Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:47 am, the temperature in Townsend is 49 degrees.

Today will be partly sunny with a high temperature in the low 70’s, falling to the low 50’s tonight. There is a chance for rain this afternoon, with a 100% chance tonight.

Rain is likely tomorrow with a high in the low to middle 60’s and a low in the upper 40’s.

Rainfall through tomorrow may be heavy.

Little River is flowing at 387 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.38 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 375 cfs. The water temperature is 51.3 degrees this morning.

Streams in the Smokies are flowing near normal with some flowing below normal. They all appear to be flowing at good fishing levels. Water temperatures remain within the trout’s preferred range in the low to middle elevations. What we are looking for are water temperatures in the 50’s.

I was off yesterday and did not talk to any returning fishermen. I suspect the Spring hatches have begun. They will be sporadic. You may see Quill Gordons, Blue Quills, Blue Wing Olives and other aquatic insects on the water at times. Trout may be feeding on the surface now.

Unless we get too much rain tonight and tomorrow, fishing should continue to be good in the Smokies. The steams should remain warm through Saturday before a cold front moves in Sunday, dropping the temperatures Sunday night.

If you go, be prepared for anything. Fish in the low to middle elevations where the water is warmer.

Fishing for stocked trout is good.

Check the TVA website to see what tailwater fishing options you have today. There are not many if you are wade fishing. There are more if you are boating.

Paula and I were sitting on the front porch yesterday listening to a wild turkey gobbling. The turkeys will be mating in a few weeks. We have three big gobblers hanging around our house with a small flock of hens. We are not seeing any jakes. The gobblers ran those birds off.

We are still feeding birds during the day. We have not seen any bears so far this year. When they show up, the bird feeders will be cleaned and stored until next Winter.

We are busy at the shop. It’s that time of the year.

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

Byron Begley
March 5, 2024

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Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com