*** THE SHOP WILL BE CLOSED SUNDAY APRIL 20TH FOR EASTER ***

Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains. Spring is finally here.  East Tennessee in the Spring is a special place.  The diversity of flowering trees here is mind blowing when you grew up in an area where only fruit trees bloomed.  Dogwoods are the favorite of many people but to me it is Red Buds and their vibrant color gracing the edges of the roadways brightening the drive into the mountains.

Fishing conditions across the Smokies are improving.  Water levels on Little River are very good at 2.25 feet or 277 c.f.s.  The daily normal is 277 c.f.s.  Water clarity is good.  Water temperatures dipped over the last couple of days.  This morning it is starting out at 49F but will warm up.

The weekend weather forecast is looking like a good reason to make a 4 day weekend.  Highs are going to be warm, in the mid-80's, and lows are only going to be in the 60's.  Rain is coming early next week.  Rain amounts are supposed to be moderate and spread out through the week.  Water levels are likely to rise but it will help us in the long run keeping the mountains from going into Summer behind on rainfall. 

Dry fly fishing is improving.  We have been hearing reports of lighter colored mayflies on the river.  Light Hendrickson, March Brown, Light Cahills etc.  Sizes are going to be #12-#18 depending on the pattern.  Adding a dropper is a good way to go.  Soft hackles, Pheasant Tails, Squirmy Worms, and Hares Ear are all good choices.

Most of the tailwaters are the region are showing fishable flows with some pulses of water.  Be sure to check the release schedules before heading out.  We have finally been hearing some better reports coming from the Clinch River.  This is a most welcome change.

Did you get the chance to fish the cicada emergence last year?  They were fairly isolated are the Knoxville / Smoky Mountain area, being primarily on upper Tellico Lake.  If you didn't find any then you've got another shot this year.  2025 will see an emergence of the Brood XIV cicadas.  They should be much more widespread around the region this year.  I found an paper giving good scientific information about cicadas.  You can read the pdf by CLICKING HERE.  
In the past the cicadas are found in the lower elevations and more so along the lakes.  This means incredible fishing for warm water species, especially carp.  I know. Carp gets a bad rap as a game fish but if you've never tried it please hold your revile in reserve until you cast a fly to one and then watch it bulldog away pulling line from your seldom used reel.  I agree that they aren't the delicate beauty of a native brook trout but if you are looking for a fight it is a worthy adversary.  This is not going to be 5wt fishing.  Dust off the old 8wt or even better get a new one that you can take advantage of all the warm water fishing we have around the area.
Late April into May is when we should be looking for or more so, listening, for the cicadas to crawl out of their burrows and invade our sun soaked world.

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

*** THE SHOP WILL BE CLOSED SUNDAY APRIL 20TH FOR EASTER ***

Daniel Drake
April 17, 2025

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