Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. The Shop was a flurry of activity as we opened this morning.  Dave and Brad have a Private Instruction class with a family of people and Troutzone Anglers guide David Knapp was meeting a couple for a day in the mountains.

Fishing conditions are good.  Water levels on Little River are 2.09 feet or 225 c.f.s.  This is higher than the daily normal flow of 137 c.f.s.  Water temperatures are in good shape also.  This morning the Little River gauge is showing a water temp of 64.4F.,  The gauge is located near the National Park boundary which is low elevation so further up the rivers where you will likely fish the water temperatures are even cooler.

Driving to work this morning the school zone light was flashing at the local high school.  It is hard to believe that Summer is coming to an end.  Compared to many parts of the country and the world we have been blessed with a very normal summer weather-wise.  It seems like anglers get it in their head that there is a time in the summer when they should stop fishing.  There isn't usually a need to just stop fishing because the calendar indicates a certain date.  Stream conditions are what dictates whether fishing will be good or not.  Right now water levels are up and temperatures are good.  These conditions can change by the day and we need to be flexible.  There is almost always somewhere to fish.

One species that are fun to fish for when conditions warm is smallmouth bass.  Chasing smallmouth can take you to some places just as wild as trout water.  Watching a Stealth Bomber disappear into the gaping mouth of a bass who then thrashes to get away is something else.

A bigger rod set up is going to be necessary when you really start chasing bass.  You can do it with a 5wt but a 6wt or even a 7wt is going to make casting big flies easier and also help to fight bigger fish.  Forget the 6X leaders.  We are talking 10lb with the stiffness to turn over a size 4 fly.  You can use a 3X trout leader but specialty bass leaders are available.  One of the main difference between a "Trout" leader and a "Bass" leader is the stiffness of the mono.  You need something that is going to have the stiffness and power to turn over bigger more wind resistant flies.

Bigger rods like that are also good for trout fishing with streamers or for out west where the wind is always blowing.

Well this is late enough in posting.  If you can get out on the water today go for it.  Fishing should be good.    

The International Fly Fishing Film Festival 2023 is coming to Knoxville.  It is sponsored by Orvis.  It is going to be on Tuesday August 15th at 6:30pm at Hi-Wire Brewing in South Knoxville.  Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online CLICK HERE and it is a fundraiser for Catch the Cure for CF.  If you've never been to one of these film festivals it is great fun and you get to see some incredible short films which are sure to get you hyped up about fly fishing.

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

Daniel Drake
July 25, 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