Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:40 am, the temperature is 49 degrees.

“We are seeing an exceptionally early start to Spring-like weather” according to an article I read on the WBIR website this morning. In the same article I read, “Much of the Southeast is seeing its earliest spring leaf out on record”. CLICK HERE to read the article.

Today will be mostly sunny with a high temperature near 80 degrees. It will be windy tonight with a low in the low 60’s and a chance for showers.

A high of 80 degrees is predicted tomorrow, with a chance for showers and a low in the upper 40’s overnight.

It will be cooler Friday and Saturday with highs in the upper 50’s and lows in the upper 40’s. Rain is predicted Friday night through Saturday.

Little River is flowing at 418 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.52 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 372 cfs. The water temperature is 50.9 degrees this morning. Yesterday, the water temperature rose to over 52 degrees at the low elevation USGS gauge site near Townsend.

Most streams in the Smokies are still flowing slightly higher than normal for this date. Little River is flowing at what we consider “The high side of good”. Warm water temperatures have improved the fishing. We are on the low end of the trout’s preferred temperature range in the low elevations but the streams will warm further over the next two days.

Warm water also increases aquatic insect activity. Sporadic hatches of the Spring insects, including blue wing olives, blue quills and quill gordons are possible this week. That may have occurred yesterday.

If you go fishing in the mountains today, be prepared for anything. Weighted nymphs will certainly produce for you. You may also encounter hatches. You may do well using dry flies or emergers. Fish in the lower elevations where the water is warmer.

Fishing for stocked trout in the low elevations is good. The trout will take nymphs for sure. You may catch them on dry flies or emergers. Streamers may work.

TVA and the Corps plan to churn water at most dams today with few tailwater fishing opportunities available. TVA will be generating and sluicing at Norris Dam, discharging around 13,000 cfs.

It looks like your best fly fishing options will be in the free flowing streams in the mountains or in the stocked low elevation rivers today.

Jack Gregory will be holding a Free Fly Tying Demonstration at the shop Saturday between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. This is a demonstration and a chance to get to know Jack, something you should not miss. I think he is the best fly fisherman I have fished with and we have fished together a lot. He is also an excellent fly tyer. Jack will be tying is favorite Spring patterns for fishing in the Smokies where he grew up fishing since he was a youngster.

Justin Pugh will be demonstrating Sunday between 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm. Justin is a professional guide at Blackberry Farm and Blackberry Mountain resorts in Walland. He and the other guides he works with are avid fly tyers. I see them often in the shop and learn from the time spent with them. They are all experts and very nice people.

You do not need a reservation to attend these free demonstrations. Just show up and the shop and learn from these guys.

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

Byron Begley
February 22, 2023  

Private Instruction Fly Fishing Classes will be offered by us again this year.  If you know someone that has been thinking about getting started and you don't want to be the one untangling their lines while they learn have them give the Shop a call.  Classes are small, limited to two people per instructor.  Our Beginner day consists of half day instruction at the Shop where they will learn casting, knot tying, theory....then in the afternoon the class moves to the stream for practical application of skills learned.  The investment is just $300 for one angler or $400 for two.  We have all the equipment needed.  All the student needs is a fishing license and to dress for the weather.  It is the perfect way to get started.  Call for more info! 865-448-9459.

We also have some more advanced learning options.  Classes can focus on general nymphing tactics or even a more specific Euro style nymphing class.  Casting instruction for learning new skills like Double Haul or improving distance can also be done.

FREE FLY TYING DEMONSTRATIONS EACH WEEKEND THROUGH EARLY MARCH

We will be holding many free fly tying demonstrations on the weekends over the next two months, some on Saturdays and others on Sunday afternoons. CLICK HERE to see the list of fly tyers who will be demonstrating, including the dates and times. These demonstrations are free. No reservation is necessary. All you have to do is show up at the shop. This schedule could change due to unforeseeable circumstances, including weather conditions, sickness or other causes. Check this fishing report where any cancellations or changes will be posted.

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com