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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:21 am, the temperature outside is 58.1 degrees.
It will be sunny and cooler today with a high temperature in the upper 70’s. It will be dry each day this week through Wednesday. Temperatures will become warmer, in the upper 80’s by Wednesday.
Little River is flowing at 287 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.19 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 171 cfs. The water temperature is 61.0 degrees this morning.
Streams and rivers in the Smokies are flowing at a very good fishable level, though they are flowing above normal.
Fishing is excellent. Trout are taking dry flies and nymphs. Yellow dry flies are the most popular right now. Anything that mimics a Yellow Sally Stonefly is the go-to fly. Yellow Neversink Caddis, Yellow Stimulator, Yellow Elk Hair Caddis and other Yellow Sally patterns are working well. Light Cahill and other Sulphur patterns are a good option. Nymph choices include Tellico, Pheasant Tail, Hare’s Ear, Green Weenie, Pink Weenie and Squirmy Worm patterns.
Stay hidden from the trout, get a good drift, don’t spook the fish in any way, and you will do well.
Lowland rivers have receded to a very good fishable level. Nymphs and streamers will work for trout. Nymphs, streamers, poppers, hair bugs and foam floating flies will produce for smallmouth bass and sunfishes.
They are generating at most dams today though there are some exceptions. According to the TVA website, the turbines are off at Norris Dam this morning though they will be generating later today. This may be your chance to fish the Clinch. There are breaks in the generation at Douglas Dam today. The other dams I checked will be generating and even sluicing or spilling. Look yourself to see what options are available to you today.
Fly fishing on the lakes is good. Go early or late to avoid boat traffic and sun on the water. Nymphs, streamers, poppers, hair bugs and foam floating flies will work for many warm and cool water species.
In many cases, fishing is very good to excellent. We can thank drier conditions for that. Lake levels are receding to normal at many reservoirs. This will hopefully improve our tailwater fishing conditions in the area soon. Mountain streams and lowland rivers are receding closer to normal. Water temperatures are good in all rivers and lakes. Fish are active and fishermen are too.
Fishing has grown in popularity this year. More people want to be outside. We are very busy at the shop. Most fly shops, fishing stores and bait shops in the southeast US are probably seeing the same activity we are.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
May 31, 2020
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com |