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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:58 am, the temperature outside is 39.2 degrees.
Today and tomorrow will be sunny and cool. No rain is predicted until Sunday night.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PREDICTED HIGHS AND LOWS TODAY
LOCATION |
HIGH |
LOW |
TOWNSEND |
59 |
42 |
GATLINBURG |
56 |
41 |
ELKMONT |
55 |
38 |
CADES COVE |
55 |
41 |
NEWFOUND GAP |
51 |
34 |
MOUNT LECONTE |
43 |
30 |
CHEROKEE |
59 |
37 |
SMOKEMONT |
53 |
37 |
BRYSON CITY |
60 |
37 |
MAGGIE VALLEY |
54 |
37 |
COSBY |
56 |
39 |
Little River is flowing at 222 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.05 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 117 cfs. The water temperature is 53.2 degrees this morning, at the low elevation gauge site near Townsend.
The water temperatures in the low elevations and possibly the mid-elevations are fine this morning. I checked the water temp at Cataloochee Creek, and there the water is cooler than lower Little River, at 48 degrees.
It will be sunny today, so water temperatures should rise later. That will improve fishing if it happens.
Stream flows are perfect, quite a bit higher than normal for early November. That is a plus.
The sun will be shining. A cloudy day would be preferable. Fish shaded areas if you can.
Be mindful that stealth is paramount to your success. Dress to blend in with the forest. Keep a low profile, when you can. Don’t let the trout see you.
I would start with nymphs, weighted and fished deep, in broken water. Fly selection is not as important as presentation. Try to keep your flies moving with the current, not faster or slower. Try to keep your fly line off the water, so as not to cause drag on your nymphs. The water moves faster on the surface than it does near the bottom of the stream. Friction on the streambed slows the water deeper.
Your leader is more likely to slice through the water near the surface. You fly line is more likely to move with the current on the surface, dragging your nymphs faster than the water they are drifting in.
Trout watch food drift by all day, at the same speed as the current. If they see your fly moving faster or slower, that is a warning signal that something is not right. You will catch more trout if your fly is moving at the right speed, something they are used to seeing.
This is going to be a beautiful day. The trees have finally turned in the low to mid-elevations. You will catch leaves that have fallen. That is something we have to deal with during the Fall.
Nymph choices should include Prince, Tellico, Pheasant Tail and Hare’s Ear. If you decide to fish with dry flies, try a small Orange Stimulator or Orange Elk Hair Caddis. Realistic streamers, like Muddler Minnow may work too. You might catch a pre-spawn brown trout on one of those or a nymph.
Take a camera today. You are going to see some beautiful scenery.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
November 3, 2018
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com
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