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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. I hope you enjoyed Spring because this is Tennessee and winter is back. Yesterday we had the air conditioner on and tonight we will be back to the heat.

This morning the water temperature is at 54.5F but falling. It will cool throughout the next couple of days. Tonight the overnight low is going to be in the upper 20's. Water temperatures will drop quickly.

Rain came through the area yesterday evening. Water levels in the Smokies are still at a fishable level. The gauge is giving a reading of 2.29 feet or 311 c.f.s. This is pretty much the daily normal of 306 c.f.s. Water levels have peaked and are dropping.

Fishing over the last couple of days was more difficult than we thought it would be. The weather was fantastic with unseasonably warm temperatures. Water temperatures were on a steady climb that we expected would cause the trout to be much more active in the Smokies. Anglers reported tough fishing. Some tried dries and caught a few. Others stuck to nymphs and dredged some fish off the bottom.

We have gone back to more seasonable temperatures across the area. This is causing water temperatures to drop. Drops in water temps usually cause the trout to feed less. Fishing this weekend will be tough. Nymphs are going to be your best bet. I would keep adding split shot until you start hanging on the bottom.

This is going to be a great weekend for fly tying. It is a double header for Our Free Winter Fly Tying Demonstrations. Saturday is Steve Brown and Mike Wallace. They will probably be tying more classic style flies and wet flies. Sunday it is guides David Knapp and Travis Williams. Tying will be going on from 10 am till 2 pm both days.

There is no need to call ahead for the demos, just show up!

You can read more about them and other free demonstrations we are holding this year by CLICKING HERE.

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

Daniel Drake
February 8, 2019

NOTICE: Great Smoky Mountains head fisheries biologist Matt Kulp will be giving the State of the Park Fisheries Address at the Little River Chapter of Trout Unlimited's February meeting. Date: Tuesday February 26th.

The chapter meetings are held at Barley's Restaurant in downtown Maryville, Tennessee. Social hour begins at 6 pm. The meeting starts at 7:00 pm. You do not have to be a TU member to attend. Newcomers are welcome and encouraged to attend.

The Little River Chapter of Trout Unlimited has partnered with Great Smoky Mountains National Park, voluneering and raising funding, since 1993.

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: info@littleriveroutfitters.com