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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:42 am, the temperature outside is a 44.8 degrees.

Today and tomorrow will be warm with highs in the 60’s and lows in the 40’s. We have a 10% chance for rain both days. Monday will be even warmer.

Little River is flowing at 100 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.66 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 212 cfs. The water temperature is 48 degrees this morning and it peaked near 50 degrees yesterday.

Fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains has improved thanks to the warmer water. I’m not sure, but I think we’ll see the water temperatures rise further this weekend. If it does, fishing will be even better.

The streams are flowing fairly low, like we would usually see during the Summer, not this time of year. With that in mind, stealth is very important to your fly fishing success. Dress to blend in with the forest. Try to stay hidden.

I would use nymphs, unless I see a hatch of blue wing olives or other aquatic insects on the surface, with trout feeding on them. This is going to be an unusual early December weekend, so it is hard to predict what is going to happen. I think fishing will be fairly good to good.

The brown trout are hungry.

I believe you will do best fishing the lower elevations streams, where the water is warmer. I would fish the West or Middle Prongs of Little River, or the East Prong from the Sinks to Elkmont. You may do fine above Elkmont or on Lynn Camp Prong, especially if the water warms in the mid-elevation streams to 50 degrees or warmer.

This weekend will be a fly fishing opportunity you may not enjoy again until Spring. I am not predicting fishing will be great, but it will be much better than you are likely to see later this year, or in January or early February. It is going to comfortable outside too.

The Townsend Christmas Parade will be held tomorrow between 2:30 and 4:30 pm. I talked to Ron, one of our City Commissioners yesterday. He told me how many entrants there are to enter the parade. I think he said there are over 200. There will be marching bands, floats and other local people, driving antique cars, tractors and ATV’s. The Grand Marshall will be Ed Mitchell, our County Mayor.

Hoards of people will line the main highway (321) through town. Candy will be thrown from the floats to the kids. I knew at one time how much candy was purchased for the Parade by the City. I don’t remember now, but the number is staggering.

Our Christmas Parade is something to see. It is huge, for a small town like ours. It’s a big deal.

One thing to remember is, you can’t get through town during the parade. It starts at our shop and terminates at Nawger Knob. There are no side streets to get you through. If you are leaving the Park, heading toward Maryville, your only option is to take Wears Valley Road to Pigeon Forge, then head west on I-40. If you are going to the Park, take the same route.

Otherwise, just wait, walk and enjoy the parade. It only lasts two hours. We have heard a few complaints over the years, but not many. We all think the delay is worth it.

So, enjoy this beautiful weekend. Get out and go fishing somewhere.

Rain is coming Tuesday and we are all happy about that. The chance for rain is 100%. It may rain Wednesday too.

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

Byron Begley
December 2, 2017

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com