Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:51 am, the temperature in Townsend is 52 degrees.

Rain fell overnight, amounting .75 inches in Townsend and .57 inches at the Knoxville Airport.

Showers will continue this morning with a lower chance for showers later today. It will be breezy with a high in the middle to upper 50’s and a low tonight in the low 30’s.

Expect to see frost tomorrow morning before becoming sunny with a high in the upper 60’s.

Monday will be partly sunny with a high in the low 70’s.

Little River is flowing at 406 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.42 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 391 cfs. The water temperature is 51.6 degrees this morning. Little River is currently rising.

Most streams in the mountains are rising this morning. Cataloochee Creek has peaked and is receding. At this point, most streams are now flowing near normal. Heavy rain is not predicted this morning. We don’t know how high the streams will rise today. There is a chance they will peak soon, like Cataloochee Creek and begin to recede. If that occurs, this will be a good fishing day. If the rivers continue to rise, fishing may not be so good.

Water temperatures are ideal right now. They will fall tonight.

If you go today be ready for anything, including high water. Maybe that won’t be the case. Trout will be actively feeding. Aquatic insects will be active. Hopefully fishing will be good.

Fishing for stocked trout in the low elevation rivers will be good unless the stream flows are too high. Plan on using nymphs or streamers.

There are breaks in the generation planned today at several dams. Some are short and others are long. Tailwater anglers have many choices today. Check the flows at Cherokee, Norris, Wolf Creek, Dale Hollow, Tims Ford and Chatuge.

I found out yesterday,  Frank Smith passed away. Frank founded and owned Hunter Banks Fly Shop in Asheville, North Carolina since the 80’s. I have known him and been a friend for decades. Hunter Banks is an excellent fly shop and guide service which is staffed well with knowledgeable and helpful people. One of them is Shane, my friend, who I called and talked to yesterday. Shane is now the managing owner. I think Hunter Banks is in good hands. I offered my help at any time.

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

Byron Begley
March 23, 2024

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Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com