If you do not see today’s Fishing Report, please refresh your browser to empty your cache.
Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:38 am, the temperature is 71.8 degrees.
The heat wave continues. The high temperature yesterday was 96 degrees at the Knoxville Airport, which was a record for the date. In Townsend, the high was recorded at 93.9 degrees at the Fox Hollow personal weather station. The high temperature at another personal weather station near our house topped out at slightly over 100 degrees. That may be due to a calibration issue.
It will be very hot today and tomorrow with highs in the low to middle 90’s. Saturday and Sunday will be cooler, with highs in the middle 80’s. There is a low chance for a thunderstorm this afternoon and tonight. The chance for thunderstorms is greater tomorrow.
Little River is flowing at 114 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.67 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 148 cfs. The water temperature is 71.8 degrees this morning at the low elevation USGS gauge site near Townsend. Yesterday, the water warmed to over 74 degrees at the site.
Some streams in the mountains are flowing below median flow while others are flowing slightly higher. The Tellico River drainage got some rain overnight and the river rose. It has peaked now, and will recede quickly.
Low elevations streams are very warm and will continue to be warm through tomorrow. Do the trout a favor by fishing in the higher elevations where the water is cooler. Yesterday, the high temperature recorded at Cataloochee Creek was a little over 66 degrees. At the Birdtown gauge, Oconaluftee River’s temperature rose to over 73 degrees.
I pulled into the shop yesterday morning at about 7:15 am. David Anderson’s car was parked in the lot. He and Dennis went fishing somewhere. When I left the shop after 4 pm, they were pulling in. They spent almost the whole day fishing. I can’t wait to hear how that went.
Fishing is probably good in the higher elevations, especially in streams with higher flows. I will know more after talking to David this morning. Dry flies and nymphs should work. Dress to blend with the forest so the trout are less likely to see you. Fish the broken water where they are hiding.
Lowland river fishing for warmwater species is good. Go early or late to avoid swimmers and tubers. Fish in the deeper pools and runs. Poppers, foam floating flies, nymphs, streamers and crayfish patterns will work for you.
Lake fishing is good if you can stand the heat. Go early or late. Cast poppers, foam floating flies, swimming nymphs or streamers to the shaded banks.
Tailwater anglers have many options today due to pauses in the generation at most dams. Check the TVA website from the links below to plan your tailwater fishing day.
A 90-year-old woman was sitting on her porch yesterday in Sevier County. She was approached by a mother bear and three yearling cubs. The lady tried to scare the bears off using a lawn chair. She was scratched on the arm before the sow ran away. The bear was found and euthanized by TWRA personnel. Read the story on the WBIR website by CLICKING HERE.
This incident follows another that happened at the Elkmont Campground a few days ago. A family of five and their dog were sleeping in their tent. A bear ripped its way into the tent and scratched a mother and daughter. That bear was euthanized by Park Service personnel.
Paula and I saw a large bear behind our house a few days ago. Our neighbors are reporting the same thing. This bear is likely a male.
Bears are having trouble finding food. The soft mast, berries, are scarce right now. Some bears are accustomed to eating human food. Those are the ones we need to be concerned about.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
June 16, 2022
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com
|
