Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:48 am, the temperature is 26 degrees.
Finally, the Arctic blast of cold air has moved on. Today will be sunny and warmer with a high temperature in the low 60’s, falling to the low 40’s tonight. Showers are likely tomorrow with a high around 60 degrees and a low overnight in the upper 40’s.
Thursday and Friday will be even warmer, with highs in the upper 70’s and lows in the upper 50’s. Expect showers Friday. Warm air will remain through Sunday.
Little River is flowing at 315 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.35 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 396 cfs. The water temperature is 40.8 degrees this morning.
Streams in the mountains are flowing below or at normal this morning. The streams are chilly now but there will be some warming today and every day through the weekend. Fishing will improve each day this week.
If you go today, fish in the low elevations where the water is warmer. You may want to wait until later today for the same reason. Weighted nymphs or nymph rigs will probably work best today. Dry flies and emergers will be more likely to work better as the streams warm over the next few days.
Fishing for stocked trout in the low elevations will improve every day this week. Go later today when the water is warmer. Sub-surface flies will produce more strikes. Try rigs with different patterns until you find something that works for you. Nymphs, egg patterns, squirmy worms, caddis emergers, midge pupa or small streamers should be in your fly box.
Fishing for smallmouth bass in the lowland rivers will be slow today but improve as the week progresses. Streamers or nymphs will work best.
TVA and the Corps will be pausing their generators at several dams today offering tailwater anglers some opportunities. Some of the generation breaks will occur this afternoon. Check the TVA website from the links below to see what tailwater fishing options you have today and plan accordingly.
We know, getting a drag free drift is essential you your fly fishing success. Fish in streams and rivers are accustomed to watching food drift in the currents. When your fly moves in a different direction, that sends out an alarm to trout. “I’m not going to eat that!”
There are many ways to get drag free drifts, even in the mountains where there are conflicting currents that are obvious and everywhere. I found a good article on the subject on the Fly Fisherman Magazine website called, “Instructive Steps to Defeat Drag” by Jim McLennan. You can read it by CLICKING HERE and you should.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
March 21, 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
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