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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:46 am, the temperature is 61.9 degrees.

It will be partly sunny today with a high temperature in the low to middle 70’, falling to the low 50’s tonight. It will be windy today at times. Rain will move in overnight. Rain could be heavy. Rain will continue tomorrow.

Little River is flowing at 605 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.81 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 352 cfs. The river is receding. The water temperature is 51.6 degrees this morning.

All streams in the Smokies are flowing higher than normal and receding. Currents are swift in some streams. Care should be taken when wading.

Water temperatures have risen into the trout’s preferred range in the lower elevations. They will be actively feeding today.

I would plan on standing in safe water and using nymphs or wet flies. It is possible you could encounter aquatic insects on the water. It is time to prepare for surface feeding activity of blue wing olive, quill gordon, blue quill and other aquatic insects that emerge in the Spring. I don’t think that is likely today, but is possible as the water temperatures have risen to a point that triggers Spring hatches. I don’t think the water has been warm enough, long enough, but you never know for sure. Nothing in fly fishing is absolute. Just be ready and watchful.

Fish in the lower elevations where the water is warmer.

Lowland rivers that exit the Smokies are flowing higher than normal. Wading will be limited in some rivers. Stand in safe water and use weighted nymph rigs where trout are stocked.

TVA and the Corps plan to generate at several dams today but there are breaks at some dams, including Norris and South Holston. There may be other tailwater fishing options today so check the schedules from the links below to see what your options are.

The lakes are cold and shallow water fishing is slow. It will be windy today. This will not be a good lake fishing day.

Fly fishing anglers are definitely getting fired up about Spring fishing. We are enjoying Spring-like temperatures and the streams are warming. The days are getting longer. Daylight savings time will begin in two weeks. More people will go fishing after work. We are busy at the shop.

The long term weather forecast remains encouraging through March 14th. There will be colder nights this week but warmer nights next week. Daytime temperatures will be in the 50’s and 60’s through the period. According to the forecast, it will be wet through the middle of March.

I know we are all looking forward to Spring and it is not far off.

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

Byron Begley
February 28, 2021

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com