Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:36 am, the temperature is 61 degrees.

It is much warmer this morning than was predicted yesterday. It will probably be cooler by daybreak. We have a good chance for rain and thunderstorms this morning with rain more likely this afternoon. The high temperature today will be in the low 70’s dropping to the low 50’s tonight.

Tomorrow will be mostly sunny with a high in the upper 70’s and a low in the upper 50’s overnight.

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm are likely Sunday. It will be warm with a high in the upper 70’s and a low in the low 40’s Sunday night. Sunday may be breezy.

Little River is flowing at 205 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.08 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 279 cfs. The water temperature is 55.9 degrees this morning at the Townsend gauge.

Streams in the mountains are flowing at normal or slightly below normal. The streams have warmed considerably, even in the higher elevations. The water temperature at Cataloochee Creek is 51.8 degrees, warmer than it has been this early in the day for a while.

Heavy rain is not predicted today but we may get a quarter of an inch or more in thunderstorms. So, it is possible some streams may rise. That may not be likely but it could happen.

Weighted nymphs will work for you today. Trout may also take wet flies or dry flies. The fish will be active due to the warmer water temperatures.

Fishing for stocked trout in the low elevation rivers will be good today. Start with nymphs, squirmy worms or small streamers. If the trout are not taking your flies, downsize to lighter tippet and smaller emergers or midge pupa.

Fishing for smallmouth bass in the lowland rivers is improving thanks to the warmer water conditions. It should be overcast at times today, which is an excellent condition. Nymphs or streamers will work best but you might try foam floating flies or poppers too.

This may be a good lake fishing day as it should be overcast at times. Winds will be light. I would cast weighted streamers to the rocky banks, hoping that smallmouth bass have moved into shallower water. Mine would be a large black weighted Wooly Bugger. Retrieve slowly to allow your fly to sink. Vary your retrieve.

Tailwater anglers have many choices today. There are long breaks in the generation planned, with some pulsing at every dam I checked. Visit the TVA website from the links below to plan your tailwater fishing day.

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

Byron Begley
April 14, 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