Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:36 am, the temperature is 63 degrees.

Today will be mostly sunny with a high temperature in the middle 80’s. Showers are likely overnight.

Showers and thunderstorms are likely tomorrow. The high temperature will be in the upper 70’s. It will be breezy. Some storms may be strong to severe.

Little River is flowing at 105 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.65 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 119 cfs. The water temperature is 68.5 degrees at the low elevation USGS gauge site near Townsend.

Streams in the mountains are flowing very close to normal or median flow for this date. The water is warm in the low elevations. Fish in the middle to higher elevations where the water is cooler. Trout are taking dry flies and nymphs.

Fishing for smallmouth bass, rock bass and panfish in the lowland rivers is good. Though most of the rivers are flowing near normal, normal is low in August. The bass and panfish will be cruising in the deeper pools and runs, looking for food. Streamers, crayfish patterns, foam floating flies and poppers are good fly choices.

Fishing will be best on the lakes early or late when the sun is low. When the sun is higher, look for shaded areas to fish. Cast to the dimly lit banks or cover with weighted streamers, swimming nymphs, foam floating flies or poppers. If you can’t get out of the sun, weighted streamers or swimming nymphs retrieved slowly and deep will likely work best for you.

There are some generation schedules you can work with if you intend to fish on a tailwater today. Check the TVA website from the links below to plan your day.

Bears are very active around our home. Yesterday, Paula went to the garden to harvest some vegetables. Soon after returning to the house, she looked out and saw a bear on our front porch. She ran the bear away. This has been happening a lot lately. We live on the road that exits the Park at Cades Cove and that area in the Park is closed due to bear activity.

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

Byron Begley
August 9, 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