Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains. The temperature this morning at 5:21 am is 33 degrees.

We have been enjoying Spring-like temperatures. The nights have been chilly. The days have been fairly warm. We are now going to see warmer air in the Smokies over the next few days. The nights will be much warmer, in the 50’s and 60’s. Daytime temperatures will range between the upper 60’s and warmer, even climbing into the low 80’s next week.

The long term weather forecast calls for warm temperatures to continue through April 10th. We can expect rain Sunday and Monday.

This has been a dry year and a dry month so far. Rainfall at the Knoxville Airport is reported to be 10.33 inches so far this year, compared to normal of 13.67 inches. This month, at that weather station, rainfall has amounted to 2.92 inches, compared to normal of 4.10 inches.

Streams in the Smokies are flowing at normal or below normal. I have heard anglers complaining about the high water we have had lately but for now, stream levels are very good and very fishable.

Little River is currently flowing at 2.12 feet or 239 cubic feet per second (cfs). Median flow for this date is 334 cfs. The water temperature is 48.2 degrees this morning at the low elevation USGS gauge site near Townsend. Yesterday the water temperature there rose to about 53 degrees. You may want to fish in a lower elevation stream today because it is cold out there right now and it may take a while for the water to warm to the trout’s preferred range.

Little Pigeon River is flowing at 2.00 feet or 419 cfs at the Sevierville gauge. Median flow is 705 cfs for this date.

Oconaluftee River at the Birdtown gauge is flowing at 1.71 feet, 419 cfs, which compares to normal at 651 cfs.

Tellico River is flowing at 1.33 feet, 216 cfs, compared to median flow of 340 cfs.

Cataloochee Creek is flowing at 2.51 feet, 137 cfs, compared to median flow of 139 cfs for this date.

Many different species of aquatic insects are on the water, and trout are feeding on the adults as well as the emergers. You may find the very early Spring hatches of Quill Gordon, Blue Wing Olive and Blue Quills in the higher elevations. Down low, there will be more diversity. You may see hendricksons, caddis and stoneflies mixed in with the darker mayflies.

You will see more top water fishing activity now that the streams will be warmer, especially in the low elevations. Trout are taking dry flies, emergers and nymphs. A dry fly with a small bead head nymph dropper is a good combination. My dry fly would probably be a Parachute Adams with a small Pheasant Tail nymph for my dropper.

It looks like Spring now, and it is going to feel more like Spring. Spring fly fishing in the Smokies is here. From now through early April, fishing will be good unless heavy rain temporarily spoils it for us.

Saturday March 29th will be the last day for our Winter Free Fly Tying Demonstrations. Saturday will feature Ray Ball. Ray is one of our most popular presenters. You will enjoy his wit and wisdom and learn how he ties his Smokies flies. This is an event you should not miss.

Ray will be tying between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. This demonstration is free. All you have to do is show up.

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

Byron Begley
March 27, 2025  

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Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com