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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:30 am, the temperature outside is 50.3 degrees.

Today will be warm, with a high temperature near 55 degrees. There is a 100% chance for rain today, with precipitation amounts between ¼” and ½” expected. Rain was predicted last night, which did not happen.

Little River is flowing at 132 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.78 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 302 cfs. The water temperature is 44.2 degrees this morning.

The streams are at the water temperature threshold, in the lower elevations, for trout activity. The water temperature in Little River, near the confluence of the three prongs, rose 5 degrees yesterday and this morning so far.

That trend should continue. Trout may become more active today, as the water warms. What we need is 45 degree water. That should happen. What we hope for is 50 degree water. That is possible, I guess. Or, the water temperature could stay where it is all day. It’s too close to call. Warmer air and rain, should raise the water temperatures today, but I don’t know for sure.

This could be a fair to good fishing day, at least in the low elevations. I would give it a try. But, I’m working today, so I won’t.

I would fish on the Middle or West Prongs of Little River. You may venture up the East Prong and you may catch trout there too. I would consider trying Metcalf Bottoms. The water will be colder there, than it is at the low elevations. Sometimes, it takes trout time to acclimate to warmer temperatures, before they go on a feeding spree. They may not be feeding today. The brown trout should be active. They were out in the open a week ago. They may be now.

I would start with nymphs, fished deep. If the trout start feeding, they will take nymphs first. If there happens to be a hatch of some sort, like Blue Wing Olives, trout may feed on the surface. Be ready for that. Have some BWO dries and emergers in your fly box just in case.

Colder air returns to the Smokies Tuesday. It will warm some Wednesday and Thursday. Then, it should be cold again Friday and Saturday. The long term forecast indicates no significant warming through February 11th. No Spring fishing yet, unless it somehow happens today.

I hate predicting good or improved fishing, when I don’t know for sure. Today is one of those days. But heck, going and not doing well is better than not going at all.

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

Byron Begley
January 28, 2018

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com