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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 6:50 am, the temperature outside is 67.3 degrees.
It was very foggy on my morning commute to the shop. Now, all I see is fog following the course of Little River from the Park, through town.
Today will be mostly sunny with a high temperature in the mid-80’s. There is a low chance for showers and thunderstorms later this afternoon. Tomorrow will be sunny and cooler, with a higher chance for scattered thunderstorms.
Little River is flowing at 212 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.99 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 115 cfs. The water temperature is 67.1 degrees this morning.
Little Pigeon River is flowing fairly high at 580 cfs, 2.25 feet, compared to median flow of 268 cfs.
Oconaluftee River at the Birdtown gauge is flowing at 512 cfs, 1.87 feet, compared to median flow of 264 cfs.
Tellico River is flowing at 221 cfs, 1.41 feet, compared to median flow for this date of 112 cfs.
Cataloochee Creek is flowing at 97.6 cfs, 2.55 feet, compared to median flow of 56 cfs.
We can thank almost daily afternoon and evening thunderstorms for the great stream flows we are enjoying now. These rivers are usually very low in August. Not this year, so far.
Fishing is very good. Everyone I have talked to are catching trout in the Smokies on dries or nymphs. I’m still recommending using terrestrials, because they are an important source of food for the trout during the Summer months. But, any reasonable fly that resembles something they will eat, will work. The trout are active because the water temperatures are within their preferred range.
Lowland River fishing could be very good today. You may find some rivers flowing high, which may limit your wading. But, the quality of fishing makes up for that. Use poppers, foam floating flies, nymphs or streamers for smallmouth bass. Early or late will be best, when the sun is off the water. If you are fishing midday and the sun is beating down, look for shade and cast there.
The same holds true on the lakes. It can be hard to find shade unless you go early or late. That is what I would do. Use poppers, foam floating flies, streamers or Rubber Legged Dragons.
You should not have a problem finding a tailwater to fish today. Even the Caney Fork generation schedules are favorable. If you are floating the Cumberland River below Wolf Creek Dam, you have some options today. The Clinch and French Broad will offer some opportunities. TVA continues to generate around the clock at Cherokee Dam.
Click the links below to view the generation schedules on the TVA website and make the call yourself.
This looks to be a very good fishing day overall.
We have a full beginners fly fishing class today with 8 students. Rob Fightmaster and Walter Babb are teaching. I’m not sure how many students are taking the day two class tomorrow. This has been a very busy year at the shop, and our schools are well attended.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
August 3, 2019
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com |