the low 50’s. It may be breezy at times, with wind gusts as high as 25 miles per hour.
Cold air will finally move into our area tonight and remain for several days. Expect high temperatures in the 30’s and 40’s tomorrow through at least Tuesday, dipping down to the 20’s at night.
Little River is flowing at 490 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.68 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 267 cfs. The water temperature is 46.8 degrees this morning.
Little Pigeon River is flowing at 978 cfs or 2.73 feet at the Sevierville gauge. Median flow for this date is 435 cfs.
Oconaluftee River is flowing at 959 cfs, 2.56 feet, compared to median flow of 535 cfs. The water temperature is 45.1 degrees this morning.
At the Tellico Plains gauge, Tellico River is flowing at 539 cfs, 2.15 feet, compared to median flow of 276 cfs.
Cataloochee Creek is flowing at 240 cfs, 3.04 feet, compared to median flow of 118 cfs. The water temperature is 43.5 degrees.
The streams have slowly receded for now. They are all flowing above normal. Be careful wading as some rivers are still swift. Fishing could be fair today because the water temperature is warm enough for trout feeding activity, especially in the lower elevations. Little River is a prime example.
Fish the lower elevations where the water is warmer. Nymphs and streamers are probably your best bet. You may encounter aquatic insects on the surface at times. I would have some blue wing olive dries and emergers in my box, just in case.
Don’t be surprised if it is windy. Rain may raise water levels.
After today, water temperatures will plunge and fishing will slow for a few days.
TVA and the Corps will be generating heavily at the dams nearby. Additionally, they are sluicing and spilling at some dams. I don’t see any options for tailwater trout angling today in our area.
This will be a good day to visit our shop. We are holding our Free Fly Tying Demos today, featuring Tic Smith and Joe Lock. They will start at 10 am and tie until 2 pm. Neither of these guys have demonstrated at the shop before.
Tic is a professional fly fishing guide who I have known for many years. He got his start on the Hiwassee River but he also guides on other tailwaters in the region. He has been guiding for 25 years. When Tic visits the shop he can always be found in the fly tying department. We share a love of fly tying and I enjoy learning from him.
Joe and his wife moved to Townsend a few years ago. I guess Joe is about my age. He has been tying and fly fishing about as long as I have. I took up the sport in 1962.
Both of them are very nice guys who you will enjoy being with and learning from. All you have to do is show up.
We have enjoyed Spring-like temperatures this January with plenty of rain too. Wood frogs are mating in the Smokies. They think it is Spring. I have to be honest, I had never heard of a wood frog until I read an article this morning. You can read it on the WBIR website by CLICKING HERE.
Wood frogs remain dormant during the Winter. Their bodies can freeze and their heart stops beating. When temperatures rise, they come back to life and mate, which they have been doing this month. I suppose they will return to normal in a couple of days when Winter returns.
One thing we all probably share is a love of nature and learning more about the natural world we live in. I would much rather read about wood frogs than politics.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
January 18, 2020
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com |
