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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:44 am, the temperature is 63.5 degrees.

It will be partly sunny and cooler again today with a high temperature in the low 80’s. We have a chance for thunderstorms, especially in the mountains. Tomorrows forecast is almost identical to today, except the chance for thunderstorms in a little higher.

Little River is flowing at 96.0 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.58 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 116 cfs. The water temperature is 68.9 degrees this morning.

All streams that have USGS gauge sites are flowing lower than normal except Tellico River which is flowing slightly higher. Water temperatures are warm in the low elevations. Fish higher where the water is cooler. Look for temperatures in the middle 60’s or cooler.

Dry flies and nymphs are working. Try a terrestrial dry fly with a bead head nymph or Green Weenie dropper. Fish the broken water where the trout are hiding. The streams are flowing low so stealth is paramount to your success, especially during the Summer low water conditions. Dress to blend with the forest and try to say low so the trout do not see you. You will catch more.

Lowland rivers exiting the mountains are flowing low, which is usual in August. Smallmouth bass, rock bass and panfish will be found in the deeper pools and runs. Poppers or foam floating flies may work. If not, switch to streamers, nymphs or crayfish patterns fished below the surface. Early or late, when the sun is off the water offers better fishing conditions in many cases. If you are fishing a river that has tree canopy, fish the shaded areas when the sun is high.

Most generation schedules indicate low to no generation this morning at the dams in our area. The generators will be running later this morning or afternoon, depending on the tailwater you intend to fish. Visit the TVA website from the links below to plan a day on your favorite tailwater.

I would plan to go early or late to fish on one of the lakes, when the sun is off the water. Hit the banks with poppers, hair bugs or foam floating flies. Try streamers or swimming nymphs too. It is a good idea to have one rod set up for top water fishing, and another for sub-surface use.

I read a very informative short article written by Phil Monahan called “3 Keys to Catching Bass on Topwater Bugs”. You can read it on the Orvis News site by CLICKING HERE. This article really hit home with me. Phil discusses using top water flies with subtle and less noisy retrieves, especially when the water surface is smooth. I find this especially true when fishing for smallmouth bass in the lakes. I like using foam floating flies when fishing for smallies. They do not make much noise when they hit the water, something more natural, like when a big insect falls in the water.

I cast to a likely spot and let the fly sit motionless. If nothing happens, I give the fly a subtle twitch. I usually do not retrieve line at all. Instead, when I’m ready to cast again, a few seconds later, I just slowly make a back cast, with no false casting and shoot the bug to another spot without adjusting the length of line. You will not cast too far past your target and get tangled in a tree because your line will be the same length as your last cast.

Of course, we all get tangled in trees sometimes.

If I need to cast longer, because the boat has moved further away from the bank,  I will pull some line out from where the line is pinched against the grip on my rod. If I need to cast shorter, I will take some line back from where it is pinched. Doing this keeps my fly on target and not tangled in trees too often.

I hope this makes sense. I do the same thing when fishing for largemouth bass or bluegill.

I believe you will catch more smallmouth bass if your fly does not make much noise or motion on smooth water. I normally fish clear lakes for smallies. I think, when the bug lands on the surface, every smallmouth bass in the area knows it is there.

Under these conditions, stealth is essential to your success. Don’t make noise in the boat. If that happens, move further down the bank, 100 feet or more, then start casting again.

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

Byron Begley
August 3, 2021     

WALTER BABB MADE BAMBOO FLY RODS FOR SALE – CLICK HERE

Walter is selling a selection of over 50 bamboo fly rods. All but one was made by him. The other one was custom made for Walter by Walton Powell. Read the description of each rod on the list and contact him if you are interested in buying one or more than one. Even if you are not interested in a purchase, this web page is very interesting to read. Walter has made over 285 bamboo rods over the past 20-years. You will be working directly with Walter on a purchase and you can test cast the rods before you buy one at his home. Or, call him and he will ship a rod to you. His contact information is on the web page he and I created.

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com