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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. Many roads in Great Smoky Mountains National Park remain closed this morning due to tree debris and damage. US 441/Newfound Gap Road is closed over the mountain. You can get from Gatlinburg to the Elkmont Campground but Little River Road from Elkmont to Townsend is closed. The Wear Cove Entrance Road (Lyons Spring Rd) is closed. Laurel Creek Road is open to Cades Cove and the Cades Cove Loop Road is open. You can get to the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont but the upper road (the gravel section) is closed.
Fishing will be limited today due to the road closures. Park Service work crews are working hard to re-open the roads so we just have to have some patience. For the most up to date info you can call 865-436-1200 then hit 2 and then hit 2 again. This will take you to the road information report. You can also go to Twitter. https://twitter.com/smokiesroadsnps Hopefully they will get the Park open for this weekend.
Water levels are up some after recent rains. This morning the streamflow gauge is reading 2.68 feet or 502 c.f.s. This is higher than the daily normal of 253 c.f.s. At 10 am the flow appears to have peaked but more rain is in the forecast for this afternoon. Check the gauge readings before making the drive to the mountains.
Water temeratures have dropped over the last couple of days. This morning they are at 52.5 F. You may want to have your waders on if you go today.
Once roads open up the fishing should still be pretty good. Because of the colder water temps I would start the day fishing nymphs. Add some split shot to get them down. As the streams warm try some dry flies. Smoky Mountain Candy are good. Also try Yellow Sally patterns. Sizes are going to range from #14 to #16.
Keep an eye on water levels. Streams can rise quickly and become dangerous. Always use caution.
The tailwaters around the region are still running a ton of water. Hopefully they will get back to normal sooner than later. There is a lot of good spring fishing to be had if the water would only cooperate.
Today is a Beginner Fly Fishing Class. Walter Babb and Rob Fightmaster are teaching it. Tomorrow's class will depend on what happens with the rain today. Too much rain makes the rivers unsafe and then we are forced to cancel the class. I really hate to do that. The Onstream Class is the most fun......getting to apply their newly acquired knowledge.
Be careful while wading if you go. High water levels can be very hazardous. Thank you for being here with us.
Daniel Drake
May 6, 2017
Respond to: info@littleriveroutfitters.com
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If you ever thought about owning a Walter Babb fly rod but can't stand waiting for 6 months or a year for it to be painstakenly made for you then now is your opportunity. There is a silent auction to benefit the UT Medical Center Nursing Fund. The silent auction will run all next week in front of the Gift Shop at UT Medical Center! Starts Monday. Starting bid is $500.
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