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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:09 am, the temperature outside is 45.0 degrees.
Today will be mostly cloudy and warm with a high temperature in the mid-60’s. Showers will move into the region tonight and continue through Wednesday night. It will be warm with highs in the upper 60’s and lows in the 50’s through Thursday.
The USGS flow gauge on Little River near Townsend is still not transmitting flow and water temperatures. I will call them today to hopefully that will be fixed. The river has been receding since early yesterday morning. Flow recorded at the Maryville gauge is 1,340 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 8.09 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 459 cfs.
Little Pigeon River is flowing at 1,510 cfs, 3.28 feet, compared to median flow of 474 cfs for this date.
Oconaluftee River is flowing at 1,300 cfs or 2.91 feet at the Birdtown gauge. Median flow for this date is 542 cfs. The water temperature is 48.0 degrees this morning.
At Tellico Plains, Tellico River is flowing at 637 cfs, 2.37 feet, compared to median flow for this date of 259 cfs.
Cataloochee Creek is flowing at 304 cfs, 3.23 feet, which compares to median flow of 119 cfs. The water temperature is 46.0 degrees this morning.
Without data from the Townsend gauge, it is still obvious most streams in the Smokies are flowing much higher than normal. If you go, be careful wading. Rain moves back into the region tonight and it will continue for a few days. Stream levels may rise during the period.
Water temperatures in the low elevations are pretty good. Trout will be active over the next few days thanks to this Spring-like weather.
I would plan on using nymphs or streamers. Dry flies may work too. Watch for a blue wing olive hatch or other aquatic insects on the water, probably midges or small black stoneflies.
The lowland rivers are flowing high and they will likely be difficult to wade.
TVA and the Corps of Engineers are generating, sluicing and spilling at many dams in our area to lower the lake levels. The tailwaters nearby will be flowing very high today.
What happened to Winter? Look at the long term forecast. Temperatures that are closer to normal will return as the jet stream veers to the south US next Sunday, January 22nd. Winter is not over yet. February is typically warmer than January in the Smokies.
Plan to visit our shop Saturday for our third Free Fly Tying Demonstration this Winter. All you have to do is show up. This is going to be a fun day for everyone. Tic Smith and Joe Lock will be tying between 10 am and 2 pm.
I have known Tic for a long time. He is a professional guide who has been floating clients down the Hiwassee River and other tailwaters for 25 years. He is also a FFF Certified casting instructor. I see Tic in our fly tying department often and I always wonder what his is up to, when I look at what he is buying.
Joe and his wife moved to Townsend from Florida a few years ago. He has spent most of his life fly fishing and tying in Michigan and Florida. If you attend our Saturday fly tying demonstrations, you probably know Joe. He is usually here.
These are both really good guys with a lot of fly fishing and tying experience that they are willing to share both with you. You can read more about them by CLICKING HERE.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
January 13, 2020
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com |