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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 6:57 am, the temperature outside is 65 degrees.

We had a quick light shower this morning. There is a 40% to 50% chance for more showers and possibly a thunderstorm today. No significant rainfall is expected, except in possible thunderstorms. It will be warm today, around 77 degrees.

Little River is flowing at 264 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.17 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 374 cfs. The water temperature is 56.1 degrees this morning.

Water temperatures are perfectly within the trout’s preferred range. Yesterday, the water temp in Little River rose to 59 degrees. You can’t ask for better temperatures.

Flows are below median flow, but very good for fly fishing. Most anglers prefer flows like we have now.

It will be overcast today, another great factor for fly fishing success.

This may be the perfect day.

Dry flies and nymphs will work. I would probably start early with nymphs, then switch to dry flies later this morning. There will be bugs on the water, many different species of aquatic insects. You may see Blue Wing Olives, Hendricksons, Light Cahills, caddis and stoneflies. It is hard to say what, where and when.

I would use an attractor pattern, a Parachute Adams or an Elk Hair Caddis. The trout are hungry. Their metabolism is in high gear. They will be feeding today.

I guess a thunderstorm could hover over a stream, dropping rain. You may find your stream stained temporarily if that happens. Go find a stream in a different drainage that has not been affected if you can.

I checked all the gauge sites on rivers that flow from the Park and did not seen any rising water.

Many tailwaters have settled down. Generators will be off and on today at Cherokee and Douglas Dams. Right now, the TVA website indicates sluicing at Norris dam this afternoon.

The Corps is sluicing again at Center Hill Dam. They will be generating at Wolf Creek Dam today, but there is much less discharge below that dam than we’ve seen in a while.

Lowland rivers should be fishing much better now that the water temperatures have risen into the upper 50’s. Smallmouth bass will be active. Try nymphs or streamers. I would use a Wooly Bugger.

The lakes have settled down too and warming. Shallow water fishing has to be improving. I have not been.

For the most part, fly fishers are very happy right now. When you are excited, so am I.

I am working on a new sub-department in our fly tying department. I’m having a sign made this week. It will read “Euro Nymphing”. The fly tying components will have their own free-standing display.

I ordered some hooks and beads yesterday, about $1,000 worth, wholesale. I will be ordering more. The hooks were competition 60 degree jigs, from Umpqua and Tiemco in sizes #6 and smaller. Some are barbless. A few are not.

The beads are all slotted. Some are faceted. There are many colors to choose from. I will merge the Euro jig hooks we have in stock now, from Daiichi and Fulling Mills.

Nymphs tied on jig hooks are the rage right now. The slotted beads allow for a large bead to be threaded onto a smaller hook. A heavy fly makes the perfect anchor for a rig. The hook rides up, and is less likely to snag the bottom.

I want our fly tying department to be a destination for tyers who like using weighted Czech nymphs. I want you to be assured we have a great selection, always in stock. With a little luck from our suppliers, this new department may be up and running by next weekend.  

Our fly tying department sales have grown by a huge amount over the past 9 months. The trend is continuing. The key is having a good selection and keeping everything in stock. Our current department takes up 700 square feet of space and I am planning to enlarge it before Fall. Some walls will be torn out to accomplish that goal.

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

Byron Begley
April 7, 2019  

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com

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