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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. It is sunny and warm this morning here in the mountains. This weekend is the Townsend Spring Festival. There will be lots of things going on. It might be a little harder to get a hotel room but it shouldn't mess with the fishing much.
Water conditions are nearly perfect. The streamflow gauge is giving a reading of 2.14 feet or 264 c.f.s. The daily normal is 260 c.f.s. The streams are flowing clear. Water temperatures are good at 59F. Temps will be cooler in the higher elevation streams.
The weather forecast is calling for some rain tonite and tomorrow. It isn't a large amount, only about 0.50 inches tomorrow. Some rain will be helpful to maintain water flows. The weather is also supposed to go down to more seasonable daytime highs next week. Highs in the 70's and lows in the 50's.
Fishing has been good in the Smokies. Anglers are seeing a lot of bugs. Dry flies have been working well in the afternoons. Light Cahills, Sulphurs, Yellow Parachute Adams, Light colored caddis, Yellow Stimulators, Rob's Hellbenders, Neversink Caddis, etc. Sizes are going to range from #12 on the Cahills and Stoneflies to #16 on the parachutes and sulphurs.
Don't forget about nymphs. They are always a good bet. Try a dry/dropper rig to maximize your chances. A pheasant tail or green weenie can be good choices.
I haven't had the chance to update the website yet but we have a date for an Aquatic Entomology class. It is going to be Saturday June 16. The cost is $150. This year the class will be taught by David Harrell and Dennis Baxter. Our Aquatic Entomology classes fill quickly so don't wait till the last minute. Give us a call today to sign up! 865-448-9459.
I have heard some good reports from the Clinch River this week. Nymphs and midges are also a good choice for flies. Zebra midges and small pheasant tails. Anglers have also been doing well using dry patterns.
Here is a report I received from Charles. "The fish on the Clinch have been solid on sulphur comparaduns, sulphur emergers, both in a size 16, and midge emergers in a size 22 for the past couple of weeks. I've been fishing the emerger behind the dry; other guys I've talked to have been swinging emergers, with the fish taking at the end of the drift. The fish have been in skinny, faster water so part of the puzzle is using long, fine leaders - 12-18 feet, down to 6X fluorocarbon."
The right leader can really make the difference in some situations. A long light leader can be a hindrence here in the Smokies. Too long and it is hard to cast. Too light and it will twist up with a bushy, wind resistant fly. On big water however, a long light leader can help you to get a more natural drift. I think it might not be that a light, 6X, leader is necessarily less visible to the trout...or weather they care...but a long light leader is more supple and will therefor flow with the water better allowing for a better drift.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Daniel Drake
May 4, 2018
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