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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:57 am, the temperature outside is 35.6 degrees.

Today will be partly cloudy, with very little precipitation. Tomorrow will be warmer and more rain is predicted. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the skies will be sunny and it will be warmer, with no rain or snow predicted.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PREDICTED HIGHS AND LOWS TODAY

We have had continuous rain for two days in the area. During the past 24 hours, the Knoxville Airport reports 1.49 inches fell, while in Townsend, we received 2.08 inches.

All the streams in the area are flowing very high. Some streams broke records for yesterday, that have held since 1952, including Little River and Tellico River. Little Pigeon River is currently flowing at a record level for this date, set in 1968.

The streams are receding, and will continue to do so until the coming rain event predicted for tomorrow.

Little River is flowing at 1,430 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 3.92 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 249 cfs. The water temperature is 47.1 degrees.

Little Pigeon River is flowing at 5,180 cfs or 5.76 feet on the gauge at Sevierville. That compares to median flow of 324 cfs.

Oconaluftee River is flowing at 1,430 cfs, 2.99 feet on the gauge at Birdtown, and that compares to median flow of 489 cfs. The water temperature is 42.8 degrees this morning.

Tellico River is flowing at 1,640 cfs, 4.53 feet, compared to median flow of 201 cfs.

Cataloochee Creek is flowing at 398 cfs, compared to median flow of 88 cfs. The water temperature is 42.6 degrees.

Several roads in Great Smoky Mountains National Park were listed as closed yesterday due to snow and ice. They are: Laurel Creek Road, Little River Road, and US 441 (Newfound Gap Road). Cades Cove Loop Road was closed yesterday due to high water.

There may be more closed roads. Due to the US Government partial shutdown, the Park’s Roads Twitter page may not be updated, because of the lack of staff working.

From what I read this morning, from only one source, the Park will remain open. Bathrooms and visitor centers will likely be closed. Garbage will not be removed. Campgrounds may be closed. Crews will try to keep US Highway 441, the Gatlinburg Spur, and access to Top of the World open. I read, other roads closed due to weather related incidents will remain closed. Snow, ice, rock slides, flooding and downed trees are the most common reasons for closing a road in the Park.

The Great Smoky Mountains Association is working on a plan to pay to keep the three main visitor centers open through the New Year holiday.

We will learn more about all of this later today.

So, we don’t know for sure if or which roads are open or closed in the Park. There will not be many rangers working. A visitor who needs to use a bathroom, will have to make a decision they may not be accustomed to making. I know what I would do!

The streams are blown out. Wading in the streams is dangerous. If you are in the Park, and something bad happens, you may be on your own. Visitation to the Park is always very high during the holidays. I don’t know what to expect.

I’m going to work today, tomorrow and early on Christmas Eve.

The shop will be open between 9 am and noon on Monday, Christmas Eve. We will be closed Christmas Day. I will not be writing a fishing report on Christmas Day.

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

UPDATE 9:02 AM - THE PARK SERVICE IS UPDATING THEIR ROADS TWITTER PAGE. YOU CAN SEE IT BY CLICKING HERE. THEY ARE REPORTING; CADES COVE LOOP ROAD AND LAUREL CREEK ROAD ARE NOW OPEN.

Byron Begley
December 22, 2018 

Fly Tying Classes January, February and March 2019 Taught by Walter Babb and Brian Courtney Beginner to Advanced CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com