Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 6:08 am, the temperature is 65 degrees.

A large and strong thunderstorm blew through the area late yesterday afternoon. Rainfall amounts recorded in the storm were .65 inches at the Knoxville Airport and 1.33 inches at a personal weather station in Townsend.

Today will be mostly sunny with a high temperature in the middle 80’s. There is a slight chance for a thunderstorm today.

It will be hot tomorrow, with a high in the low 90’s and a chance for showers and thunderstorms. Showers are likely tomorrow night.

Little River is flowing at 364 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.43 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 117 cfs. The water temperature is 66.0 degrees this morning.

Most streams in the Smokies are flowing higher than normal, with some flowing considerably higher. The streams are receding.

Little Pigeon River is flowing at 2,000 cfs or 3.74 feet at the Sevierville gauge. Median flow for this date is 258 cfs.

Oconaluftee River is flowing at 827 cfs or 2.36 feet, compared to median flow of 255 cfs for this date.

Tellico River is flowing at 593 cfs, 2.21 feet, compared to median flow of 114 cfs. The current flow is a record for this date.

Cataloochee Creek is flowing at 97.6 cfs, 2.60 feet, which compares to median flow of 54 cfs.

As you can see, some streams are flowing high. Many are fishable and fishing may be very good today. Be careful wading. Trout will be taking dry flies, nymphs and possibly streamers.

Some lowland rivers are flowing high. Wading may be limited. Fishing for smallmouth bass, rock bass and panfish may be good depending on the conditions in the river you are fishing. Streamers, crayfish imitations, foam floating flies and poppers are all good fly choices.

The lakes will be crowded later today and it will be sunny. I would go early and fish through the morning hours. Hit the banks and cover with weighted streamers, swimming nymphs, foam floating flies or poppers. As the sun rises higher, find shaded banks to fish or switch to deep running flies.

If you are planning to fish on a tailwater today, check the TVA website from the links below to make your plans.

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

Byron Begley
August 13, 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