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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:27 am, the temperature outside is 42.6 degrees.
It will be mostly cloudy today with a high temperature in the low 60’s, dropping to the low 40’s tonight. There is a slight chance for showers this afternoon. Rain is likely tomorrow. Expect between a tenth and a quarter of an inch. Friday through Sunday will be sunny, warm during the day and chilly at night.
Rainfall yesterday amounted to .91 inches at the Knoxville Airport and 1.1 inches in Townsend. Stronger storms with heavy rain moved through barely to our north, including Sevier and Cocke Counties. I think those areas of the Smokies got more rain they we did here though I don’t have the data to back up that claim. I saw the images on the weather radar, as the storm moved through.
Little River is flowing high at 1,080 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 3.43 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 338 cfs. The water temperature is 47.1 degrees this morning.
Little Pigeon River is flowing very high at 2,960 cfs or 4.34 feet on the gauge. Median flow is 660 cfs for this date.
Oconaluftee River is flowing at 1,540 cfs, 3.09 feet, compared to median flow of 635 cfs.
Tellico River is flowing at 1,290 cfs, 3.84 feet, which compares to median flow of 328 cfs.
Cataloochee Creek is flowing at 437 cfs, 3.58 feet, compared to median flow of 146 cfs.
Stream levels are very high today. Some watersheds were more affected by rain yesterday, than others. Wading is not safe in most streams. The water is receding. I don’t know what to expect by the weekend. We have more rain in the forecast tomorrow.
TVA and the Corps have cut back the discharge at some tributary dams. That is a good sign of their future intentions. If they continue on this path, we may be able to fish the trout tailwaters earlier this year, unlike last year. I hope I am correct in this assumption. It all depends on how much rain we get in the Tennessee Valley this Spring. Check the TVA website from the links below to see how your favorite tailwater and the lake above are faring right now.
The upper portion (gravel section) of Tremont Road was washed out in places during the February flood. The road is closed to vehicle traffic. The road serves as access to the upper Middle Prong of Little River, Lynn Camp Prong and Thunderhead Prong.
I talked to Matt Kulp yesterday, head of fisheries at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As of yet, he has not heard when the road will be repaired and re-opened. He told me he would let me know when he hears anything, and I will pass that on to you. He is hopeful it will re-open this Spring. We all are.
Be at the shop Saturday. Jack Gregory and Walter Babb will be conducting fly tying demonstrations between 10 am and 2 pm. This event is free. All you have to do is show up.
These guys are expert fly fishermen and fly tyers. They grew up fly fishing in the Southern Appalachians. I have learned more about fly fishing and tying from Jack and Walter, than anyone I know. This is an event you do not want to miss.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
March 4, 2020
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com |
