Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:40 am, the temperature is 28 degrees.
Toady will be partly sunny and warmer with a high temperature around 60 degrees, dropping to the middle 40’s tonight. Showers are likely tonight and tomorrow. Tomorrow’s high will be around 60 degrees falling to the middle 30’s overnight. Sunday will be mostly cloudy with a high in the middle 50’s.
Little River is flowing at 307 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.25 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 205 cfs. The water temperature is 44.2 degrees and falling.
Most streams in the mountains are flowing at about normal though some are flowing higher than median flow. Water temperatures are chilly and falling this morning.
The streams may warm somewhat today. Right now, the water temperature is colder than the trout prefer. Most trout will be sluggish until the water warms to the higher 40’s. If the water temperatures rise to 50 degrees, that would be much better. We should see warmer water by the weekend.
If you go fishing in the Smokies, you will probably do best using weighted nymphs or nymph rigs. You might want to try streamers. Fish in the lower elevations where the water is warmer.
Fishing for stocked trout in the rivers flowing out of the mountains may be fair or better. Fishing for the trout will be best later today after the water warms. Weighted nymphs or streamers will probably work best for you.
Fishing for smallmouth bass in the lowland rivers will be slow early. They may become more active later this week. Streamers or nymphs are good fly choices.
TVA and the Corps will be generating much of the day at some dams, with long breaks planned at others. Check the predicted generation schedules at Center Hill, Norris, Wilbur, Chatuge and Dale Hollow Dams. There may be some tailwater fishing opportunities available for you below some of these dams.
The US Drought Monitor still indicates we are in a moderate drought. The site was updated yesterday. But, it did not take into account the heavy rain that recently fell. The data is valid through the early morning of November 29th. Maybe we will see some improvement next Thursday when the site is updated again. More rain tonight and tomorrow will help the drought situation.
Jimmy Jones will be tying at the shop Saturday between 10 am and 2 pm. His demonstration is Free. Just show up, grab some coffee and enjoy watching Jimmy tie and talking to him. You will be impressed with his fly patterns designed to be used in the Smokies. I was.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
December 2, 2022
NOTE: THE TOWNSEND CHRISTMAS PARADE WILL BE HELD SUNDAY DECEMBER 4TH. HIGHWAY 321 THROUGH TOWN WILL BE CLOSED BEGINNING AT ABOUT 2:00 PM FOR ABOUT 3 HOURS. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TRAVEL THROUGH TOWNSEND DURING THAT TIME.
FREE FLY TYING DEMONSTRATIONS HELD ON SATURDAYS
For the first time since 2019, we will be holding our Free Fly Tying Demonstrations on Saturdays. The demonstrations will begin at 10 am and last until 2 pm. You do not need a reservation. Just show up and enjoy. These demonstrations will kick off November 5th, and last through mid-December. Then, they will resume in January.
Saturday December 3rd - Jimmy Jones will be demonstrating today. Jimmy lives in Maryville. He is an avid Smokies angler and golfer. He ties some very interesting and unique flies that work very well in the Smokies.
I have learned new techniques, watching Jimmy tie.
Saturday December 10th - Jonathan Yeager - Jonathan is also known as the "Fly Doctor". He is a professor at UT Chatanooga. He ties flies commercially and sells them to his customers. He is an avid fly fisherman who spends his fishing time on wild trout streams in the Appalachians and stocked tailwaters.
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com
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