Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:41 am, the temperature is 27 degrees.

Today will be partly sunny early before becoming sunny later, with a high temperature around 60 degrees. There is a chance for showers tonight with a low in the upper 30’s.

Tomorrow will be windy with rain showers. The chance for rain is 90% but no heavy rain is predicted.

Rain showers are likely Saturday with a high in the middle 60’s and a low in the low 50’s. Showers are likely Sunday with a high in the low to middle 60’s.

Little River is flowing at 51.8 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.35 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 240 cfs. The water temperature is 37.2 degrees this morning.

Streams in the mountains are flowing significantly below normal. Drought conditions persist in the Southern Appalachians. Hopefully we will get some relief this weekend. Water temperatures are below the trout’s preferred range at all elevations. We will see some warming over the next few days and fishing should improve.

If you go fishing in the mountains today, try nymphs. Most trout will not be actively feeding. If you go later today, the water will be warmer. Fish in the low elevations where the water is warmer.

Fishing for stocked trout in the low elevations will improve as the rivers warm. Nymphs will likely work best. You may want to downsize your tippet and flies. Try midges.

If fishing on a tailwater is your hope today, there are generation schedules you can work with at a few dams. Most of the breaks will occur this afternoon. Check the TVA website from the links below to see what your options are today.

Officials are searching for an arsonist suspected of intentionally setting the Rich Mountain Fire 10 days ago. The wildfire was located in Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Dry Valley. Dry Valley is located near Townsend. Paula and I live in Dry Valley. People in many homes evacuated but our house was just outside the evacuation zone.

The Tennessee Council of Trout Unlimited will be holding a meeting at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute Saturday morning. The institute is the site for the annual Trout Camp for kids.

Our Free Fly Tying Demonstration to be held Saturday December 2nd will feature Walter Babb. Walter is a fly fishing legend and well known bamboo rod maker. He worked at Little River Outfitters for many years as a fly tying and fly fishing instructor. Walter will be tying and talking to you between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. You don't want to miss this one.

THIS DEMONSTRATION HAS BEEN CANCELLED. MIKE WILL BE RESCHEDULED. THERE WILL BE NO FLY TYING DEMONSTRATION SUNDAY DUE TO THE CHRISTMAS PARADE. Mike Wallace will be tying on Sunday, between 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm. Mike is an excellent fly tyer. We sell some of his flies in the shop. You will enjoy and learn from Mike so get out for a couple of hours to spend time with him.

All of our Winter Fly Tying Demonstrations are Free. You don’t need a reservation. Just show up. You can view our schedule by CLICKING HERE.

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

Byron Begley
November 30, 2023

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com