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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 6:25 am, the temperature outside is 30.2 degrees.

Today will be sunny and warm. The low temperature tonight will be warmer than it was last night. Rain is predicted tomorrow and tomorrow night. The rain continues Friday, but may change to snow during the afternoon and night.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PREDICTED HIGHS AND LOWS TODAY

Little River is flowing at 315 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.30 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 235 cfs. The water temperature is 43.7 degrees and falling.

Little Pigeon River at the Sevierville gauge is flowing at 583 cfs, 2.29 feet, compared to median flow of 382 cfs for this date.

Oconaluftee River is flowing at 750 cfs, 2.23 feet, and that compares to median flow of 415 cfs. The water temperature is 42.8 degrees and falling.

Cataloochee Creek is flowing at 190 cfs, which compares to median flow of 79 cfs. The water temperature is 40.1 degrees and falling this morning.

Most if not all streams in the Smokies are flowing above normal for this date. Water temperatures are chilly and falling. Water temps should rise some, later today, drop tonight, then rise again tomorrow and tomorrow night.

Fishing is fair. I would fish the low elevations and expect fishing to improve later today as the water warms.

I would start with nymphs and streamers, weighted heavily. Later today you may see some aquatic insect activity, among them, blue wing olives. If you see insects on the water, and trout feeding on them, switch to dry flies.

This is going to be a nice day to be fishing in the Smokies. Given a choice, I would fish later today than early, when the water is warmer.

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is drafting rules pertaining to commercial non-motorized watercraft, canoes, kayaks and tubes. The final proposal will be submitted to the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission next month, for a vote. If adopted by the Commission, the rules will be voted on by the Tennessee Legislature for final approval or rejection.

The Townsend Board of Commissioners voted last night, to pass a resolution supporting the new TWRA rules. You can read the story on the Daily Times website by CLICKING HERE.

CLICK HERE to visit the Tennessee Wildlife Federation’s page, to read their perspective on the new rules being written now.

Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.

Byron Begley
December 19, 2018

Fly Tying Classes January, February and March 2019 Taught by Walter Babb and Brian Courtney Beginner to Advanced CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com