Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:50 am, the temperature is 63 degrees.

Showers are likely today with a chance of thunderstorms. It will be partly sunny and hot, with a high temperature around 90 degrees. There is a chance some storms could be strong to severe, according to the National Weather Service.

Tomorrow will be hot again with a high in the low 90’s and a fairly low chance for thunderstorms. There is a greater chance for thunderstorms Sunday with a high in the low 90’s. Some storms could be strong to severe.

Heat index values will be high today and through the weekend.

Little River is flowing at 173 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.92 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 111 cfs. The water temperature is 64.2 degrees this morning.

Most streams in the mountains are flowing at or above median flow for this date. Stream levels are ideal right now. We may see some streams rise today due to the chance for showers and thunderstorms. If you are fishing, watch for stained or quickly rising water. If you see that happening, get out of the river.

Fishing is good. Trout are taking dry flies and nymphs.

Fishing for stocked trout is good in some rivers. Weighted nymphs or midge pupa are good fly choices.

Fishing for smallmouth bass and other warmwater species is good in the lowland rivers. Most of these rivers are flowing at higher than normal levels and at good fishing levels. There is a chance some rivers may rise and become stained. Streamers, crayfish patterns, foam floating flies or poppers are good fly choices.

Fishing on the lakes may be good today. It will be partly sunny and a little breezy at times. Your main concern is the chance for thunderstorms. Additionally, this is the beginning of the 4th of July Weekend, so recreation boat traffic may be heavy. I would fish close to the ramp in case I needed to outrun a thunderstorm. Cast weighted streamers, swimming nymphs, foam floating flies or poppers to the banks or cover.

TVA and the Corps will be generating beginning later this morning or early afternoon for long periods at some dams. There are generation schedules you can work with at some dams today if you plan to fish on a tailwater. Refer to the TVA website to pick a river to fish and plan based on the predicted generation schedules you see.

If you go fishing today or this weekend, drink plenty of water.

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

Byron Begley
June 30, 2023

BIG CLINCH RIVER CLEANUP TO BE HELD SATURDAY JULY 8TH

The Clinch River Chapter of Trout Unlimited is asking for help from the public, to join in and participate in this year’s 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 Clinch River Tailwater at this event. You can read more about the cleanup on the WBIR website by CLICKING HERE.

You can register as a volunteer on the Clinch River Chapter website by CLICKING HERE.

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