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. It is going to be another warm, sunny day in the mountains. There is always a chance for a pop up thunderstorm so be aware but don't let that keep you from heading to the river.

A thunderstorm dropped some rain on the Little River watershed yesterday afternoon. Water levels rose but are back to a normal level. This morning the streamflow gauge is giving a reading of 1.87 feet or 176 c.f.s. This is just a notch above the daily normal of 148 c.f.s. Water clarity should be good. Water temperatures are a little cooler this morning at 66F.

Fishing has been good across the Smokies. While the best time of day to go is whenever you have the chance, fishing will be better early in the morning or later in the evening. Try to be out there when the temperatures are more comfortable. If you are going to be out through the middle part of the day, you will want to go to higher elevations and find a shaded stream.

If I was headed out today I would be starting with dry flies. The main hatches are going to be lighter colors. Yellow Sally stoneflies are the most prolific hatch at this time of year. The Neversink Caddis is a great pattern to immitate these bugs. I generally revert to the old standard of the Yellow Stimulator. Rob's Hellbender Dry is another fantastic pattern to fish right now. I would fish a dropper fly below the stonefly. Green Weenies are very effective through the summer. You may also want to try a pheasant tail or even an ant.

Mid to higher elevation streams are going to fish better. Hiking in a ways will help you find some solitude. Concentrate on faster moving sections of stream. As the water warms the trout will move into the faster current where the oxygen levels are better. Keep your rod high with nothing but the leader on the water. This will help you to get a better drift in the fast water. Keep moving, don't spend much time in any spot. A few drifts then move up.

The weather is going to be HOT this week. Be sure to have plenty of water to drink with you when you are out doing anything. Last summer I bought a Grayl purifier bottle. This is perfect for taking fishing because I don't have to carry much water at all. All you have to do is pull the filter out, fill the bottle and then press the water through to filter it. What I like best about this system is that I don't have to suck the water through the filter while drinking it, it is ready to go just like if it was in a regular water bottle. Check it out....it will save you from having to carry extra water bottles on a hot day.

Byron is out on the lake today fishing with Jack. I think they both needed a day off for fishing. Hopefully Byron will have tales of monster smallmouth to fill the fishing report with.

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

Daniel Drake
June 18, 2018

  

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com