Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 6:15 am, the temperature is 37 degrees.

The last day of the year is going to be a nice one. Today will be sunny with a high temperature in the low to middle 50’s. It will be cold tonight, with a low in the upper 20’s.

New Year’s Day will be partly sunny with a high around 40 degrees and a low in the low 20’s.

Little River is flowing at 144 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.79 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 299 cfs. The water temperature is 41.0 degrees this morning.

Most if not all streams in the Smokies are flowing lower than normal. Normal in late December is fairly high. Stream temperatures are below the trout’s preferred range even in the lowest elevations.

If you go fishing in the mountains today, wait a while until the water temperature bottoms out and begins to rise. You can watch the Little River USGS gauge site to see that happen. Fish in the low elevations where the water is warmer. Nymphs will likely work best though you may see some hatches where dry flies or emergers may produce for you.

Fishing for stocked trout in the low elevations will be best later today when the water is warmer. Fishing for stockers will probably be good or at least fair. Try nymphs, egg patterns, midge pupa, Squirmy Worms or other sub-surface flies.

I don’t mention fishing for smallmouth bass in the lowland rivers this time of the year. Usually, the water is cold and the bass are inactive. These fish may become active when the water temperature reaches 50 degrees, which does not happen often during the Winter months. It is possible.

There are very interesting generation schedules today at some dams. Check out Center Hill, Cherokee, Norris, Wolf Creek, Dale Hollow, South Holson and Chatuge. Some pauses will occur early and others later. Check the TVA schedule from the links below to plan a tailwater fishing day or partial day.

I can’t believe it is New Year’s Eve. I have been so messed up this week. I thought yesterday was Friday all day long. I just checked the calendar and today is Sunday. We will be open from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm today. We will be closed tomorrow January 1st which is Monday. I will not be writing a fishing report tomorrow.

I plan to say up late tonight and celebrate the New Year until at least 9:00 pm with Paula and some close friends.  

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

Byron Begley
December 31, 2023

Join us on most weekends during the Winter for our Free Fly Tying Demonstrations. We will not be holding them on Christmas and New Year weekends.  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