Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:42 am, the temperature is 74 degrees.

It will be partly sunny today with a high temperature in the upper 80’s, falling to the low 60’s tonight. It will be breezy today at times.

Showers are likely tomorrow, with a high around 80 degrees and a low in the low 60’s overnight.

The chance for rain continues Friday and Saturday with a slight chance for showers Sunday. It will be cooler with highs in the 60’s and lows in the 40’s, Friday through Sunday.

Little River is flowing at 228 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.15 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 353 cfs. The water temperature is 57.4 degrees this morning.

Most if not all streams in the mountains are flowing lower than normal. Water temperatures are perfect for trout feeding activity, even in the higher elevations.

If you go fishing in the mountains today be prepared for anything. Trout will be taking dry flies, wet flies, emergers and nymphs. The fish will be actively feeding. Aquatic insects of varying species will be active.

Fishing for stocked trout is good. The low elevation rivers are flowing at good fishing levels. Water temperatures are ideal and well within the trout’s preferred range. Sub-surface flies are working best. Try weighted nymphs or nymph rigs, egg patterns, squirmy worms, midge pupa, caddis emergers or streamers.

Fly fishing for smallmouth bass in the lowland rivers is improving. Fishing conditions are good. You may do best using streamers or nymphs. I would also try foam floating flies and poppers which may or may not work.

If you are planning to fish on a lake, keep in mind that it will be breezy today with wind gusts predicted to be up to 30 miles per hour. As the lakes warm, fishing is improving. I would hit the rocky banks with a large weighted black Wooly Bugger hoping to catch smallmouth bass. I don’t know if the fish are in shallow water yet. That depends on the water temperature in the lake you are fishing. If they are not in shallow water, they will be soon.

TVA and the Corps will be pausing the generation at many dams throughout the day, with occasional pulsing for about one hour. With careful planning, tailwater anglers have a lot of options today for wading and boating. Visit the TVA website from the links below to plan some time on one of the many tailwaters in our region.

We are very busy at the shop. We are seeing a lot of customers visiting the store in person, and ordering from us online. This has been a good year so far.

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

Byron Begley
April 5, 2023

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Parking Tags are now required to park your vehicle inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park for more than 15 minutes. Tags may be purchased at Visitors Centers, including the center in Townsend. Or, they may be purchased online. You can buy a daily, weekly or annual tag. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com