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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 7:09 am, the temperature outside is 53 degrees.

Today is going to be nice, partly sunny with a high temperature in the mid-70’s. It may be breezy. Rain starts tonight bringing along with it, wind. A few strong storms may occur. Rainfall amounts up to one half of an inch are possible.

Sunday will be sunny and cooler. Rain will end during the morning hours. A sunny day is promised later. Sunday night will be cold. We are under a freeze watch tomorrow night.

Little River is flowing at 190 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.95 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 372 cfs. The water temperature is an incredible 53.2 degrees this morning.

I expect water temperatures in the lower elevations will reach the upper 50’s today, which is perfect for trout feeding activity. Today will be an excellent fishing day, except for the possibility of wind. The wind will be out of the southwest at 5 to 15 miles per hour. Gusts could reach 20 miles per hour.

I would go prepared with dry flies and nymphs, along with wet flies. A Parachute Adams should work for your dry fly in sizes #14 and #16. I would use a Bead Head Pheasant Tail for my nymph, but other patterns may work as well or better. My wet fly choice is a Hare’s Ear.

If it is overcast when you are fishing, that would be great. If it is sunny, find shaded areas to fish.

You might want to try a higher elevation stream. Lynn Camp Prong or the East Prong of Little River above Elkmont may be good today. Or, fish the lower elevations.

I think you will do well today.

If you are a tailwater fly fisherman, today may be a good one. Check the predicted flows on the Clinch River below Norris Dam. They have cut out the sluicing though they are generating with one unit most of the day today. See if their schedule works with yours and if you plan to wade or float.

The French Broad below Douglas Dam may be suitable for boating.

Check the TVA website yourself before going. Don’t take my word for it. I read a lot of stuff every morning preparing for this report. I am subject to mistakes.

They will be sluicing at Center Hill dam today, pushing a lot of water down the Caney Fork.

The Corps and TVA are still sluicing at Wolf Creek Dam on the Cumberland River in Kentucky. Lake Cumberland is being lowered, but the water level is still above full pool. The lake level was slightly higher last year on this date.

I would consider fishing a lowland river today. Smallmouth bass may be active. Little River in town has been stocked with trout. Some that have been caught lately have been nice fish. I would use streamers and nymphs. It’s hard to beat a Wooly Bugger, in black or olive.

We have more fishing options now. That should continue. After tonight, there is no heavy rain in the forecast at least until next Friday. After tomorrow night and Monday, it will be warmer again.

We continue to be busy here. March has been an excellent month at the shop, and at other Townsend businesses.

It is daybreak, and cloudy out there.

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

Byron Begley
March 30, 2019

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com

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