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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 7:00 am, the temperature outside is 43 degrees.
The weather yesterday was a surprise to meteorologists and me. We got 2.28 inches of rain in Townsend. The Knoxville Airport reported 1.32 inches. Cades Cove loop road was closed due to flooding. I checked early this morning and it was still closed. Elkmont Campground was evacuated. You can read the story and watch video on the WBIR website by CLICKING HERE.
All streams in the park that have flow gauges, set records for the date, yesterday and today. Little Pigeon River came very close to flood stage. Little River rose to a little more than a foot below flood stage.
Showers are likely today. We may get between a tenth and quarter of an inch. The high temperature is predicted to be 48 degrees. Tomorrow will be sunny and warmer, 66 degrees. Next week will be warm with no rain expected some days and only a low chance on other days.
Little River is flowing at 2,210 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 4.79 feet on the gauge. That is a record for this date. Yesterday, the river peaked at almost 7 feet. The water temperature is 53.6 degrees.
Little Pigeon River is flowing at 5,780 cfs, 6.09 feet, compared to median flow of 476 cfs. The current flow is a record for this date based on 67 years of data. Yesterday, the river rose to almost 10 feet. Flood stage is 11 feet.
Oconaluftee River is flowing at 3,530 cfs, 4.70 feet, compared to median flow of 538 cfs. The flow this morning is a record for this date.
Tellico River set a new record for this date based on 72 years of data. Flow is 1,440 cfs, 4.15 feet, compared to median flow of 299 cfs.
Cataloochee Creek is flowing at 1,070 cfs, 4.67 feet, compared to median flow of 121 cfs. Current flow sets a record for this date based on 75 years of data.
So, as you can see, the streams in the Smokies are blown out today. It is not safe to wade. I don’t know how many days it will take for the streams to recede to an angler friendly level. We may get more rain today. I can see dark clouds over the Park from my office window right now.
You might want to fish a tailwater today. Check the TVA website. Look at the schedule for Cherokee Dam and Norris Dam. You should be able to fish the Clinch or Holston Rivers today. See if their schedule works with yours.
The lowland rivers are flowing very high. I will be difficult and unsafe to wade most of them near us.
You might want to fish a lake today. You may get wet and it could be breezy at times. That is an option.
Watch the video on the KnoxNews website by CLICKING HERE. A mother bear helped her four cubs cross the road at Cades Cove this week. This is fun to watch.
The shop will be closed tomorrow, Easter Sunday. I will not be writing the fishing report. I’ll be back Monday.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
April 20, 2019
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com |