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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 6:04 am, the temperature outside is 58.8 degrees.
Today will be mostly sunny and hot, with a high temperature in the upper 80’s to near 90 degrees. Cooler temperatures are in our near future, beginning tomorrow. Expect highs in the low 80’s with lows in the mid 60’s through the end of the week. Thunderstorms will move into our area tomorrow and last through Sunday. The chances for rain are high.
Little River is flowing at 141 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.74 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 223 cfs. The water temperature is 65.2 degrees this morning. Yesterday, that number rose to 68 degrees.
Dry flies are working well for trout in the Smokies. The conditions are perfect for dry fly fishing. You will probably do best using typical Summer patterns, specifically yellow stoneflies or light colored mayflies in sizes #14 and #16.
A yellow Neversink Caddis is a good choice. It looks like a caddis to us, but the trout seem to think it is a Yellow Sally Stonefly. Rob’s Hellbender, Yellow Stimulator, Yellow Parachute Adams or one of many small yellow stonefly patterns will work for you.
Sub-surface flies will produce for you. I have not heard, but I suspect a Green or Pink Weenie will catch trout too. Drop one of those off your dry fly and see what happens.
Due to the heat predicted today, you may want to fish the mid-elevation to high elevation streams, where the water is cooler. Lynn Camp Prong or the East Prong of Little River above Elkmont are two of many good choices.
Fishing for trout is good in the Smokies, especially early and late when the sun is off the water. The overhead tree canopy has matured for the Summer, offering us shaded water in many areas, where I would fish during the middle of the day.
Paula and I have been fishing in Florida for two weeks so I have not sampled the smallmouth fishery on the lowland rivers, tailwaters and lakes here. I know from experience, smallie fishing is good right now. Unless it is overcast, go early or late. The bass should be taking topwater poppers and foam flies. This is a great time of year to catch largemouth bass and bluegill too.
The trout tailwaters are fishing well from what I have heard and read. Visit the TVA website and view the release schedules before going.
We need rain and it is coming. We may see high water at times this week in the mountains and lowland rivers, or we may not. We’ll have to see what happens.
Fishing was fair in Florida. We took our kayaks for fishing inland. We also fished in the surf. The wind blew like crazy the first week. A full moon caused the tides to be very high and extremely low the first week too. The second week was perfect. We did fish every day during the two-week trip, except on travel days.
We found speckled trout in fairly shallow water, where the grass had grown. We noticed the grass was growing in deeper water near the end of the second week. Redfish were close to shore in very shallow water during the high tides.
We shared the bay house with Frank and Frieda both weeks. Mouse and Loreena joined us the second week. This was one of the best vacations, Paula and I can remember. They almost always are.
But, it is always good to be home.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
May 14, 2018
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com
We have an Aquatic Entomology Class scheduled. It is going to be held on Saturday June 16. The price is just $100 for this all day class. Space is limited so give us a call to get your name on the roster. 865-448-9459. |