Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:33 am, the temperature is 39 degrees.

This will be another sunny and warm day with a high temperature in the upper 70’s with a low tonight in the upper 40’s.

Tomorrow will be mostly sunny and warmer. The high temperature will be in the low 80’s with an overnight low in the 50’s.

Little River is flowing at 228 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.15 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 316 cfs. The water temperature is 52.7 degrees this morning at the low elevation gauge site near Townsend.

Most streams in the mountains have receded to near normal or lower than normal for this date. Water temperatures are good in the low elevations, but colder in the high elevation streams. The water will warm today and over the next couple of days. The higher elevation streams will warm too.

Fishing in the Smokies is good. If you go today, start in the low elevations where the water is warmer. Nymphs, wet flies and dry flies will produce for you. Try weighted nymph rigs. A dry fly with a nymph dropper is a good choice. A Parachute Adams with a small bead head Pheasant Tail nymph will work. More important than fly selection right now is getting a good drift and staying hidden from the trout.

Fishing for stocked trout in the low elevation rivers is good. Sub-surface flies will probably work best. Nymphs, squirmy worms and midge pupa are good fly choices. Small streamers may also get the trout’s attention.

Fishing for smallmouth bass in the lowland rivers will improve as the rivers warm. Nymphs and streamers will work best for you. As the rivers warm further, you may want to try foam floating flies or poppers. They may or may not work but give them a try.

I have not heard much from lake fishermen. I know, if I went today, it would be early or late when the sun is low. I would launch at daybreak and hit the rocky banks with streamers. Retrieve slow and let your flies sink as the water gets deeper closer to your boat. Vary your retrieve until you find something that works. At some point, depending on the lake you are fishing and the water temperature, smallmouth bass will move into the shallows to spawn.

TVA and the Corps of Engineers are raising the lake levels for the Summer recreation boating season. You can view a visual of their plans by clicking on the Operating Guide on non-Corps dams. The link is near the bottom of the TVA page pertaining to their dams.

As a result, there have been long periods of no generation at many dams. There are pauses planned to several dams today, giving tailwater wading and boating anglers many options. Check the TVA website from the links below to plan your tailwater fishing day.

We are replacing the roof on our store. Workers began at 7:15 yesterday morning and probably worked until about dark last night. They will finish today. I will be glad when this is finished. We built the building 20 years ago and moved in. The roof shingles being replaced are the originals. The old shingles were removed and hauled away.

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

Byron Begley
April 12, 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