Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:44 am, the temperature is 69 degrees.

Today will be sunny with a high temperature in the middle 80’s. The low temperature overnight will be in the low 60’s. That is a welcome change. Tomorrow will be sunny with a high I the low to middle 80’s.

Little River is flowing at 136 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.78 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 108 cfs. The water temperature is 70.0 degrees this morning.

Streams in the mountains are flowing near normal, some high and others lower. Normal is low in late July.

The streams are warm in the low elevations. Fish in the middle to higher elevations where the water is cooler. Trout are taking dry flies and nymphs. Cast to the choppy water where the trout are hiding. Dress to blend with the forest to avoid being seen by the trout.

Fishing for smallmouth bass, rock bass and panfish in the lowland rivers is fair to good. Many of these rivers are flowing low but at about normal for this time of the year. Fish in the deeper pools and runs using streamers, crayfish patterns, foam floating flies or poppers.

Fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish on the lakes will be best early or late when the sun is low. My preference is to go early and launch at daybreak. As the sun rises, find shaded areas to fish. I like to begin trying foam floating flies or poppers. When the sun is higher I usually switch to streamers or swimming nymphs, allowing them to stay deep during the retrieve. My favorite streamers for bass is a weighted black Wooly Bugger tied on a 2/0 hook. My favorite swimming nymph is a dragonfly imitation.

Check the TVA website from the links below to see what tailwater fishing options you have today. I saw some workable generation schedules for wading or boating anglers.

It is time for our sales representatives to be giving us presentations again. We see the new gear and flies then have a few days to place pre-season orders to be delivered next Spring. I think our Simms spring order is the only one placed so far and that was done a few weeks ago.

It looks like August is going to begin “cooler”. One weather forecast indicates the high temperature Thursday will be in the upper 70’s.

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

Byron Begley
July 31, 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