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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 6:02 am, the temperature outside is 67.1 degrees.

We have a fair chance for thunderstorms this afternoon. Otherwise, it will be partly cloudy. Tomorrow, and through the weekend, the chance for rain is low. Expect highs in the 80’s and lows in the 60’s in Townsend through the period.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PREDICTED HIGHS AND LOWS TODAY

Little River is flowing at 382 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.42 feet on the flow gauge. This flow is on the high side of good. Median flow for this date is 137 cfs. The water temperature is 65.5 degrees this morning.

Rain fell in the Smokies last night. All streams that have USGS gauge sites, including Little River, Little Pigeon River, Cataloochee Creek and Oconaluftee River rose, but are all receding.

Water levels in the Park are good, though there is a chance you may find high and stained water this morning in some streams. Showers and thunderstorms this afternoon could raise water levels, and stained water is a possibility.

Fishing is good throughout the Park, in the mid to high elevations. Trout are taking dry flies and nymphs. My favorite fly patterns remain the same for Summer fly fishing. They are Yellow Sally Stoneflies, Yellow Stimulators, Black Foam Beetles, Green or Pink Weenies and Bead Head Pheasant Tails. There are many other reasonable patterns that will work.

The lowland rivers should be fishing well as they are all flowing fairly high for this time of the year. Some may be stained for a while today, and there is the possibility for stained or higher water later today. Or, they all may be fine. Try poppers and streamers. If the sun is shining, fish the shaded areas.

The same holds true for the lakes. They are fishing well for shallow water, fly fishing anglers. Fish the shaded banks if the sun is shining. If it remains overcast today, this will be a good one to go. I would use Byron’s Knuckleheads, Stealth Bombers, and BoogleBug poppers for surface fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass. If that does not work, switch to streamers. My favorites are #2 Black Wooly Bugger or a Puglisi Threadfin Shad. You may find the smallmouth bass deeper in some lakes, those that tend to be warmer.

Bluegill and Shellcrackers will hit small poppers, especially on shaded banks. The larger fish may be deeper. For those, I would use a Rubber Legged Dragon. When these fish are holding in deeper water, the weighted Dragons work well. Cast these flies and let them sink. Keep your line tight. Slowly strip the fly back. I use 9’ leaders, usually 6 or 8 pound test. We have landed or lost some big bluegill this year in the lakes. I have switched all my boat fly rod leaders to 8-pound test.

The tailwaters are fishing well for trout and smallmouth bass.

We will have some really nice weather in our near future, with a low chance for rain until next week, after today. It looks like next week will be cooler, with some cloudy days and scattered thunderstorms.

I am off today and tomorrow, to hopefully finish the upgrades on our boat, including new carpet and some improved wiring. Jack is going to help me with the carpet. I hope to be fishing on the lakes next week.

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

Byron Begley
July 25, 2018

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com