Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 6:15 am it a 66 degrees out.

We are heading into what should be a great week.  There is very little chance of rain on the forecast and temperatures won't be too hot.  It is summer in the mountains so there is always the chance for a popup afternoon thunderstorm so keep that in mind.  The rain we received over the past few days has been good for the streams.  Water levels are in good shape and water temperatures have cooled.

This morning the gauge on Little River is reading 2.48 feet or 400 c.f.s.  The daily normal flow is 130 c.f.s.  Water temperature is good at about 64F.

The Little River and its tributaries are flowing clear again.  If you are used to normal summer fishing conditions it is going to feel like there is a lot of water in the streams.  Flows are more akin to good spring levels.  

Where to go fishing today... Conditions on streams around the Smokies will be good.  The issue is going to be the same faced by anglers everyday in the Summer.  Crowds of people.  Hiking into the backcountry will help in the search for solitude and it will also get you to cooler water temperatures.  Anglers have been flocking to the Middle Prong and Lynn Camp Prong especially the latter as they walk in search of that one untouched pool.  We've been talking to fewer people who have been walking in above Elkmont Campground.  There is far more miles of river up the Little River Trail.  The West Prong of the Little Pigeon River along Newfound Gap Road is also a good summer destination.  Its achilles heal is the build up of traffic trying to get into Gatlinburg or turning to go towards Little River Road.  West Prong of the Little Pigeon is good in the summer because you can get to high elevation without the long walk.

Flies to try.  I would start the day with a dry/dropper rig.  A high floating yellow stonefly pattern such as a Stimulator or a Chubby Chernobyl is good on top.  Below it I would drop a Green Weenie or Barbie Bug.  Good classic nymph patterns are working well too.  A Beadhead Pheasant Tail or a Tellico Nymph are hard to beat. 

As the day warms up you might want to switch it up and cast some terrestrial patterns.  A beetle or ant can work.  Beetles are fun because you can plop them in and watch the trout rush up to eat them.  Ants are a very difficult pattern to see on the water as they tend to ride low and are dark colored.  Choose a hi-vis style or fish as a dropper.  

Water levels are still higher than normal so as always be careful.  Wading staffs are a great thing to have.  They provide a third point of contact for stability and also a way to probe the depth of the water before you take that step into the abyss.  Even though rain isn't in the forecast we are in East Tennessee and there is always the possibility of a thunderstorm happening out of a clear blue sky.  Rain can fall high up in the watershed and that wave of water could take hours to get to where you are fishing.  Be observant of water conditions.  If clarity changes or you see more debris in the water be ready to get out on the trail side of the stream.  Water levels can rise extremely fast. 

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

Daniel Drake
July 23, 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.

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