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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:20 am, the temperature outside is 44.6 degrees.
After the fog lifts, today will be sunny with a high in the mid 60’s. Tomorrow will be partly sunny and much warmer, in the mid-70’s during the day. Rain returns to the area Wednesday and Thursday.
Little River is flowing at 605 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.81 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 272 cfs. The water temperature is 50.4 degrees this morning.
Little Pigeon River is flowing at 1,150 cfs, 2.85 feet, compared to median flow of 526 cfs.
Oconaluftee River is flowing at 1,040 cfs, 2.57 feet, which compares to median flow of 571 cfs.
Tellico River is flowing at 766 cfs, 2.73 feet, compared to median flow of 296 cfs.
Cataloochee Creek is flowing at 215 cfs, 2.99 feet, compared to median flow of 120 cfs.
West Prong of Little Pigeon River at Gatlinburg is flowing at 167 cfs or 3.80 feet on the gauge.
Evidently we got some rain overnight in the Smokies. Streams rose slightly. They will be receding soon and that will continue for two days. Areas of most streams are swift. That means of course, the lowland rivers are swift too. Stand in safe water to fish. Heavily weighted nymph rigs will probably work best for trout in the lowland rivers and mountain streams. Nymphs and streamers are good choices for smallmouth bass.
I did not see any wade fishing opportunities today on the local tailwaters. TVA and the Corps are generating around the clock at the dams I checked. They are sluicing at some dams. I did notice some lakes have receded to near the desired levels. We are all hoping for breaks in the discharges from the dams, so tailwater wade fishing will be possible soon.
What we really need is a break in the rainfall.
I talked to Brad night before last. He manages the dams owned by Brookfield Renewable Energy on the Little Tennessee River. He told me fishing has been slow for him on the lakes under his supervision. They have been pulling a lot of water through the lakes, due to very high flows coming from Fontana Dam. That affects fishing success on those lakes. He did tell me TVA has cut back the discharge at Fontana. I just checked the predicted flows there today, and there are some breaks. Fontana’s lake levels have reached the operating guide, which is the preferred level for this time of the year.
We want to see that happen at Norris, Cherokee and Douglas next.
Yesterday I photographed and placed “wire” on our online store, in the new fly tying materials department. You can see that by CLICKING HERE. Copper wire has been an important fly tying component for many years. Remember the Brassie? Maybe you still use that “killer” midge pattern.
In the early 90’s, John Barr invented the Copper John. That nymph became the most popular fly sold by Umpqua Feather Merchants for at least one year and maybe longer. You can read a story written by John Barr, about how he developed the fly by CLICKING HERE.
Over the years, colored wire caught on. I kept seeing new colors offered and more sizes. I bought them and sold the new wire in the shop. Wire continues to be a great seller at our store, 20 some odd years later.
Today, I will begin adding tinsel to the online store. I found out yesterday, photographing holographic tinsel is not easy to do, because of the glare. I am using two huge flash units, placed far away from the subject. Next will be chenille. I expect to spend three or four days on these two.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
April 27, 2020
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com |
