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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:39 am, the temperature is 50.4 degrees.
It is cool this morning. Today will be sunny with a high temperature hovering around 80 degrees. Humidity will be low. It will be sunny again tomorrow but warmer, with a high in the upper 80’s. There is a chance for thunderstorms Thursday. Thursday and Friday will be hot, with highs possibly reaching the low 90’s.
Cooler air will move into the region Sunday. Sunday is going to be nice.
Little River is flowing at 184 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.94 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 207 cfs. The water temperature is 61 degrees at the low elevation gauge site near Townsend.
Most if not all streams in the mountains have receded to below normal. Some are only slightly below normal.
Water temperatures are within the trout’s preferred range at all elevations. Later this week, water temperatures could be warm in the low elevations so we may need to plan to fish higher for a couple of days.
Trout are taking dry flies and nymphs. We are recommending yellow sally stonefly patterns to our customers for their dry fly selection. Sub-surface fly selections should include small bead head nymphs, squirmy worms and Green Weenies.
Fishing for stocked trout is good in the rivers flowing out of the mountains. Nymphs, midge pupa, s quirmy worms and Green Weenies should be in your fly box. Small streamers may work too.
I drove to Maryville yesterday, and took the old road from Townsend to Walland. The road follows the path of Little River along the way. The river looked perfect. Wade fishing for smallmouth bass is all I could think about. Now is the time to do it.
You could use nymphs, streamers, crayfish patterns or top water offerings. I know I would use foam floating flies and stick with them. I like the soft landing of a foam floater. Smallmouth bass like the soft landing too. It sounds real, like a large terrestrial insect would land.
I have found, especially in lakes, smallies can be spooked by a hard bodied popper if it lands close to them. The landing of a lightweight foam bug gets their attention without sending them swimming away. Sometimes the fish moves toward the fly and sips it off the surface while I watch. What could be better than that? OK, sometimes they clobber the fly. I guess it depends on their mood or how hungry they are.
Lake fishing conditions are very good. It may be a little breezy today but I would go anyway. I would also go early, launching at daybreak. As the sun rises higher, find shaded banks to fish. Use a large weighted Wooly Bugger or a swimming nymph. My top choice would be a foam floating fly.
If you are targeting panfish, use small poppers, foam floating flies or swimming nymphs.
If you are searching for a tailwater to fish today, there is a huge list of choices. Generation schedules are favorable at many dams. Choose your tailwater fly fishing destination from the list below and plan accordingly.
This will be a great fishing day. I hope you can go. I will be working. I love work.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
May 17, 2022
IMPORTANT INFORMATION CONCERNING THE CANEY FORK TROUT FISHERY BELOW CENTER HILL DAM!
The US Army Corps of Engineers is seeking public input as they are planning to update their Water Control Manual for Center Hill Dam. The manual was last updated in 1998. David Knapp, who guides on the Caney Fork and other rivers, brought this to my attention.
According to David, the current manual requires only one hour of generation during a 48 hour period, which is not enough to provide cold water during the warm months. Years ago, before the dam was repaired, seepage helped maintain much needed cool water that is essential for a sustainable trout fishery. David says that is not the case now. If you love fishing the Caney Fork River tailwater, you should look into this and get involved.
The Corps will be holding a public meeting to discuss changes for the new manual on Thursday May 26th from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the Smith County Agricultural center in Carthage, Tennessee.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com
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