Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:39 am, the temperature in Townsend is 15 degrees.

It will be partly sunny today with a high temperature in the low 20’s. The low temperature tonight is predicted to be 5 degrees. We are under a wind chill advisory today and tonight.

Tomorrow will be sunny  and warmer with a high in the middle 30’s and a low overnight in the middle teens.

Most roads in Great Smoky Mountains National Park are closed.

Little River is flowing at 232 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.09 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 309 cfs. The water temperature is 34.3 degrees this morning.

Most streams in the mountains are flowing below normal with some flowing right at normal. The streams are extremely cold and those conditions will remain through the weekend. Fishing is slow.

Fishing is also slow in the low elevation stocked rivers due to the very cold water conditions.

TVA and the Corps of Engineers are generating around the clock at most dams. I saw a couple of schedules with long pauses so I guess you could travel to a tailwater to fish. Keep in mind, wading in the water is dangerous with near zero wind chill factors. Don’t go!

We think the weather has been terrible here and it has. The Winter storms have affected much of the United States. I order for the fly tying department weekly and some orders are running behind. The folks at Hareline Dubbin in Monroe, Oregon endured a “major ice storm” last weekend, and just got back to work Wednesday. They are going to work this weekend to get caught up. I will order from them again Monday, and get two Hareline orders next week.

It’s the same with Wapsi in Mountain Home, Arkansas. I placed an order on the 10th and it shipped yesterday. I will order from them again Monday, and probably get two Wapsi orders next week.

Whiting Farms shipped an order a few days ago, and it is scheduled to arrive Monday. It would have normally arrived earlier this week.

Today’s Free Fly Tying Demonstration with Tom and Steve Brown has been cancelled due to heavy snow where they live. We will be open so come on by.

Fly fishing guide Rob Fightmaster will be demonstrating tomorrow Sunday January 21st between 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm. Rob is an excellent guide who works in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. He has come up with some very effective Smokies fly patterns he will share with you. He is fun to watch and talk to. He has an incredible amount of knowledge earned by decades of guiding in the Smokies.

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

If we need to cancel a demonstration due to bad weather, you can find out on this report.

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

Byron Begley
January 20, 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.

WALTER BABB BAMBOO RODS FOR SALE - Buy directly from Walter. CLICK HERE for more information.

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com