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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. It is a going to be a warm one today. High temperatures will be in the 80's for the next couple of days. I expect fishing to be just as hot.
Water levels on the Little River system are near normal. The gauge is reading 2.02 feet or 202 c.f.s. The daily normal is 276 c.f.s. Streams around the Smokies are similar with their flows just a bit below the daily normal.
Little River Water temperatures are on the rise. This morning the gauge reports 54.3F. Temps will continue to rise over the next several days as overnight air temperatures remain warm. These higher and stable temps should make the bug activity increase and the dry fly fishing better.
I was stuck upstairs doing office work and ordering yesterday so I didn't get to talk to many people who were out fishing. From Facebook and Instagram, I've seen more and more pictures of mayflies. In the Smokies it is looking like Light Hendrickson, Light Cahills and Sulphurs are hatching. Smoky Mountain Candy is a great pattern this time of year. Don't forget about Stimulators and Elk Hair Caddis.
Anglers have been talking about sulphurs on the Clinch. All the tailwaters are usually best fished subsurface so when hatches actually come on strong it is a magical time. A small Sulphur Comparadun or CDC Comparadun is a great choice.
Last night I was listening to a podcast called The Articulate Fly hosted by Marvin Cash. He was interviewing Josh Pfeiffer from Frontier Anglers . Josh won 2020 Orvis Freshwater Guide of the Year. They talk about how he got started fishing and guiding. Of course they talked fishing and with Josh that means smallmouth. I follow him on Instagram and it is always pictures of big smallmouth from either the Holston or French Broad. This year when the cicadas emerge the smallmouth fishing could be something few have experienced.
Fishing in the mountains should be really good this week. Don't forget your dry fly box if you head out. The dry fly patterns are going to be in the #12-#16 size range so a 7 1/2 foot 5X leader is the way to go. If you go too light on the tippet with a larger or more wind resistant dry fly you will twist the leader/tippet and cause issues. When you cast the fly will spin in the air and twist the tippet. Switching to a heavier leader solves this.
Also, now that we are getting back to fishing more dries, give your floatant a check up. A good floatant will keep the dry floating longer. I've always been a start with gel and then after a few fish switch to powder. Many people are liking the liquid such as the High and Dry. However you choose to do it floatant will extend how long you can keep the fly floating.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Daniel Drake
April 27, 2021
Respond to: daniel@littleriveroutfitters.com
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