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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:43 am, the temperature is 50.0 degrees.
Today will be overcast with rain and possible thunderstorms through the day and tonight. The high temperature will be near 70 degrees. Up to one half of an inch of rain is possible today, with possibly another half inch tonight. Tomorrow will be mostly cloudy with a high in the upper 40’s and a slight chance for rain early in the morning.
Little River is flowing at 136 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.78 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 267 cfs. The water temperature is 49.8 degrees this morning.
Water levels are still flowing below normal in most streams. We will likely see the streams rise today and through the night.
Water temperatures rose significantly yesterday, and they should remain warm today. Fishing in the low elevations in the Smokies will be fair to good today, unless the rain stains the water. Nymphs will work for sure. Watch for surface activity as some species of aquatic insects may become active. A blue wing olive hatch is not out of the question today. Trout will be active in the low elevations, so anything is possible.
Most lowland rivers in the area are flowing near or below normal. Smallmouth bass may be active. I talked to one customer who caught several smallies yesterday in Little River near Townsend. Nymphs and streamers will work best. Trout, where they are stocked in these river will be actively feeding. Nymphs, egg patterns and Squirmy Worms are good fly choices.
Flows from several TVA dams will be off for long periods today, especially from later this morning through the afternoon. Tailwater anglers have some choices today, whether you ae wading or boating. Check the TVA website to see what your options are and plan accordingly.
A stream bank stabilization project will begin on Little River inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park in early January. This project should be completed by May. The area where this will occur is near the Townsend “Y”. The damage was caused by a flood in 2020. Roads will be open during the period, though probably only one lane at times.
You can read more about this project on the WBIR website by CLICKING HERE.
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency stocked Fountain City Lake with trout yesterday and they plan to re-stock two more times during the Winter. You can read the story on the WBIR website by CLICKING HERE. Scroll down to watch the video.
Nymphs, egg patterns and Squirmy Worms will be good fly choices at Fountain City Lake. A trout pellet imitation may also produce for you.
All kidding aside, I used to tie a trout food pellet fly long ago. The pattern was tied by spinning and trimming deer hair. A spring creek runs though our property behind our house. The water temperature in the creek remains in the 50’s year round which is perfect for raising big trout.
Thirty years ago, I had two battery operated feeders, suspended from trees, with timers, that showered trout pellets in the water twice a day. I was living in Nashville at the time. The feeders held 5-gallons of food which I filled once or twice a month. Those trout grew to be huge, up to 22 inches long.
Paula caught her first trout on a fly in the creek when we were dating. That was her first time fishing with a fly rod. I think she was probably using one of those pellet flies I tied.
I didn’t fish in the creek much, but I loved watching the trout move into position before the feeders kicked on. They knew when the timers were set. When the pellets started flying, the trout went nuts.
After several confrontations with poachers who did not release the fish, I removed the feeders and let the stream return to it’s natural state. It was fun at the time.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
December 18, 2021
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Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com
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