Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. We received more rain last night bringing water levels back up.  Thankfully the rest of the week is looking dry and only a little rain on Saturday.

The gauge on Little River is reading 3.61 feet or 1250 c.f.s.  The daily normal is 288 c.f.s.  Water levels like this a unsafe for fishing. 

Water temperatures dipped last night but are still a nice 48F.  This week overnight low air temperatures are to be around freezing which will cause water temps to drop.  We just need them to stay around 50F for a week to get the bug life rolling for spring.

Since all the streams in the area are too high to fish there isn't much need to go through the same list of flies.  So instead, let's look ahead.  First hatches of the Spring are not too far away.  During the Winter there is little, tiny black stoneflies.  They are about as wide as a pencil lead and around half an inch long.  You will find them on the stream but cold water and effort seems to keep the trout from getting too excited about them.  What we are waiting for is the first real hatches of the Spring.  Quill Gordons and Blue Quills.  Walter Babb was telling me that when he was young they didn't hardly know Quill Gordons existed.  Anglers didn't care much about early mayflies because the trout fishing season didn't open until April so they weren't on the water when those bugs were hatching.

Quill Gordons are a welcome sight in the Spring.  They are the signal that Winter is over and better fishing is to here.  All of the early flies are going to be dark bluish gray.  Quill Gordons are big floppy mayflies.  The dry fly patterns you will use are going to be in the size #10-12 range.  Big parachutes work but why not fish a classic Catskill style dry.  A dun hackle tail, a slender, stripped peacock herl body, more dun hackle and beautiful lemon wood duck wings.  This pattern is so big that it is easily seen on the water.  Once they begin to hatch it takes the trout a few days to remember that food does come on the dry side of the water surface.

Quill Gordons are one of the mayfly types which hatch into an adult subsurface.  They swim up through the water to clammer out onto the water's surface where they then have to wait for their wings to dry so they can fly off.  This makes them most vulnerable to being eaten while swimming up and then prior to flying away.  Traditional wet fly patterns are ideal to imitate this process.  Using a heavier nymph hook, the regular Quill Gordon pattern is modified for the wet.  Same tail, same body, but the wood duck wing is tied in laying back and the rooster hackle is changed to hen.  Many of the Wet Quill Gordon flies which we sell at the Shop are tied by local tyer Mike Wallace.  Mike just happens to be our featured fly tyer this Sunday.  Come by and he will be more than happy to show you how to tie the Quill Gordon wet and other traditional wet fly patterns to use this Spring.

Spring is coming fast and we are getting ready.  New rods and new reels coming.  To make room we've been going through some of the gear with that like coating of dust on it.  I told Dave to price it so people feel bad not buying it.  Come check out the Winter sale items.  There is some fly rods, reels, waders and boots.

We've got some more great fly tyers for you this coming weekend.  On Saturday it will be Bill Boyd Jr and his grand daughter "Half Hitch".  on Sunday, Mike Wallace will be here.  Mike loves wet flies which are perfect patterns to be stocking up on for the early Spring hatches.

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

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

Daniel Drake
February 13, 2024

We are holding an all-day Beginner Fly Tying Class on Saturday February 17th. Taking this class 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