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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:38 am, the temperature outside is 68.9 degrees.
Today will be cool with showers predicted. No heavy rain is expected. Tomorrow will be warmer with only a slight chance for rain. Wednesday through Friday will be sunny and warm.
Rain fell all day yesterday. We got .64 inches in Townsend. Other areas in the Park got more.
It was windy in the high elevations of the Smokies yesterday. Many roads in the Park are still closed today.
They are:
Little River Road from Sugarland Visitor Center to Townsend
Cherokee Orchard Road
Laurel Creek Road from the Townsend “Y” to Cades Cove
US Highway 441 Newfound Gap Road between Gatlinburg and Cherokee
Other roads are closed that are not listed on the Park’s Road Twitter page. You can track changes on that page as they occur by CLICKING HERE.
The Park will determine the extent of the storm damage today and open roads and facilities as soon as possible. A list of closed facilities and more information from the Park can be viewed on the WBIR website by CLICKING HERE.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PREDICTED HIGHS AND LOWS TODAY
LOCATION |
HIGH |
LOW |
TOWNSEND |
76 |
67 |
GATLINBURG |
76 |
66 |
ELKMONT |
74 |
64 |
CADES COVE |
74 |
66 |
NEWFOUND GAP |
69 |
62 |
MOUNT LECONTE |
62 |
57 |
CHEROKEE |
76 |
64 |
SMOKEMONT |
71 |
62 |
BRYSON CITY |
76 |
64 |
MAGGIE VALLEY |
73 |
63 |
COSBY |
78 |
67 |
Little River is flowing at 474 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.63 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 72 cfs. The water temperature is 67.1 degrees this morning.
The gauge height on Little Pigeon River is currently 4.17 feet, or 2,730 cfs, compared to median flow of 139 cfs.
Oconaluftee River is flowing at 735 cfs or 2.21 feet on the gauge. Median flow is 192 cfs.
Cataloochee Creek is flowing at 153 cfs, 2.80 feet on the gauge and that compares to median flow of 39 cfs.
So, we have fairly high water to high water in the Smokies streams. Access to streams is limited due to road closures. This is not a good day to be fishing in the Park. You could find areas to fish but your choices are limited. Parking near closed roads will be limited.
Fishing will certainly improve this week. And, next week looks very good, with cooler temperatures on the way. The long term forecast through next week predicts a good chance for rain every day.
We should have excellent fishing this Fall. We will likely welcome October with higher stream flows. Streams normally flow very low in October.
Park wildlife folks found the bear and killed it yesterday. We have all been wondering if and when that would happen. The bear was found Wednesday near the body of a missing man near Cades Cove and Rich Mountain Road. The bear had apparently been feeding on the dead man’s body.
The bear was captured, fitted with a GPS collar and released. The Park Service noted in a news release, that the bear had been humanely euthanized.
The decision was made to kill the bear Thursday. The bear eluded searchers until yesterday, when it was shot and killed. You can read more on the WBIR website by CLICKING HERE.
Our neighbors in North and South Carolina have been through a terrible storm, with lost lives and property. Many people evacuated and still do not know what is left of their communities, homes and businesses. The affects of Hurricane Florence remain and will for a long time. I am very saddened by this and most people in America feel the same. All I can think of to say right now is, I am sorry for what you have endured. God bless you.
UPDATE 7:31 AM
CHEROKEE ORCHARD ROAD IS NOW OPEN.
LITTLE RIVER ROAD FROM SUGARLANDS TO THE TOWNSEND "Y" IS NOW OPEN.
LAUREL CREEK ROAD TO CADES COVE IS OPEN. CADES COVE LOOP ROAD IS STILL CLOSED.
Have a good day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
September 17, 2018
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com

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