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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:24 am, the temperature outside is 66.2 degrees.
Today will be hot again, with a high in the low 90’s. We have a 20% chance for showers and thunderstorms tonight. Tomorrow will be cooler, in the mid-80’s, with a low chance for rain. The balance of the week will be cooler, highs in low to mid 80’s with lows in the 50’s. No rain is predicted during the period.
This month, so far, rainfall as recorded at the Knoxville Airport is 1.71 inches below normal.
Little River is flowing at 24.6 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.22 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 73 cfs. The lowest recorded flow on this date was 23 cfs during the drought of 1998. The water temperature is 70.9 degrees this morning.
Little Pigeon River is flowing at 94.6 cfs, 1.17 feet, compared to median flow of 140 cfs. The lowest recorded flow on this date was 40 cfs, in 1954.
Oconaluftee River is flowing at 166 cfs, 1.21 feet, and that compares to median flow of 198 cfs. The lowest flow recorded on this date was 99.9 cfs in 2007. The water temperature is 66.4 degrees.
Tellico River is flowing at 62.9 cfs, .69 feet, compared to median flow of 70 cfs. The record low flow for this date was 24.0 cfs in 1954.
Cataloochee Creek is flowing at 32.4 cfs, 2.18 feet, which compares to median flow of 40 cfs. The record flow there on this date was 20 cfs in 1944.
Little River is flowing very low by all comparisons. Other streams in the Park are flowing higher by comparison.
Water temperatures are warm in the low elevations. That will improve later this week.
If you go today, choose a stream that is flowing closer to normal. Fish in the higher elevations where the water is cooler. These are not ideal fishing conditions, especially in the Little River watershed.
Lowland river fishing may be fair, depending on where you go. I look at Little River daily, in Townsend. I can’t help but wonder what fishing for smallmouth bass and other gamefish might be like. It seems to me it would be tough. The pools are still. Wading in the deep pools, where the fish will be likely found will be hard to do without spooking them. Go early or late, if you go.
Go early or late on the lakes when the sun is off the water. Cast foam floating flies, poppers, streamers and Rubber Legged Dragons for bass, bluegill and shellcrackers. It is going to be hot out there during the day. I would wait until later in the week to go.
Fishing in a tailwater might be a good option, though the generation schedules at many are not angler friendly today. Some are, especially if you go early. Check the TVA website from the links below to see if you can work with their schedules.
Daniel and I worked on the wading department yesterday, and placed a large Simms order to be delivered Friday. We want to be ready when cooler temperatures and better water conditions bring the anglers out. Right now, Smokies fly fishermen are wet wading. When the air and water cools soon, that will not be the case. We want to be fully stocked with waders and boots when that happens and by the weekend, we will be ready.
Daniel met with Ken at Tremont Lodge yesterday morning, going over the layout for Fly Tyers weekend. That huge event will be here before we know it. You can book your room at the Lodge and get a 25% discount. Do that before the end of the September, to be sure rooms are available. Early November is a busy time in Townsend. You have to call the lodge and tell them you are attending or demonstrating at Fly Tyers Weekend, to get the discount. That can’t be done online.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
September 17, 2019
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com |
