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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:37 am, the temperature outside is 31.3 degrees.
Yesterday was one of those days, when many people wished they were fishing in the Smokies. The streams were warm. Little River’s water temperature rose to around 50 degrees. Fishing was very good. Maybe some people went fishing, and hopefully did well.
We also got a lot of rain late, 1.58 inches at the Knoxville Airport and 1.06 inches in Townsend.
The strong winds caused the potential for falling trees. So, the Park closed many roads, including, Laurel Creek Road, Little River Road from Sugarlands to the Townsend “Y”, Cades Cove Loop Road and US Highway 441 from Gatlinburg to Cherokee. As far as I can tell, they are still closed. I don’t know if trees are actually blocking the roads. If they are, it may take a while to clear them, because of the government shutdown.
Today and tonight will be very cold. It will be windy. We may see some snow this morning, but little if any accumulation is expected in the valley. The Park may get more snow, up to 4 inches in the high elevations.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PREDICTED HIGHS AND LOWS TODAY
LOCATION |
HIGH |
LOW |
TOWNSEND |
30 |
16 |
GATLINBURG |
28 |
13 |
ELKMONT |
26 |
11 |
CADES COVE |
27 |
13 |
NEWFOUND GAP |
21 |
8 |
MOUNT LECONTE |
18 |
10 |
CHEROKEE |
31 |
12 |
SMOKEMONT |
24 |
8 |
BRYSON CITY |
32 |
13 |
MAGGIE VALLEY |
34 |
10 |
COSBY |
29 |
13 |
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Little River is flowing at 1,670 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 4.21 feet on the Townsend gauge. Median flow for this date is 302 cfs. The water temperature is 47.5 degrees and falling like a rock.
Little Pigeon River is roaring at 4,120 cfs or 5.13 feet at the Sevierville gauge, compared to median flow of 502 cfs. The record flow for this date was 13,500 cfs in 1947.
Oconaluftee River, at Birdtown, is flowing at 2,760 cfs, or 4.13 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 564 cfs. The water temperature is 45.3 degrees.
Tellico River, at the Tellico Plains gauge is flowing at 2,340 cfs, 5.8 feet, and that compares to median flow of 291 cfs.
Cataloochee Creek is flowing at 277 cfs, 3.18 feet, compared to median flow of 120 cfs. The water temperature is 44.8 degrees.
What we have today are closed roads, blown out streams and falling water temperatures. It is going to be very cold and windy. The Park is under a wind chill advisory. The Park may get some significant snow.
This is not a good day to be fishing in the Smokies.
This will be a good day to tie flies. I’m going to work today. I have plenty of flies and a lot of work to do.
I have always enjoyed work. I love fishing too but I think I like work better. And, I hate sitting around doing nothing, except when I’m watching a college football game or MASH on TV.
I really enjoy tying flies and to me, that is an extension of fishing. Tying flies is fishing in my mind. These days I just tie warmwater and saltwater flies, mainly because, I have more trout flies than I will ever use.
Obviously I love talking about and writing about fishing. I would not be sitting here doing this, if I didn’t.
I also love boats, canoes and kayaks. There is something about floating on water that has always been calming to me. Some days, when Paula and I are fishing in our boat, we end the day just driving around, at 2 miles per hour, for a long period of time.
I love water, streams, rivers, lakes and the ocean. The ocean is especially interesting to me, because occasionally, I see a fish, shark or porpoise that appears as large as the kayak I’m paddling, just a few feet away or actually under the boat. Now that is a thrill. I like watching birds that fish for a living, and other creatures that live in marine environments.
Jack tells me he loves water so much because breathing all of that hydrogen is relaxing. Maybe he is kidding. Maybe not. Now that guy loves water, more than anyone I know.
UPDATE 10:19 AM - LITTLE RIVER ROAD FROM SUGARLANDS TO THE TOWNSEND "Y" HAS RE-OPENED. LAUREL CREEK ROAD AND THE CADES COVE LOOP ROAD HAVE RE-OPENED. WATCH FOR SNOW AND ICE.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
January 20, 2019
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Fly Tying Classes January, February and March 2019
Taught by Walter Babb and Brian Courtney
Beginner to Advanced
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE |
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Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com
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