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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 6:05 am, the temperature outside is 31.5 degrees.

Today and tonight will be mostly clear and cold. Tomorrow and tomorrow night will be warmer.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PREDICTED HIGHS AND LOWS TODAY

Little River is flowing at 1,080 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 3.44 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 321 cfs. The water temperature is 42.6 degrees and falling this morning.

Little Pigeon River is flowing at 2,250 cfs, 3.85 feet, compared to median flow of 698 cfs.

Oconaluftee River is flowing at 1,690 cfs, 3.24 feet, compared to median flow of 582 cfs. The water temperature is 39.7 degrees and falling.

Tellico River is flowing at 1,010 cfs, 3.21 feet, and that compares to median flow of 331 cfs.

Cataloochee Creek is flowing at 398 cfs, 3.49 feet, compared to median flow of 124 cfs. The water temperature is 39 degrees.

As you can see, the streams are flowing very high. Most are probably too high to wade safely. If you go fishing today in the Smoky Mountains, be careful wading.

I would stand near the bank in shallow safe water and “high stick” weighted nymphs or streamers. I would also have a change of dry clothes in my truck, in case I got wet. It is going to be very cold today. Stay close to your vehicle.

The streams are cold and getting colder. Fish the low elevations where the water is warmer. I would not expect good fishing for anyone, but you might catch a trout or two.

Laurel Creek Road and the Cades Cove Loop Road have re-opened. That offers you an opportunity to fish Abrams Creek, near the Falls Trailhead. The water is usually warmer there, in the cold months, due to the influx of ground water from springs. It’s worth a shot!

Two young guys will be tying at the shop tomorrow between 10 am and 2 pm. They are, Tradd Little and Will Davis. Tradd lives in Greenville, South Carolina. Will lives in Knoxville. The are both awesome fly tyers.

This event is free. All you have to do is show up. You can learn more about Tradd and Will, and see our other Free Saturday Tying Demonstration planned events by CLICKING HERE. You should visit Tradd’s Flies website by CLICKING HERE.

I will be at the shop early tomorrow to see these guys and their families, and everyone else. But, I’m leaving early. Our nephew is becoming an Eagle Scout tomorrow. I don’t want to miss that.

Today I will finish photographing all the Renzetti tools we sell. Sunday, I am going to write the text, prepare the photos, and hopefully finish the new Renzetti Fly Tying Tools department on our online store. You can see what I’ve done so far by CLICKING HERE.

We sold four Renzetti vises and other tools during the past week. That may not sound like much but it is.

We have (had) four bird feeders. They are hung from large bird feeder arms, screwed to the top of two 4” x 4” posts. The arms are over 6 feet off the ground. Each post holds two feeders. Squirrel baffles are attached to the poles below the feeders.

A raccoon, a big one, has learned to climb one of the posts, and reach around the baffle, to grab one of the feeders. That feeder is tall, and hangs down low, close to the baffle. So, I bring that feeder in at night. I went out to get it last night at about dark, and the raccoon was on the ground, preparing to climb to the feeder. He took off when I opened the door.

I was working at my desk after writing the fishing report yesterday morning. At about 7:30, at daybreak, I looked out to see if birds were feeding. The goldfinches get there early.

Two of the feeders and the arm that holds them on top of a post were gone!

I went outside to see what happened. The arm was on the ground. The screws had been ripped from the post. One feeder was on the ground, but the other was nowhere in sight. I walked into the forest looking for the feeder.

Obviously a bear did this. No other animal could have. I can barely reach the arms on the post to hang the feeders. It has been warm. Male bears often leave their dens during the Winter when the temperatures rise.

If I found the feeder, it would have been destroyed. And, there was the chance I could walk up on the bear while he was feeding. It could have just happened. I was not armed. I gave up the search for the feeder and walked back to the house. All the feeders are inside right now. I’ll buy a new one and bring all four inside at night from now on. I can see birds outside, now, waiting for them.

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

Byron Begley
January 25, 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