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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 6:21 am, the temperature outside is 36.9 degrees.

Light rain is predicted today in Townsend, mainly this afternoon. Heavier rain is expected tonight, between a quarter and half an inch is possible. There is a chance for rain tomorrow.

A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for the higher elevations this weekend. The precipitation may be a mixture of snow, rain and freezing rain.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PREDICTED HIGHS AND LOWS TODAY

Little River is flowing at 307 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.28 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 311 cfs. The water temperature is 42.3 degrees this morning.

All streams in the Smoky Mountains are flowing at near median flow or slightly above. Water temperatures warmed a little yesterday. Currently, the water temperature is 41.9 degrees at the Birdtown gauge on Oconalfutee River and 39.9 degrees at Cataloochee Creek.

Fishing may be fair today, especially in the lower elevations where the water is warmer. It will be overcast, which is a benefit for anglers. Still, the water is on the cool side and it may not rise much if any today.

I would fish a low elevation stream using nymphs or streamers. You may see a blue wing olive hatch. Trout may or may not be feeding on the surface, but be prepared with some BWO imitations, either dry flies or emergers.

According to the Park’s Road Twitter Page, US Highway 441 (Newfound Gap Road) is closed due to snow and ice. You can check later to see if the road opened by CLICKING HERE.

Little River Road between Metcalf Bottoms and the Townsend “Y” remains closed due to a rock slide and trees on the road. That probably won’t change until the government shutdown issue is resolved. Like many Americans, a large group of the staff at Great Smoky Mountains National Park are furloughed.

Come by the shop today to meet Ken McCain and Sindy Boyles. They will be demonstrating fly tying and talking about fly fishing between 10 am and 2 pm. This event is free. All you have to do is show up.

We are busy at the shop preparing for Spring. You may notice, things are being re-arranged. Spring orders will be arriving soon. Heck, Spring fishing will be here before we know it.

It seems to me, and many others, the Winters are shorter than they used to be. If this year follows that same pattern, Spring hatches will begin in February. When the water temperatures warm to the mid to upper 40’s, and that is sustained for a while, the bugs start hatching. The trout become active. When the water temperatures reach 50 degrees, fishing gets really good.

We will enjoy hatches of Quill Gordons, Blue Quills, Blue Wing Olives and other aquatic insects.

Local fishermen become active too. Visitors travel to the Smokies, from colder parts of the country, to begin their fly fishing new year. That has happened in mid-February, about one month from now. I think it happened in early February one year.

We have to be ready. Fly bins containing the early Spring patterns will be stocked. We will have boxes of flies stocked to re-fill the bins. And our terminal tackle department will be stocked. New waders and wading boots will arrive soon. Rods, reels, fly lines and everything you can think of will be here.

We have also learned over the years, when we think great fly fishing is about to start, it turns cold, and Winter hangs on until March. I remember a hard freeze and snow in early April. That is rare.

But, we will be ready and waiting, like we’ve done for 24 years. Our sport and passion is weather dependent, as it always has been. We know not to depend on the weather.

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

Byron Begley
January 12, 2019

Fly Tying Classes January, February and March 2019 Taught by Walter Babb and Brian Courtney Beginner to Advanced CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com