Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:37 am, the temperature is 49 degrees.

It rained yesterday. We got .49 inches in Townsend.

Showers are likely again today but it should be light, amounting to less than a tenth of an inch. The high temperature will be in the upper 50’s, falling to 40 degrees tonight. We have a slight chance for rain tonight.

Easter Sunday will be sunny and warmer, with a high in the upper 60’s and a low in the middle to high 30’s overnight. We could see frost Monday morning in some areas, especially in the higher elevations.

Rain yesterday raised the levels in most streams and they are receding.

Little River is flowing at 225 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.14 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 358 cfs. The water temperature is 54.3 degrees and falling.

Little Pigeon River is flowing at 593 cfs, compared to median flow of 677 for this date.
Oconaluftee River is flowing at 835 cfs, which compares to median flow of 672 cfs.
Tellico River is flowing at 305 cfs, compared to median flow of 377 cfs.
Cataloochee Creek is flowing at 241 cfs, which compares to median flow of 158 cfs for this date.
Davidson River is flowing at 130 cfs. Median flow for this date is 152 cfs.

Water temperatures are within the trout’s preferred range at most elevations. The temperatures are falling this morning.

It will be overcast today which is beneficial to anglers fishing for trout. The fish are taking dry flies, wet flies and nymphs. There are many species of aquatic insects that are active. Right now, most reasonable fly patterns will work for you. A Parachute Adams with a small bead head Pheasant Tail dropper is a good combination.

Fishing for stocked trout in the low elevations is good. Sub-surface flies are good choices. Try nymphs, egg patterns, squirmy worms, mop flies or streamers. You may want to downsize to midge pupa with light tippet in the heavily fished areas.

Fishing for smallmouth bass in the lowland rivers may be good today. That depends on how cold the water becomes later this morning. Overcast conditions will be helpful. Nymphs or streamers will probably work best.

TVA and the Corps of Engineers will be pausing their generation at many dams today, mostly in the afternoon. Tailwater anglers who are wading or boating have many options today. Check the TVA website from the links below to see what is going on at your favorite tailwater. You may be pleasantly surprised.

We will be closed tomorrow on Easter Sunday but we will be open today from 9:00 am until 6:00 pm. The shop will open again Monday. I will not be writing the fishing report tomorrow which means I can sleep late, if that is possible. Tomorrow will be a nice day to go fishing.

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

Byron Begley
April 8, 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