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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:09 am, the temperature outside is 63.1 degrees.
It will be partly cloudy and cooler today, with a high in the low 80’s and a 50% chance for scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. It will be hot tomorrow and through the weekend with a slight chance for rain Friday and Saturday. The heat will remain in the region through next Thursday. In a week, the weather is supposed to improve, with cooler temperatures and a greater chance for rain.
Little River is flowing at 33.2 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.16 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 76 cfs. The record low flow on this date was 20.7 cfs in 2007. The water temperature is 68.2 degrees this morning.
Little Pigeon River is flowing at 81.3 cfs, 1.11 feet, which compares to median flow of 125 cfs. The record low flow on this date was 43.0 cfs in 1954.
Oconaluftee River is flowing at 146 cfs, 1.14 feet, compared to median flow of 200 cfs for this date. The record low on September 26th was 72.8 cfs in 2007. The water temperature is 64.6 degrees.
Tellico River is flowing at 51.4 cfs, .61 feet, and that compares to median flow of 74 cfs. The record low flow on this date was 24.9 cfs in 2016.
Cataloochee Creek is flowing at 28.9 cfs, 2.15 feet, compared to median flow of 39 cfs. Record low flow for this date was 17.4 cfs in 2008. The water temperature is 60.1 degrees.
The US Drought Monitor will be updated this morning. You can visit the site by CLICKING HERE. From that page you can click on your region, then your state, for a detailed view of the conditions in your area, including your county. Right now, most of our state is listed as abnormally dry, with a few spots in a moderate drought. You will likely see a difference later this morning.
Fishing conditions in the Smoky Mountains are not good, though you can catch trout. I have been writing every morning, giving you my best advice, and that is, stay hidden from the trout. Dress to blend with the forest and stay low. You will probably be making longer casts than normal, to avoid detection. I would use a dry fly that I can easily see, and possibly drop a Green or Pink Weenie off the dry. A Parachute Adams with an orange post has always worked for me when the water is low. I have trouble seeing a white post from a distance, in choppy water.
The trout will be hiding in broken water or near cover.
These trout are wild. They are hiding from predators. That behavior comes naturally to them. Only wary trout survive to spawn. The trait has been passed down for many generations. Trout stocking ceased in the 70’s, in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Fish the higher elevations where the water is cooler. Look for temperatures in the 60’s.
It will be cloudy at times today, or so they say. If that is the case, fishing the lowland rivers and lakes might be good. I would still go early or late.
There are opportunities today on some of the trout tailwaters in the region. Check the TVA website from the links below to plan your day.
If you are planning to attend or demonstrate at Fly Tyers Weekend, and you plan to stay at Tremont Lodge where the event will be held, make your reservations now. On October 2nd, our block of held rooms will be made available to other people and those rooms will probably vanish quickly. The Grains and Gritts event will be held in Townsend the same weekend. Rooms may be scarce.
Fly Tyers Weekend attendees can get a 25% discount on rooms at the lodge. You need to call to get the discount, as that can’t be done online.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
September 26, 2019
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com |
