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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:44 am, the temperature is 34.2 degrees.

It will be warm, in the upper 50’s to low 60’s, every day this week. It will be cooler tonight again, but warming some during the balance of the week. Friday will be very warm. Saturday will be cooler with a high possibility for rain. Sunday will be sunny and colder.

Little River is flowing at 190 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.01 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 170 cfs. The water temperature is 48.7 degrees this morning.

I think fishing will be fair this week, and maybe good at times, especially on Friday and Saturday. We will have some warm days this week. Water temperatures will rise and fall. But, there are some cold nights expected, tonight and Thursday night. I believe Friday and Saturday will offer the best fishing this week. That depends on how much the water warms Friday and Friday night. Saturday could be a perfect fishing day. Take your rain jacket.

Today may be pretty good. The water is fairly warm in the low elevations. It will be partly cloudy, which is an advantage for the angler.

Start with nymphs. I would use two, one weighted at the bottom of your rig. The upper nymph should be about 16” above the anchor fly to comply with Park regulations. A tippet ring makes a good connection point for your anchor nymph and the nymph above, tied to a short piece of tippet.

More fishermen are using tippet rings for nymph rigs. In fact, more fishermen are using tippet rings period. I put them on brand new leaders, about 18” to 2’ above the tippet end. When it’s time to add new tippet, simply cut the old piece off at the ring and tie in a new piece using an improved clinch knot.

If you see a hatch, follow your instincts, and possibly switch to a dry fly.

The water will be warmer in the lower elevations. I would fish on the Middle Prong of Little River, the East Prong in the Metcalf Bottoms area or Abrams Creek. You might want to hike up Lynn Camp Prong, pretty far above the Cascade, and see what the brook trout are doing.

You may see brown trout spawning. Those attending a redd should be left alone. Care should also be taken to avoid walking on redds. Wading on redds can cause severe damage to eggs and fry.

If you see browns out in the open, searching for food, they are “fair game”. They will be hungry and less spooky than usual. The same holds true for brook trout.

Leaves are falling. You have a good chance for hooking those while fishing. That can be frustrating. Leaves collecting on the stream bed and on the banks, pose a hazard for those wading or walking. This time of year, I have always held on to trees while moving along the banks. A wading staff is a very useful safety tool when wading, especially when you can’t see the bottom that is obscured by fallen leaves. I’ve had some nasty falls, during the fall, both in the water and on the banks.

We are enjoying some beautiful days right now, and they should continue through Friday. It is daybreak now, and the forest outside my office window looks beautiful. There are still some gold colored leaves on the trees, and a massive amount of leaves on the ground.

Next week is Thanksgiving week. We have always had customers and friends in town for the holiday. Some are camping. Those who are, will enjoy the warmth of a campfire. It is going to be cooler but not terribly cold. I think it will be a great camping week, but rain is in the forecast for Thanksgiving day.

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

Byron Begley
November 14, 2017

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com