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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:30 am, the temperature outside is 64.2 degrees.
Thunderstorms are likely this afternoon again. A few may be severe. Heavy rain is possible. The high temperature will be in the low to mid-80’s. Right now, the National Weather Service predicts a 50% chance for thunderstorms Saturday and a 60% chance Sunday.
Finally, beginning Monday and lasting through next Thursday, we will enjoy mostly sunshine and a low chance for rain.
Little River is flowing at 579 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.78 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 175 cfs. The water temperature is 61.9 degrees this morning.
Streams in the Park that have USGS flow gauges, are flowing above median flow and some are flowing way above normal. Some streams are probably fishable, but you should be careful wading, if you go.
Depending on where the predicted thunderstorms track, today, tomorrow and Sunday, we will likely have high water is some streams through the weekend. Some watersheds may be missed. It is impossible to predict what fishing will be like through the period. It all depends on the weather and storm tracks.
You can click on the links below to determine if the river or area you want to fish, is subject to high water.
Little River is fishable right now, though the water will be swift. We consider 2.5 feet to be on the high side of good. The river is currently flowing at 2.78 feet. That’s pretty close. But, if storms track over the watershed this afternoon, that could quickly change for the worse. If rain misses the Little River watershed, the water will recede to a better level.
Nobody knows what to expect right now.
I am predicting fishing will be slow in many areas of the Park. But, you may find some areas that will offer better fishing. You can look around if you don’t mind driving.
I can’t stress enough, to be on the lookout for quickly rising water, if you go. Falling trees is also a possibility. The ground is saturated and storms, with high wind, could move in quickly.
The lowland rivers outside the Park are flowing high. Some may not be but most probably are. Little River and the Little Pigeon are flowing high outside the Park. Tellico River in the Cherokee National Forest is flowing very high today and it is still rising now.
For those of you who are planning to be here next week to fish, the outlook is much better. However, we don’t know how much rain will fall through the weekend or where. The rivers will certainly recede beginning Monday and continue to fall during the week.
We are in a “touch and go”, “wait and see” situation right now.
I plan to work through the weekend, then hopefully go fishing next week. I serviced our boat engine last night. All I have to do is check the wheel bearings on the trailer, check the air in the tires, and I’m ready to go. I like lake fly fishing in June.
Two bull elk crossed over the mountain from North Carolina to Tennessee, near Clingmans Dome. That may be a first in 200 years. I have been wondering when that would happen. If they stay in Tennessee, where will they go? Is Cades Cove next? Elkmont is a possibility. They are pretty close to Elkmont now. Will others follow? Or, will they go back to North Carolina?
You can read the story on the WBIR website by CLICKING HERE.
I am looking forward to seeing elk in our neck of the woods. It was just a matter of time.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
June 1, 2018
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com |