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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 6:26 am, the temperature outside is 66.0 degrees.

We will see sun this weekend. It will be warm and humid. But, the chance for rain and thunderstorms has been lowered since yesterday morning. We have a low chance today but a higher chance on Sunday.

Monday through Thursday should be dry, cooler and less humid. Finally!

Many streams in the Smoky Mountains are still flowing high, especially on the East side of the Park. Other streams are flowing high but some are fishable. A stray thunderstorm or two could change that later today, but maybe not.

Little River is flowing at 421 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.5 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 169 cfs. The water temperature is 62.4 degrees this morning.

There is a good chance, fishing will be good in the Little River drainage. We consider a USGS gauge reading on the river to be on the high side of good at 2.5 feet. If rain misses the Little River tributaries today, the levels will continually to fall, slowly.

Fishing will be good on some streams, unless a stray storm drops rain upstream from where you are fishing. Be on the lookout for quickly rising water all weekend.

I would choose Little River, one of the three prongs to fish today. They water is still swift in some areas, so be careful wading. Personally, I would fish the higher elevations, Elkmont and above, higher on the Middle Prong or Lynn Camp Prong. You might try the West Prong too.

Water temperatures are great.

Dry flies and nymphs should both produce for you. If one does not work, try the other.

Here is what I would try:

Yellow Neversink Caddis
Yellow Stimulator
Rob’s Hellbender
Other Yellow Sally patterns
Light Cahill
Beetle dry fly patterns
Bead Head Pheasant Tail
Green Weenie
Pink Weenie
Squirmy Worm

Fishing next week, Monday through Thursday will likely be very good. Some streams may still be flowing high during the early days of that period. Others will not, hopefully.

I am calling for good fishing, at least in Little River, barring any thunderstorms that may move into the area this afternoon. One of the three prongs may be better than the other two. They may all be fine.

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is sluicing at Norris Dam, Cherokee Dam and Douglas Dam until further notice. The flows will be high today and maybe in the near future. The water is high in all three reservoirs and probably most lakes in our area. TVA is trying to lower the lakes back to Summer pool.

The lakes will likely be crowded this weekend. Sunshine brings out the recreation boaters. When on the lakes, watch for floating debris. Go early or late for better fishing. Some lakes may be stained.

Good fly fishing times are ahead. Good fly fishing may be had right now, depending on where you go. I hope so.

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

Byron Begley
June 2, 2018

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com