Hi all and a little March help?

[jgf]

Hi all, I'm a Wisconsinite heading down to the Great Smokies in early March with a group of college students that are in a Trout Unlimited 5 Rivers club and was sent here by friends that have used the board before. Most of the students will be novices, a few are experienced anglers.

We'll be in the Wears Valley area - west of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg and just north of the park. I have been to the Park a couple of times but have only hiked or have done field work in the area (Coweeta in NC). I've never fished the park or Tennessee before. To give the students a good experience, I have a few questions (and am certainly happy for any other feedback you have):

• What can we expect for conditions in early March? I'm looking at the weather and compared to Wisconsin, it's looking balmy but do temps in the high 40's to low 60's translate to good fishing? I think of early March as winter here, when the park maps say closed for winter, what months are they closed for or it is simply variable year-to-year? 
• I'd like a chance to tie up some flies for the group, any suggestions for that time of year? Can we expect any hatches or are we too early to see much surface activity?
  
• We'll be about a half-hour west of Pigeon Forge. Are there any tailwaters that are drivable for a days fishing? My preliminary search shows we're in a bit of no-mans-land there but curious if there is a place that we just have to try to find an opportunity to fish.
  
• Any warmwater opportunities or are we going to be a little early there too?
  
• Suggestions for a fly shop in the area? Will they be open that time of year?
  

Thanks in advance for any help.

-Jason

[Tentwing]

Since you will be in Weirs Valley already you can follow hwy 321 ( aka Weirs valley road ) into Townsend and take a right at the light then go less than a quarter mile and Little River Outfiitters will be on the right. They will be the closest fly shop to you.