Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:41 am, the temperature is 65 degrees.

Thunderstorms and showers moved through the area early yesterday evening and overnight. Rainfall amounts in Townsend ranged from 1.26” to 1.60” during the past 24 hours.

It will be cloudy this morning before becoming sunny later today with a high temperature in the middle to upper 70’s.

Tomorrow will be mostly sunny with a high around 80 degrees. Thunderstorms are possible during the afternoon.

Little River is flowing at 431 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.59 feet on the gauge. The river is rising. Median flow for this date is 206 cfs. The water temperature is 63.3 degrees this morning.

Little Pigeon River is rising but still flowing below median flow at the Sevierville gauge. The West Prong of the Little Pigeon is flowing high at the Gatlinburg gauge, so we may see higher water in Pigeon Forge and Sevierville later.

Oconaluftee River is rising quickly. Flow at the Birdtown gauge is currently 621 cfs, compared to median flow of 438 cfs for this date.

Tellico River is also rising quickly at the Tellico Plains gauge. Flow there is now 924 cfs compared to median flow of 227 cfs for this date.

Cataloochee Creek has peaked and receding, with a current reading of 135 cfs which compares to median flow of 94 cfs for this date.

If you go fishing in the Smokies today, check the USGS gauge readings first. The rain appears to have ended in Townsend, but may be continuing to fall in the Park, especially on the east side. Some streams may recede fairly fast and fishing could be fine later today. Others may be flowing high.

Weighted nymph rigs are probably your best option, especially early today.

The low elevation rivers where trout are stocked are likely flowing high and may be temporarily stained. Check the gauges before you go.

The same is true for the lowland rivers where you would be fishing for smallmouth bass.

This may be a good lake fishing day. It should be cloudy early which is helpful. Winds will be light at 5 miles per hour. Cast to the banks or cover with streamers, swimming nymphs, foam floating flies or poppers.

TVA and the Corps will continue to offer us long periods of no generation with short periods of pulsing at most dams today. Tailwater anglers have many options. There is a chance you may find stained water where tributaries enter the tailwaters. Check the TVA website to see what tailwater fishing opportunities you have today.

We really needed the rain. Streams in the mountains and the lowland rivers have been flowing lower than normal for a while. It appears we may get more rain Saturday.

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

Byron Begley
May 17, 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