Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:47 am, the temperature is 37 degrees.

It will be sunny and warm today with a high temperature in the low 70’s with a low tonight in the middle 40’s.

Tomorrow will be sunny and warmer with a high in the upper 70’s and a low in the middle 40’s.

Thursday will be sunny and even warmer, with a high in the low 80’s, dropping to only the low to middle 50’s overnight. Rain returns Friday.

Little River is flowing at 246 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.20 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 326 cfs. The water temperature is 51.8 degrees and falling at the low elevation USGS gauge site near Townsend.

Some streams in the Smokies are flowing slightly higher than normal while others are flowing at or below normal for this date. The streams are fairly warm in the low to middle elevations but the temperatures are falling this morning. When the water temperatures bottom out later today and begin to warm, fishing will improve.

Fish in the low elevations where the water is warmer. Given a choice, I would fish later this afternoon. Concentrate on shaded areas. Trout will be actively feeding. Nymphs, wet flies and dry flies are all good choices.

Fishing for stocked trout in the low elevation rivers is good. Fishing will be best later this morning. You should have nymphs, egg patterns, squirmy worms, small streamers, emergers and midge pupa in your fly box.

If you plan to fish on a lake, go early or late when the sun is low. Cast streamers to the banks and retrieve slowly. Allow your fly to sink further as it reaches deeper water. Winds will be calm today.

There will be long pauses with some short periods of pulsing at most TVA and Corps dams today. There are many tailwater fishing opportunities, whether you are wading or boating. Visit the TVA website from the links below to see what tailwater fishing options you have today. There are many to choose from.

We are having a new roof put on our building today and tomorrow. The old shingles will be removed first. It is going to be noisy at the shop. It is hard to believe our building is now 20 years old. I have a hard time comprehending I have been in this business 28 years. It has been very enjoyable and the time has flown by.

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

Byron Begley
April 11, 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