Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:00 am, the temperature is 47 degrees.
Showers are likely this morning. It will be breezy with a high temperature in the upper 50’s, dropping to the low 30’s tonight. Tomorrow will be partly cloudy with a high in the middle 50’s. Rain will move again tomorrow night. The low temperature will be in the low 40’s. Rain is predicted Sunday with a high in the middle 50’s.
Little River is flowing at 315 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.35 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 382 cfs. The water temperature is 48.8 degrees at the low elevation USGS gauge site this morning.
Most streams in the Smokies have receded to normal. Water temperatures are a little chilly but warmer than yesterday morning. The streams will warm slightly today.
If you go fishing in the mountains today, fish in the lower elevations where the water is warmer and the trout will be more active. Weighted nymph rigs will be good to begin with. You might try dry flies especially later today. If you see a hatch and trout feeding on the surface, switch to dry flies or emergers. Using a dry fly with a nymph, wet fly or emerger dropper is a good tactic.
Fishing for stocked trout should be fair to good in the low elevation rivers. You might want to go later when the water is warmer. Sub-surface flies will likely work best for you. Nymphs, egg patterns, midge pupa, squirmy worms or small streamers should be in your fly box. You may see surface activity with trout feeding on aquatic insects. Be ready for that.
TVA and the Corps are churning a lot of water through their dams by generating and in some cases sluicing. For instance, they will be generating full bore while sluicing 5,000 cfs at Norris Dam for a total of 13,000+ cfs. TVA plans the same tomorrow and Sunday. I did see a short break in the generation at Chatuge dam scheduled today. Check the TVA website for more information or to find other tailwater fishing options I might have missed this morning.
We have been and are receiving large shipments from our manufacturers and suppliers. Right now, we have more inventory of gear and flies than we have had in a long time. Our suppliers are well stocked too. Availability of goods has improved considerably. The fly fishing industry is expecting and have prepared for a good year. Attendance at the fly fishing shows this Winter was excellent. That is an encouraging gauge of things to come for the fly shop and guiding business.
Bookings with guides I have talked to are good.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
March 10, 2023
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Parking Tags are now required to park your vehicle inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park for more than 15 minutes. Tags may be purchased at Visitors Centers, including the center in Townsend. Or, they may be purchased online. You can buy a daily, weekly or annual tag. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com
|
