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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:08 am, the temperature outside is 31.8 degrees.
It will be mostly cloudy today with a high temperature in the low 50’s, falling to the upper 30’s tonight. Rain is likely tomorrow afternoon and through the night. The low temperature tomorrow night will be in the low 40’s. Much warmer air will move into the Tennessee Valley Monday, and linger through Christmas and the weekend. Highs will be in the 60’s Tuesday through Sunday. Lows fill be in the 40’s and 50’s.
Little River is flowing at 396 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.50 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 216 cfs. The water temperature is 44.1 degrees this morning.
Little Pigeon River is flowing at 709 cfs, 2.37 feet, compared to median flow for this date of 319 cfs.
Oconaluftee River is flowing at 853 cfs, 2.44 feet, which compares to median flow of 394 cfs. The water temperature is 42.8 degrees.
Tellico River is flowing at 386 cfs, 1.80 feet, compared to median flow of 181 cfs.
Cataloochee Creek is flowing at 237 cfs, 3.03 feet, compared to median flow of 80 cfs. The water temperature is 40.8 degrees.
Water temperatures, the most important condition pertaining to trout feeding activity is trending up. That will continue through next weekend. Fishing is going to improve from a water temperature perspective.
The only question is, how much rain will we get Sunday night and Monday? It looks like we may get up to a half of an inch during the period but that depends on which weather website you believe. Stream levels will continue to fall today and tomorrow. So, maybe the rain will not be a limiting factor to fishing next week. I hope not. That depends on how much the streams recede today and tomorrow and how much rain we get tomorrow night and Monday.
Right now, all streams in the Smokies are flowing higher than normal, but most are fishable. Little River is a good example at 2.5 feet. At that level, we take beginner fly fishing students out on the water. Above that, we don’t. Some fishermen like higher water, especially when nymphing. Other anglers prefer a lower flow.
We will see fishing conditions improve today and tomorrow. The streams will continue to recede and the water will keep on warming.
I would plan on using nymphs or streamers. You may see blue wing olives or other aquatic insects on the water over the next few days. As the water warms, trout will be more likely to feed on the surface. So, be prepared for that too.
Fish in the lower elevations where the water is warmer.
Unfortunately, most of the dams nearby us will be generating today. TVA is also sluicing at Cherokee Dam and Center Hill Dam. You may find some rivers further away that have angler friendly flows. Check the TVA website. Maybe tomorrow will be better for tailwater fishing. I know we are all hoping for that.
I get e-mail from customers frequently who are complimenting our staff. I got another one yesterday. He was telling me he had a great experience with Dave and Dennis. He bought a Winston rod and told me to talk to them about their interactions. I will do that this morning.
We have the best and most helpful staff of any fly shop I have visited in my life. They are the reason our store is so successful. Taking good care of customers is what they do and they do it well.
We will be busy today and tomorrow. Customers will be shopping and I think many will be fishing today in the Smokies.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
December 21, 2019
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com |
