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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:39 am, the temperature is 65.7 degrees.
It will be very warm today, with highs reaching the upper 80’s and a slight chance for thunderstorms this afternoon. Tomorrow through Thursday will be warm again, with scattered thunderstorms likely.
Little River is flowing at 129 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.72 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 118 cfs. The water temperature is 67.6 degrees this morning.
Most mountain streams are flowing at normal with some levels slightly below median flow. Water temperatures are warm. Fish the higher elevations where the water is cooler.
A dry fly that imitates a buggy looking terrestrial will work for your dry fly. Drop a small bead head nymph off the dry to increase your odds. Fish the broken water where the trout are hiding. Though the streams are flowing near normal, they are flowing low in many cases. Stealth is essential to your success. Dress to blend with the forest and stay as low as you can. If the trout don’t know you are there, you will catch more.
Most lowland rivers flowing out of the mountains are at fairly low levels, which is normal in August. Fish the deeper pools for smallmouth bass, rock bass and panfish. I would go early or late when I know the sun will be off the water or fish shaded areas where tree canopy is available. Try poppers or foam floating flies. If they are not producing strikes, switch to a streamer, nymph or crayfish pattern.
TVA and the Corps of Engineers will be generating at many dams in the area today. Turbines will be turned off or pulsing early at some dams but running most of the day at others. Visit the TVA website from the links below to see what your tailwater fishing options are today.
I would go fishing on the lakes early or late today when the banks are shaded. You might get lucky and enjoy cloud cover, but that is not a given. Cloudy days are good lake fishing days. Hit the banks with poppers, foam floating flies, streamers or swimming nymphs. Watch for baitfish balls with game fish clobbering the shad. I have found that only happens early or late or on cloudy days. The wind should be light today.
The kids are back in school here and in other states. I expect light traffic in town and the Park today with less people visiting here from out of town. What we are seeing now is lots of activity on the weekends, and much less on weekdays. August is a transition period. It has always been that way, since we have been in business.
Paula told me a large bear walked across our deck and down the steps to the boat house yesterday. We have seen less bears this year than any year I can remember. Last year was “The Year of the Bear”. We spotted them several times a week. They were not afraid of people. That made us both uncomfortable. This year is certainly different for some reason and that reason is, someone renting a house near us left garbage outside, that drew the bears to the area last year.
Don’t get me wrong, I like bears. What I don’t enjoy is standing 20 feet from one that has no intention of leaving.
We lock our vehicles now at home, day and night. Bears have learned to open the unlocked doors, get into the vehicle, and tear the interior to shreds, looking for food. That happened to a friend of mine’s brand new Silverado.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
August 9, 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
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