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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:44 am, the temperature is 52.2 degrees.
Today will be partly sunny with a high temperature in the low 70’s and a low tonight in the upper 40’s. Light rain showers return to the forecast tomorrow. It may be breezy. Temperatures will remain warm. Showers and thunderstorms are predicted tomorrow night and ending Saturday morning. It will be a little cooler Saturday and Sunday with highs in the low 60’s.
Little River is flowing at 611 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.78 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 390 cfs. The water temperature is 51.4 degrees this morning.
Most streams in the Smokies are flowing higher than normal. Many anglers would prefer lower flows. The streams have been receding slowly this week. Rainfall night before last raised the water levels somewhat. That could happen again tomorrow, especially tomorrow night. Or, maybe it won’t happen. No heavy rain is predicted right now.
Water temperatures have risen to the trout’s preferred range in the low elevations and the trout have become active again. Aquatic insect adults are present. Trout are taking dry flies, nymphs and wet flies.
Fishing has been good in the low elevations where the water is warmer and slower in the higher elevations. As water temperatures rise, fishing will improve in the higher elevations. I talked to some guys yesterday who fished on Lynn Camp Prong Tuesday. They told me fishing was slow. I also talked to David Knapp yesterday. His clients did very well the same day. I bet they were fishing lower where the water was warmer.
I would start today fishing in the low elevations. Look for water temps in the 50’s. I would also start with weighted nymph rigs. Switch to dry flies and wet flies if you see trout rising to adult insects or if you just want to use top water flies. Try to match the insects you are seeing.
Parachute Adams is one pattern you can use to mimic several Spring hatching insects. Have an assortment in several sizes from #12 to #16 or even smaller. A wet fly, used as a dropper is a good idea. Trout may be prone to take the dry fly or wet fly emergers. Give the trout options. Or, use a nymph as a dropper. A Pheasant Tail nymph is a good choice. Trout have a lot of food choices right now.
Lowland river fishing for stocked trout should be good today. Some of these rivers are flowing high with strong currents. Wading may be limited in some streams or areas of streams. Sub-surface flies will work best.
TVA and the Corps of Engineers will be churning water all day with no breaks at most dams. There are not many tailwater fishing options. I did notice a long pause in the generation planned at Chatuge Dam later today. If you live close by, check that schedule out. There may be others.
Sunday is the first day of Spring. The long term weather forecast looks good through the end of March. There will probably be rainy days of course. And, there will be some cool days and a couple of fairly cold nights with temperatures falling into the upper 30’s. For the most part, it will be warm, if the forecast holds true.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
March 17, 2022
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com
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