Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:46 am, the temperature is 70 degrees.

Today will be partly cloudy with a high temperature in the upper 80’s. Showers and thunderstorms are predicted today and overnight. Rainfall may amount to a half of an inch over the next 24 hours with higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

There is a low chance for thunderstorms tomorrow morning before clearing later. The high temperature tomorrow will be in the middle 80’s.

Little River is flowing at 109 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.67 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 129 cfs. The water temperature is 70.7 degrees at the USGS gauge site near Townsend. This is a low elevation gauge. Yesterday, the temperature at that location peaked at 72.7 degrees at 5:15 pm.

Streams in the low elevations are very warm which is usual in July. For instance, last year on July 8th, the temperature peaked at 76.5 degrees at 5:30 pm in Townsend. Trout are stressed when water temperatures are this warm.

Most streams in the mountains are flowing lower than median flow. That may change over the next 24 hours due to the predicted showers and thunderstorms.

We should be fishing in the higher elevations where the water is cooler. Look for water temperatures in the middle 60’s or cooler.

Trout are taking dry flies and nymphs. Good dry fly picks are foam beetles and Yellow Sally Stonefly imitations. Drop a small nymph or Green Weenie off your dry fly. Fish the broken water where the trout are hiding. Dress to blend with the forest so you are less likely to be seen by the trout.

Fishing for stocked trout in the low elevations is fair to good, depending on the river you are fishing. Water temperatures are warm in some of these rivers. Some rivers have not been stocked in a while which is normal during the warm months. Others are cooler, fishing is good and the rivers are well stocked with trout. Small nymphs will work for you. Customers are telling me egg patterns are also working well.

Fishing for smallmouth bass and warmwater species is good. Most lowland rivers are flowing low which is expected in July. Fish in the deeper pools with streamers, crayfish patterns, foam floating flies and poppers.

The lakes will likely be crowded this weekend. I would go early, launch at daybreak and cast to the banks or cover. Try foam floating flies or poppers when the sun is low. Weighted streamers and swimming nymphs are also good choices. It should be partly cloudy today which is a good lake fishing condition. It may be a little breezy and there is a chance for thunderstorms.

There are many tailwater fishing options today though you will need to work around the generation schedules. Check the TVA website from the links below to plan your day.

We are busy at the shop and we will be there between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm for you.

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

Byron Begley
July 15, 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