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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:55 am, the temperature outside is 37.9 degrees.
We are expecting winter-like weather through the weekend. High temperatures will be in the low 40’s. Lows will dip into the high 20’s. We will enjoy some sun today and tomorrow. We will have some rain and snow showers at times, Sunday and Sunday night.
One weather website warns us of snow accumulations of less than one inch Sunday with 1 to 3 inches of snow Sunday night. There is a chance for more snow on Monday. The National Weather Service website does not mention accumulation numbers, not yet. They may later. Or, maybe we won’t have snow accumulation. The daytime temperatures are going to be above freezing. The way it looks right now, I would not expect to have any problems traveling on the roads, at least in the valleys. It may be totally different in the high elevations.
Little River is flowing at 537 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.87 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 318 cfs. The water temperature is 45.1 degrees.
If you go fishing today, expect strong current in the rivers and streams. Be careful wading.
As we continue with cool days and cold nights, we will also see the water temperatures fall. Little River is already at 45 degrees, in the lower elevations of the Park. Those temperatures are going to get colder as the weekend progresses. When that number drops to 40 degrees, fishing is going to be slow.
Your best bet is probably fishing deep, using weighted nymphs. Try a pair of them, with added weight using split shot. You can stand near the bank or in areas where the flow is restricted, and use “high sticking” methods, to dredge the deeper runs and where faster water enters pools. Don’t cast far. Keep those nymphs moving at the same speed as the current.
I would avoid the high elevations Sunday. The water will be colder up there. And, there is the possibility of snow and ice on the roads.
There is a lot going on in Townsend this weekend. We are holding free fly tying demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday between 10 am and 2 pm. You can just come to the shop, pull up a chair, and watch, talk to and listen to the featured fly tyers. No prior reservation is needed. Just show up.
Buzz Buffington and Dave Harrell will be tying Saturday. David Knapp will be tying Sunday. These guys are all awesome fly fishermen and tyers. You may want to check this page Sunday morning. Sunday’s free demonstration, like all of them, are subject to road conditions.
You can read about these guys by CLICKING HERE. On that page you can also see our entire winter Fly Tying Demonstrations schedule.
We are also holding a Free Fly Tying 101 class Sunday afternoon, between 2 pm and 4 pm. In this 2-hour class, you can learn some basic skills, and decide if fly tying is a hobby you are interested in “jumping in” to. This class is limited to 8 students. Call the shop at 865-448-9459 to make a reservation. CLICK HERE to learn more about our Free Fly Tying 101 classes.
The Townsend Snowdown event will be open to the public in a couple of hours. There are many classes and demonstrations scheduled this weekend, including ours. Some are free and others have a nominal fee. You can learn about watercolor painting, dulcimer playing, Cades Cove history, crochet, flower painting, songwriting, chili tasting, and of course, tying flies.
CLICK HERE to view the entire schedule on the townsendsnowdown website. I am kind of interested in the chili eating at Apple Valley Café. I really want to attend one of the dulcimer playing workshops with Mike Clemmer. The songwriters workshop is of interest to me too. When this page comes up you won't see all of the events. You will ned to click on "Find Events".
For some reason, our demonstrations and classes are not listed as being “FREE”, but they are.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has announced a plan to restore some cabins in the Elkmont area, while at the same time, demolishing others. That will take place this year. WBIR has a good story about this plan. You can see it by CLICKING HERE.
I read in the story, that the Little River Trail and Jake’s Creek Trail will be closed during the construction and demolition work. I hope I misunderstood that! I’ll look into it and report back.
Can you imagine how many people will be affected, including fishermen, if the Little River Trail is closed this year? I can understand the parking issue. Read the story and see what you think. Maybe that is the only alternative.
If this is true, some of you may want to find access from other trails, and backpack into the area to fish. If you like solitude, and trout that don’t see many people, this would be an opportunity of a lifetime. I’ve done it, from Clingman’s Dome. But we didn’t hike back out, up the mountain. We hiked out downhill, to Elkmont.
The Park does plan to cease construction and demolition, to open the trail during the firefly viewing season. I now what you are thinking. Remember, fishing after dark is illegal and dangerous, in the Park.
Get ready for some fun in our town this weekend.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
January 27, 2017
Respond to: Byron@littleriveroutfitters.com
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