Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:37 am, the temperature is 26 degrees.
Today will be sunny and warmer with a high in the upper 50’s, falling to the low 30’s tonight. Tomorrow will be partly sunny with a high around 60 degrees. Showers will move in tomorrow night and it will be warmer with a low in the low 40’s. Showers are predicted Sunday with a high in the middle 50’s.
Little River is flowing at 193 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.97 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 257 cfs. The water temperature is 39.9 degrees and falling.
Streams in the Smokies are flowing near normal but mostly below normal. Cold nights have held the water temperatures down into the 30’s and low 40’s early each day. We should see some warming over the next few days with the expected warmer days and nights and rain. Fishing will improve somewhat over the next two days.
If you go today, fish in the lower elevations where the water is warmer and wait a while before going to give the water time to bottom out and begin to warm. Weighted nymphs will probably work best.
The same is true for the lower elevations stocked trout streams. Wait a while. Go later. Nymphs will likely work best.
There are generation schedules you can work with at a few dams today. Tailwater fishing opportunities are limited for wading but there are some. You have more options if you are boating. Check the TVA website from the links below to see what tailwater fishing opportunities you have today.
You would think, after the rain we have had lately, we would be out of the drought. We are not, though there has been some improvement. Our County is still listed as being in a Severe Drought. You can see the U.S. Drought Monitor that was updated yesterday morning by CLICKING HERE. Click on your region of interest and your state to see a detailed view.
A pack of coyotes woke us up last night, howling near our house. They were celebrating something.
Jack Gregory will be conducting a Free Fly Tying Demonstration tomorrow (Saturday) at the shop between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. This demonstration will be well attended. Jack is an unbelievable fly fisherman and fly tyer. He grew up fishing in the Smokies. He is known for catching huge brown trout in the mountains. He is also a very experienced saltwater and warmwater fly fishing angler. You will learn a lot from Jack and you will enjoy your time with him. You don’t need a reservation to attend. Just show up at the shop.
Oren Mead, his daughter Avery and LB Cummings will be conducting a free fly tying demonstration Sunday December 17th from 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm. They will be representing Project Healing waters, a fly fishing organization founded in 2005 to serve wounded military service members returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Oren and Avery will be tying nymphs and midges. LB will be tying streamers and other patterns that target larger fish.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
December 15, 2023
Join us on most weekends during the Winter for our Free Fly Tying Demonstrations. You don’t need a reservation. Just show up. You can view our schedule by CLICKING HERE.
The Clinch River Chapter of Trout Unlimited is holding an intermediate fly tying class in Norris, Tennessee beginning Saturday January 13th and running for 8 Saturdays through March 2nd. This is an opportunity for you to improve your fly tying skills to a new high level. CLICK HERE FOR MOR INFORMATION.
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com
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