Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:36 am, the temperature is 56 degrees.

We got a total of .39 inches of rain in Townsend yesterday.

There is a chance for showers thunderstorms today, with a high temperature in the middle 70’s and a low tonight in the low 50’s. Otherwise, it will be partly sunny. The chance for rain and thunderstorms is 50%.

It will be mostly sunny tomorrow, with a high in the middle to upper 70’s and a low in the low 50’s overnight. Showers are likely overnight.

Showers will linger Sunday, with a high around 70 degrees.

Little River is flowing at 193 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.04 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 255 cfs. The water temperature is 53.8 degrees this morning.

Water levels rose yesterday in the Smokies, but most are receding. Some are flowing below normal while others are flowing slightly higher than normal. The streams have warmed to within the trout’s preferred range at the low, middle and in some cases, in the higher elevations. That trend will continue today.

Fishing will be good in the mountains today, unless a stray thunderstorm affects the stream you are fishing or planning to fish.

Trout will be taking nymphs, wet flies, emergers and dry flies. I would definitely have some Yellow Sally Stonefly and Light Cahill or Sulphur dry flies in my box. A good nymph choice is a small bead head Pheasant Tail.

Fishing for stocked trout in the low elevations will be good, baring high or stained water. Nymphs, emergers, caddis pupa, midge pupa, squirmy worms and small streamers are good fly choices.

Fly fishing for smallmouth bass in the lowland rivers is getting better by the day. I saw a photo of a really big smallmouth a customer caught yesterday in the Little Pigeon River. If you go today, try streamers, nymphs, crayfish and hellgrammite patterns. You could try foam floating flies or poppers. I think the sub-surface flies will work better but you never know.

If you go fishing on the lakes today, target smallmouth bass by casting weighted streamers on the rocky banks. Retrieve slow to allow your fly to sink deep. I would be using a large black weighted Wooly Bugger.

We have many tailwater fishing options today. There will be long periods of no generation with some pulsing mixed in at several dams. Check the TVA website from the links below to see what is going on at your favorite tailwater.

We are busy at the shop. Every department is stocked well. Anglers are traveling from the northern states to the South where Spring fishing is good. I talked to several customers from Michigan, Pennsylvania and other northern states who are here to fish yesterday. One woman flew into Knoxville from Michigan yesterday. She told me it was interesting to watch the trees change from brown in the north to green as she approached Tennessee.  

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

Byron Begley
April 28, 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