Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:44 am, the temperature is 62 degrees.

It will be mostly sunny and hot today with a high temperature around 90 degrees. It may be hazy with patchy smoke in the air this morning. The National Weather Service has issued an Air Quality Alert for today.

There is a chance for showers and thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon with a high in the low 90’s.

Little River is flowing at 209 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.04 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 105 cfs. The water temperature is 64.4 degrees this morning.

Most streams in the mountains have receded to near median flow for this date with some streams flowing higher than median flow. Most streams are flowing at good fishing levels.

Trout are taking dry flies and nymphs. Anglers I have talked to at the shop are reporting “Good Fishing”. You might try a dry and dropper rig or weighted nymph rigs. A good dry and dropper combination is a Yellow Sally Stonefly with a Green Weenie dropper.

Fishing for stocked trout in the lower elevations is good in some rivers. Weighted nymphs will probably work best for you.

Fishing for smallmouth bass, rock bass or panfish is good in the lowland rivers. Most of these rivers are flowing at good fishing levels. Streamers, crayfish patterns, foam floating flies and poppers are good fly choices.

 Fishing on the lakes will be best early or late when the sun is low. Cast to the banks and cover with streamers, swimming nymphs, foam floating flies or poppers. When the sun is high, weighted streamers or swimming nymphs will likely work better. Winds will be calm today.

There are some generation schedules at area dams you can work with if you intend to fish on a tailwater today. Check the TVA website from the links below to see what tailwater fishing options you have.

The Clinch River Chapter of Trout Unlimited is asking for help from the public to participate in the annual river cleanup. During the past 25 years, volunteers have removed more than 6,000 tires and more than 10 tons of trash from the river at this event. The cleanup will be held on July 8th. You can read more about this event on the WBIR website by CLICKING HERE.

You can register to participate on the Clinch River Chapter of TU website by CLICKING HERE. Anyone wishing to help will be welcome.

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

Byron Begley
June 29, 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