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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 7:16 am, the temperature outside is 50 degrees.

It is very foggy this morning. Soon it will be sunny. Expect a high temperature in the mid-70’s today with a low in the mid-50’s tonight. There is a chance for showers and possibly thunderstorms tomorrow through Tuesday. The high temperatures will range from the low to mid-70’s through the period.

Little River is flowing at 287 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.23 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 379 cfs. The water temperature is 53.8 degrees.

This should be a perfect day to fly fish in the Smoky Mountains. Stream flows are excellent. Water temperatures are even better.

You may want to start with nymphs early. Try most any reasonable pattern, Pheasant Tail, Prince, Hare’s Ear or Tellico.

Switch to dry flies at some point. There are many species of aquatic adult insects on the water. Pick a dry you like to start. A Parachute Adams, Elk Hair Caddis, Hendrickson or Light Cahill are all good choices. If you see a hatch, switch to a fly that resembles what you and the trout are seeing.

Fishing conditions could not be much better. Overcast skies would be the only improvement I can think of.

It will be overcast tomorrow. The chance for rain is not that high. So, tomorrow could be the perfect day.

Wherever you go, fishing will be good. You have many choices. The East Prong of Little River above the Sinks to Metcalf Bottoms is one. On the same prong, fish from Metcalf to Elkmont. Hike above Elkmont. The Middle Prong and West Prong of Little River will be good too. You may want to hike up Lynn Camp Prong to fish for brook trout.

Of course, there are over 800 miles of trout streams in the Park. Pick one and go. The water will be colder in the high elevations. I would fish a low to mid elevation stream, like those I mentioned above.

The tailwaters are fishing well for trout and smallmouth bass. Guide Josh Pfeiffer showed me some photos yesterday, of a huge smallmouth one of his clients caught this week. Since the smallmouth bite has begun, this is a good time to book a float trip with Josh or Gary Troutman.

You can see their website by CLICKING HERE. By the way, they both have brand new drift boats that look to be designed especially for the type of water we have here. The boats are roomy. They are made by Hyde. The bows are low, which helps in the wind and gives the bow angler more room to cast.

TVA is giving tailwater anglers more wade fishing options than we have seen in a long time, at Norris, Cherokee and Douglas dams. Check out the TVA site. Pick a tailwater and go.

The lowland river fishing for smallmouth bass and rock bass is improving daily, thanks to the warming waters. Trout fishing in the lowland rivers is good. White bass will be spawning soon. Some of the lowland rivers offer excellent white bass fishing during the Spring run.

As the lakes warm, bass will be moving into shallow water. They may have already in some lakes. They are prime targets for fly fishermen, when they are shallow.

I can’t believe it. The Corps stopped spilling at Wolf Creek Dam in Kentucky. That is good news. They are still sluicing at Center Hill Dam. I am hoping to see that great fishery improve soon. Maybe it won’t be long.

It is nice to be reporting on good fishing again.

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

Byron Begley
April 6, 2019

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com

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