Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:48 am, the temperature is 60 degrees.

Rain showers early today will become steady this afternoon. Thunderstorms may be in the mix. The high temperature will be in the low 70’s. We should expect occasional rain tonight with a low temperature in the upper 50’s.

Tomorrow will be partly cloudy with a high in the upper 70’s. No rain is predicted.

Little River is flowing at 205 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.08 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 209 cfs. The water temperature is 61 degrees this morning.

Streams in the Smokies are flowing very close to normal. Water temperatures are good. You might get wet, but this should be a good fishing day in the mountains. Nymphs, wet flies and dry flies should all work for you. Try a Yellow Sally Stonefly dry fly with a small nymph dropper.

Fishing for stocked trout in the low elevations will be good today. River flows are normal, water temperatures are good and it should be overcast all day with occasional rain. Plan on using sub-subsurface flies, nymphs, squirmy worms, midge pupa or small streamers.

This may be a very good day to fish for smallmouth bass, rock bass and panfish in the lowland rivers. Flows and temperatures are good. There is a chance a thunderstorm could stain some tributaries and the river you are fishing. Cast streamers, nymphs, crayfish patterns, hellgrammite imitations, foam floating flies and poppers. Find out what is working and stick with it.

Overcast days are good lake fishing days and this will be one. It may be a little breezy at times. And, there is a chance you may be caught in a thunderstorm. Bass, panfish and other species can be caught on streamers, foam floating flies, swimming nymphs or poppers.

Tailwater anglers have many choices today. TVA and the Corps will be offering pauses in the generation at most dams with pulsing mixed in. Check the TVA website from the links below to see what you have to work with on your favorite tailwater. If you live in Kentucky, check the schedule at Wolf Creek Dam. You may be surprised. I was.

The Smoky Mountain Scottish Festival and Games will be held at the Townsend Visitors Center today and tomorrow. This has become a huge event over the past few years. You can learn more by CLICKING HERE.

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

Byron Begley
May 20, 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