If you do not see today’s Fishing Report, please refresh your browser to empty your cache.
Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:20 am, the temperature outside is 65.7 degrees.
It will be overcast and warm today with a high temperature in the low 60’s. Rain will move in this afternoon and continue through Thursday night. It will be breezy today and tonight.
“Periods of heavy rainfall are possible Wednesday afternoon through Thursday evening across the area ahead of a slow moving cold front. This may lead to localized flooding, and rises in river levels.” Source: National Weather Service
It will be colder Friday and Saturday with highs in the 40’s and lows in the 30’s.
Little River is flowing at 246 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.14 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 373 cfs. The water temperature is 50.2 degrees this morning.
Conventional wisdom is, “When water temperatures reach 50 degrees in the Spring, and that temperature is sustained for three days, hatches of Quill Gordons and Blue Quills will begin”.
We know from the past that the temperature can actually be lower that 50 degrees for this to occur. I don’t know if it will happen today, but it could at any time this week.
Trout actively feed when the water temperature is 50 degrees. This may be a good fishing day in the Smoky Mountains, especially in the lower elevations where the water is warmer.
I would start with nymph rigs but be prepared to fish with dry flies or emergers if you see surface activity of adult aquatic insects. Good nymph choices are Tellico, Hare’s Ear, Prince or Pheasant tail patterns. I would have some blue wing olive dries and emergers in my box. I don’t think you will see Quill Gordons or Blue Quills but that is possible.
TVA and the Corps of Engineers will be generating at most dams in the region with some exceptions in upper East Tennessee. Refer to the TVA website links to the dams below to determine where tailwaters may be fishable today. Check Wilbur and South Holston.
The Fishing Gauge is pointing to “Fair” but fishing may be better than that today in the lower elevations. I would go if I could.
Hopefully the heavy rain will miss the Smokies but it appears that is likely by tomorrow.
I can hear the wind picking up right now.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
February 4, 2020
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com |