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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:21 am, the temperature outside is 67.8 degrees.

It will be warm today with a slight chance for thunderstorms. Monday through Wednesday should be dry and sunny. Rain returns to the area Thursday.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PREDICTED HIGHS AND LOWS TODAY

Little River is flowing at 406 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.47 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 142 cfs. The water temperature is 65.3 degrees this morning.

Yesterday, Little River was flowing high. Bill found, most of the high flows were coming from the West and Middle Prongs of Little River. The East Prong was fine for fishing and wading.

Little Pigeon River is still flowing fairly high at 998 cfs or 2.80 feet on the gauge.

All rivers I can access information on are receding. That trend should continue for several days, at least until Thursday.

Fly fishing for trout in the Smoky Mountains is good. The streams will be warm in the lower elevations. Fish higher where the water is cooler.

Dry flies and nymphs will work. I would begin with nymphs this morning, probably a Pheasant Tail, Prince or Green Weenie. Add split shot to get your nymph or a pair of nymphs down. Use a strike indicator if you are not used to fishing without them. You will need to vary the distance between your indicator and flies as needed.

If conditions look good for dries, try a black foam beetle, Parachute Adams, Yellow Stimulator or a Yellow Neversink Caddis.

Drop a bead head nymph or Green Weenie off your dry. That increases your odds.

There will likely be plenty of sunshine over the next few days. Fishing will be best when the sun is off the water. Go early or late. If you are fishing midday, find shaded areas to fish. Smaller backcountry streams offer more shade during the day.

The same is true if fishing lakes or lowland rivers. The lowland rivers are flowing much higher than normal. Some could still be stained, though that does not seem likely to me. You will find more Spring-like conditions today. I would try poppers first. If that does not work, switch to streamers or nymphs for smallmouth and rock bass.

Lake fishing with flies is best on cloudy days, or go early or late when the sun is off the water.

The larger bluegill are holding deep, which is normal during the hot months. Use a Carter’s Rubber Legged Dragon. Let the fly sink, then begin a very slow retrieve.

This break in the rain is welcome by almost everyone I talk to. However, we have enjoyed great stream flows at times due to the rain we have had, which is several inches above normal for the year. Today will be nice. Go fishing if you can.

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

Byron Begley
August 12, 2018

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com