Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:40 am, the temperature is 60 degrees.

It will be sunny and warm again today with a high temperature in the upper 80’s with a low tonight in the middle to upper 60’s. There is a chance for showers and thunderstorms tomorrow, with a high in the upper 80’s. We have a chance for thunderstorms each day, Friday through Sunday.

Little River is flowing at 132 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.76 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 124 cfs. The water temperature is 67.1 degrees this morning.

Streams in the mountains are flowing near normal, some slightly higher and others lower. Water temperatures are warm in the lowest elevations. This is going to be a sunny and very warm day. Fish in the middle to high elevations where the water is cooler. Look for water temps in the middle 60’s or cooler.

Fishing is good in the Smokies. Trout are taking dry flies and nymphs. More important than fly selection is stealth and presentation. Stay hidden from the trout and get a good drift. Dry and dropper rigs are working. Trout are hiding in the broken water, in runs, pockets and plunge pools.

Fishing for stocked trout is fair to good in streams flowing out of the mountains. Nymphs will likely work best for you.

Fishing for smallmouth bass and other lowland river species is good. Most of the rivers are flowing near normal. Streamers, crayfish patterns, foam floating flies and poppers are all good fly choices.

This will be a bright sunny day. If you are planning to fish on a lake, go early or late when the sun is low. When the sun is higher, look for shaded cover and banks to fish. Gamefish and panfish are more likely to take top water foam flies or poppers early, late or in the shaded areas. Weighted streamers or swimming nymphs are good choices if you are not fishing in dimly lit areas. Let them sink deep and retrieve slowly to keep them running deep.

There are many tailwater fishing options today whether you are boating or wading. Check the TVA website from the links below to plan your tailwater fishing day based on the generation schedules you see.

Kris Maurer came by the shop yesterday and we talked for a while. He oversees eleven Orvis Retail stores. We have been friends since 2005 when he moved here to open the Sevierville store. As usual, we talked about business. But, he loves fly fishing as much as anyone I know so we talked about fishing too. Like me, he enjoys fly fishing for smallmouth bass. It is always good to see him. He works for a great company that we love working with.

I bought my first Orvis fly rod in the early 1980’s from a dealer in Nashville. Orvis named it “Henry’s Fork”.

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

Byron Begley
July 12, 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