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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:49 am, the temperature outside is 24.6 degrees.

The remaining week and this weekend will be cold, with highs in the 30’s to low 40’s and lows in the upper teens to mid 20’s. It will be dry, though there is a slight chance for snow Sunday.

Little River is flowing at 336 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.40 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 281 cfs. The water temperature is 39.2 degrees this morning.

The streams in the Smokies will remain cold through the New Year holiday. Fly fishing for trout will be slow.

If you go, plan on fishing nymphs, weighted and deep, tickling the stream bottom. The trout will for the most part, be lethargic. They don’t need to eat when the water is this cold. The trout’s metabolism is running slow.

You might find a post spawn brown trout, that is interested in feeding. If you spot one, and if its fins are moving, it may take your fly. You might fool one that you don’t see.

By all means, fish fairly close to your truck in case you get wet. Keep a spare change of clothes in your truck. Should you fall in, you won’t have much time to avoid hypothermia. It will be very cold in the valley, and colder in the mountains.

With fishing conditions like we are having, tying flies will keep us involved in the sport, in the comfort of our home. I am planning to tie a lot of flies this Winter. I need midges and saltwater flies.

If you don’t tie flies, maybe you should learn. It is a lot of fun. It is not as hard to do as you may think. You can get started with us. We are holding three fly tying classes in January. One is a beginner all-day class. We charge $85 for the class, which includes everything you need for the day, including lunch.

We are also holding a Free Fly Tying 101, primer, 2-hour class. That is a good way to give it a try, without any financial commitment.

There is an Intermediate All-Day Fly Tying Class scheduled in January. This should be taken after you take the Beginner Class, or if you have tying experience. The charge for this class is $75, which includes everything you need for the day, including lunch.

There are other fly tying classes scheduled in February and March. CLICK HERE to see our schedule and learn more about each class.

Spring fly fishing is hopefully only a few weeks away. My New Years resolution will be, “fly fishing more”.

I don’t have to resolve to lose weight. I’ve done that. I have lost almost 35 pounds since August.

Fly fishing more will be easier.

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

Byron Begley
December 27, 2017

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com