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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:42 am, the temperature outside is 37.2 degrees.
It will be warm today with partly sunny skies and a slight chance for rain late this afternoon. Showers are likely tonight, though no heavy rain is expected. Tomorrow will be cooler with highs in the 40’s in the foothills.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PREDICTED HIGHS AND LOWS TODAY
LOCATION |
HIGH |
LOW |
TOWNSEND |
61 |
42 |
GATLINBURG |
60 |
40 |
ELKMONT |
58 |
37 |
CADES COVE |
58 |
39 |
NEWFOUND GAP |
54 |
33 |
MOUNT LECONTE |
44 |
30 |
CHEROKEE |
60 |
40 |
SMOKEMONT |
54 |
37 |
BRYSON CITY |
61 |
40 |
MAGGIE VALLEY |
57 |
39 |
COSBY |
60 |
40 |
Little River is flowing at 485 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.65 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 150 cfs. The water temperature is 48.9 degrees this morning.
Little Pigeon River at the Sevierville gauge is flowing at 856 cfs or 2.66 feet. Median flow is 244 cfs.
Oconaluftee River, at the Birdtown gauge is flowing at 788 cfs, compared to 317 median flow. The water temperature is 45.5 degrees.
Cataloochee Creek is flowing at 193 cfs compared to median flow of 56 cfs. The water temperature there is 43.5 degrees.
We still have plenty of water! Many streams are safe to wade but still be careful. The current is strong. The water is chilly this morning in the higher elevations.
Today could be a good fishing day. It is supposed to be overcast at times, especially this afternoon. It will be warmer. Water temperatures will rise. And, light rain, along with other conditions, improve the chances for a blue wing olive hatch. So, be prepared for that.
I would fish in a low elevation stream early. Try the Middle or West Prongs of Little River. Abrams Creek is a good choice. The water will be warmer near the trailhead, due to the influx of underground water from springs. Later today, you should be able to fish higher. Look for 50 degree water or warmer if you can find it. The higher you go, the colder the water will be.
Unless you see a hatch, I would use nymphs or streamers. Weight your nymphs with split shot to get them down in the water column near the streambed. Tellico, Prince, Pheasant Tail and Hare’s Ear are good nymph patterns to use.
A Muddler Minnow or any sculpin pattern may entice a big brown trout.
If you see blue wing olives or other aquatic insects on the water, and trout rising to them, switch to what you have, to try and match the bugs you see.
I read this morning, someone in the Park left their car unlocked, with a small bag of dog food inside. Guess what? A mother bear and two cubs opened the door and ravaged everything edible in the car, including soft drinks. Bears are hungry and looking for food. They are not sleeping through the Winter like I would hope.
I have two new 4 x 4 posts, painted and equipped with squirrel baffles in the basement. We have 4 bird feeders, freshly spray painted and waiting. The holes behind the house have been dug. I have 100 pounds of sunflower seed hearts, packed away in airtight 5 gallon buckets. I am waiting for bear activity to slow. It’s not happening yet.
They say the males may not hibernate much this year. Food was very scarce this Fall. There were not many nuts. I am usually feeding the birds by Thanksgiving week. Not this year.
When bears attack feeders, everything attached, including the feeder is destroyed beyond use. I have not seen a bear at our house in over two weeks, but that doesn’t mean they are not out there. I worked in my office yesterday, all day, with a great view of the forest. I didn’t see one bear.
Paula saw 8 deer in front of the house yesterday. She also saw a bear that had been hit by a car or truck on Highway 321, between Townsend and Walland. The bear was dead. People were standing around looking at it.
I know there are many people camping at Cades Cove this week. That is an annual event for many. This will be a nice camping week but rain is predicted tonight and this weekend. It is going to be fairly warm.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
November 19, 2018
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com
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