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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. Clouds are moving into the area today. There is rain in the forecast for this weekend but how much and when will start keeps changing each time I open the weather app.

Water levels on Little River are excellent this morning. The gauge is reading 2.13 feet or 249 c.f.s. This is just above the daily normal of 224 c.f.s. The streams are flowing clear.

Water temperatures have been on the rise over the past few days. This morning the Little River is about 63F. Temperatures will stay consistent through the weekend then I expect a drop early in the week.

Where to go.....I might try the Little River up near Elkmont Campground. There is so much good water up there it is hard to say where to start. You might just have to take pull off and jump in. The only stretch I don't like is the infamous Crusher Pool. We all know that spot. It is the long sweeping bend pool just up there road towards the Elkmont Campground. It has a long pull off just at the top end of it. That pool holds a monster fish. It is one of the pools that I can even see trout in. I can't catch trout out of it so I pass it by. It is good that there are so many other good pools and riffles to fish instead.

I just talked to a customer who was out on the river yesterday with Travis Williams of Troutzone Anglers. They fished the Little River and had good success. 10 foot Euro Nymph rods were the tool of the day. Long rods have gained a lot of popularity over the last year or so. Many anglers think they want very short rods for the small streams but a long rod has advantages. Getting a good drift is easier with a long rod. You have more line control and greater reach to be able to keep the line off the water and not out of conflicting currents. Long leaders, designed specifically for Euro Nymphing, have less drag and will allow you to get heavy nymphs deeper into the water. Usually these leaders have some kind of bright sighter material in them to make them visible without using a strike indicator. Long rods and good technique will yield a lot of trout. You are going to get your fly deeper into the water. You are going to get a better drift. You are going to pay more attention to what you are doing and therefore you are going to detect the strikes better.

If deep nymphing isn't your thing today then I say we tie on a dry. Bugs have been hatching for awhile now. The hatches are lighter in color being tan to yellow. Try some Light Cahills, Yellow Parachute Adams, Neversink Caddis, Yellow Stimulators, Rob's Hellbenders, or Smoky Mountain Candy. Dry fly action should be good in the afternoons. Yellow Sallies hatch best in the waining daylight of the last fishable hours. You may want to pack a flashlight to help you walk back to the car in the dark.

Keep an eye on the weather. Rain is moving in this weekend. Until then...I say we go fishing. Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.

Daniel Drake
May 9, 2019

Respond to: info@littleriveroutfitters.com

AUCTION FOR BAMBOO FLY ROD AND GUIDE TRIP | There is a basket with a Walter Babb bamboo fly rod, Walter Babb flies and a Rob Fightmaster guide trip going up for auction outside the Gift Shop at UT Medical Center. Bidding will start on Monday May 6th and will run through Friday May 10th. The rod is 7'9" Paravergne Taper 2 piece for a 5 or 6wt and has an extra tip.