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. The sun is gone this morning, covered by a thickening blanket of clouds. Rain is in the forecast for this afternoon.

Water levels are better this morning but they are still high. At 9am the gauge for Little River is giving a reading of 2.82 feet or 585 c.f.s. This is higher than the daily normal of 305 c.f.s. Water levels are currently dropping.

Water temperatures have improved over the last couple of days. This morning the Little River is showing a temp of 48.4F. They should continue to rise throughout the day and shouldn't drop too much overnight.

Fishing is going to be tough today. High water flows are going to limit the places you are able to get on the river. I would go to one of the smaller streams like West Prong of Little River (along the road) or even Lynn Camp Prong. You could try the main branch of Little River but stay out of the water as much as possible.

Nymphs are still going to be the best choices of flies unless you want to cast streamers. Streamers can be fun in the high water. You don't have to worry as much about drift as you are making the fly act like a small fish. The strike is also easier to detect. When the trout eats it you will know.

Spring is right around the corner. I saw my first patch of daffodils along the road this morning. Other early plants are starting to bloom too. I can't wait. I know we have had a really mild winter so far....isn't it great!.....but Spring is coming. Longer days and hatching mayflies. It can't come soon enough.

Byron will be back at the helm tomorrow morning after his time off. After the fishing report I'm sure he'll wander in here to watch Josh Pfeiffer tie some smallmouth flies. Byron and his buddies have smallmouth fished with Josh several times and had a great time.

Winter Fly Tying Demos will be going on tomorrow starting at 10am. 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 15, 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