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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:25 am, the temperature outside is 46.0 degrees.
It will be sunny today with a high temperature in the low 60’s, dropping to the upper 30’s tonight. Tomorrow will be cloudy at first, then clearing with a high in the mid-60’s. We have a low chance for showers Wednesday as warm air moves into the region. Expect a high temperature around 70 degrees Wednesday and 80 degrees Thursday.
Little River is flowing at 350 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.34 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 233 cfs. The water temperature is 50.7 degrees this morning. That number rose to about 53 degrees yesterday. Perfect is 58 degrees.
Fishing conditions in the Smoky Mountains are improving significantly. The streams are receding and the water temperatures are rising. This is going to be a good fishing week in the mountains. Nymphs and dry flies should both get you plenty of action this week.
As the mountain streams recede, so do the lowland rivers. Fishing in the larger rivers that flow out of the park are more angler friendly and warming. Fishing for trout will be good today. Fishing for smallmouth bass will be fair to good. Nymphs and streamers will work best in the lowland rivers.
I did not see good wading opportunities on the tailwaters predicted today. TVA is generating and in some cases sluicing at the dams I checked. Lake levels are falling to near normal in many cases. That, and the low chance for rain over the next few days should encourage them to cut back the discharges at the dams soon, I hope.
Many anglers are waiting for good tailwater fishing conditions. Much higher than normal rain has postponed the usual earlier Spring fishing on the tailwater once again. This is the third year in a row.
The Park is open to visitors. Only the primary roads are open while secondary, less traveled roads are temporarily closed. We are expecting to see more roads open soon. Parking for fishermen was an issue this weekend. Cades Cove was crowded, so most anglers avoided Abrams Creek. Tremont Road and Elkmont Road were closed.
We should see less traffic and visitors in the Park this week. We saw less people at our store yesterday, which is normal on Mothers Day. Friday and Saturday were very busy at the shop.
Fly fishing on the lakes will improve over the next few days as the surface temperatures rise. I have not talked to anyone who has done very well, fishing shallow water on the lakes. Each lake is different and we have many. Fishing could be good on some and I just have not heard. If you go, streamers will probably work best for bass and other gamefish.
The long term forecast, after tomorrow, indicates much warmer temperatures, which will improve lake fishing and lowland river fishing through May 25th.
We have been selling plenty of poppers lately. Most are probably being shipped to the states to our south where the water is warmer. That may change here soon. Popper fishing and foam floating fly fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill and shellcrackers is very popular. Warmer water in the lakes, lowland rivers and tailwaters improves with warmer water temperatures. That should not be far off.
It is great to see more fly fishers get out and go fishing again. It is encouraging to see more enthusiasm in the fly fishing community. I am happy to see our business and other businesses in Townsend enjoying better times. We went from bad to good in one weekend. We all needed a shot in the arm, and got it.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
May 11, 2020
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com |