Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:39 am, the temperature is 56 degrees.

It will be mostly sunny today with a high temperature in the upper 70’s. There is a slight chance for showers and thunderstorms tomorrow and through the night with a high in the low 80’s and a low in the upper 50’s.

Little River is flowing at 91.8 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.64 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 162 cfs. The water temperature is 62.4 degrees this morning.

Streams in the mountains rose yesterday morning but they have receded. Most streams are flowing near normal. Little River and Tellico River are flowing lower than median flow for this date. Water temperatures are within the trout’s preferred range at all elevations.

Fishing in the Smokies has improved. Trout are taking dry flies and nymphs. A dry and dropper rig may be your best option though dry flies fished alone or weighted nymph rigs may work well too. Good dry fly choices include Yellow Sally Stonefly patterns, a small Yellow Stimulator or a foam beetle. Small nymphs and Green Weenies are good sub-surface fly choices.

Fishing for stocked trout in some rivers has improved due to higher water conditions. Small nymphs will be good choices today. Try bead head nymphs, caddis pupa, squirmy worms or midge pupa.

The lowland rivers are flowing higher than they have been in a while. Fishing for smallmouth bass, rock bass and panfish has improved. Try streamers, crayfish patterns, foam floating flies and poppers.

Fishing on the lakes will be best early or late when the sun is low. When the sun is higher, seek out shaded banks to fish if you can find them. Try streamers, swimming nymphs, foam floating flies or poppers. Fish deeper with swimming nymphs and streamers when fishing sunlit banks and cover.

Refer to the TVA website to plan your tailwater fishing day. Generation schedules vary. There will be long periods of generation at several dams later this morning or this afternoon. There are many tailwater fishing opportunities at different times during the day below most dams.

Unless the long term weather forecast changes, we should be seeing more afternoon thunderstorms each day, beginning Sunday and lasting for several days. Hopefully that will help sustain good water levels for a while.

We are busy at the shop. June has been a very good month. We are having a good year compared to last year so far. The shop is well stocked in all departments and we have plenty of friendly folks here to help you.

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

Byron Begley
June 13, 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