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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:24 am, the temperature outside is 46.8 degrees.
It will be mostly cloudy today with a high in the low 40’s and a low tonight in the upper 20’s. We have a slight chance for showers this afternoon. Expect sunshine and warmer temperatures beginning tomorrow. A high temperature around 50 degrees is expected. It will be much warmer Sunday with a high in the 60’s. Spring-like temperatures will continue next week, with highs in the 60’s and lows in the 40’s and 50’s.
The high elevations in the Smokies are under a Winter Weather Advisory, due to snow expected today and tonight. Snowfall amounts will range from 2 to 5 inches through early tomorrow morning generally above elevations of 3,500 feet.
Little River is flowing at 543 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.74 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 400 cfs. The water temperature is 47.1 degrees this morning.
Little Pigeon River is flowing at 1,160 cfs, 2.93 feet, compared to median flow of 736 cfs for this date.
Oconaluftee River is flowing at 1,110 cfs, 2.64 feet, compared to median flow of 698 cfs. The water temperature is 45.9 degrees.
Tellico River is flowing at 685 cfs, 2.47 feet, compared to median flow of 376 cfs.
Cataloochee Creek is flowing at 285 cfs, 3.20 feet, which compares to median flow of 160 cfs for this date. The water temperature is 43.9 degrees.
Streams and rivers in the Smokies are receding. That will continue through the weekend. Fishing conditions are improving. Little River is already close to being on the high side of good. It should be there tomorrow. Some rivers are still going to be swift for a couple of days. Be careful wading.
Water temperatures will fall through tomorrow morning. Temps will be warming somewhat this weekend. Fishing will be very good early next week, due to the rising water temperatures. At this point it does not appear we will see heavy rain next week.
Spring fishing is just about here. Sunday should be the best fishing day this weekend. Fishing will be much better as the week progresses.
Get ready for dry fly fishing in the Smokies. You may see Quill Gordons, Blue Quills, Blue Wing Olives, Caddis, Stoneflies, and other aquatic insects, depending on when and where you are fishing. The bugs and the trout will be very active soon.
We have all been waiting for good fishing conditions and they are not far off.
The TVA and Corps dams are going to be active today. I didn’t see any good tailwater fishing opportunities. The good news is, the lake levels are much lower than they were last year at this time, or at least most of them are.
Norris lake is a good example. The level today is 1,011.75 feet elevation. Last year that number was 1,026.5 feet.
At Lake Cumberland in Kentucky the level is currently 721.94 feet elevation. Last year on this date, the level was 745.34 feet.
The level at Cherokee is 1,057.7 feet this morning. Last year on this date the level was 1,068.9 feet.
Last year, anglers in our region were not able to fish the tailwaters until late Spring. That should not be the case this year, unless we get a lot of heavy rain.
Do yourself a favor and attend our last free fly tying demonstration for the Winter tomorrow. Jack Gregory and Walter Babb will be tying and talking to you from 10 am until 2 pm. All you have to do is show up. These guys are long time good friends of mine and they are both excellent fly tyers and fly fishermen. I have learned more about fly fishing from Jack and Walter, than anyone I know.
When we fish together, they always catch more than I do. That does not bother me at all. I’m used to it.
Read more about Walter and Jack by CLICKING HERE.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
March 6, 2020
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com |