Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:46 am, the temperature is 69 degrees.

It will be mostly sunny today with a high temperature near 90 degrees. There is a chance for showers and thunderstorms today. Showers and thunderstorms are likely tonight. Some storms could produce heavy rainfall of between one and two inches.

Little River is flowing at 239 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.13 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 114 cfs. The water temperature is 68.0 degrees this morning.

Streams in the mountains are flowing near normal or higher than normal. Some streams are flowing considerably higher than median flow. Most streams are at good fishing levels though the water is swifter in some streams than is normal in August. Be careful wading if you are fishing in one of the higher water streams. Fish in the middle to higher elevations where the water is cooler.

Trout are actively feeding. Dry flies and nymphs will work. I would still be using Yellow Sally Stonefly or terrestrial imitations for my dry fly.

Fishing for smallmouth bass, rock bass and panfish in the lowland rivers is good. Some rivers are flowing fairly high so wading may be limited. Streamers, crayfish patterns, foam floating flies and poppers are all good fly choices.

Lake fishing conditions are not ideal. It is going to be hot and humid today with a very high heat index. I would go early and launch at daybreak, then fish through the morning. As the sun rises find shaded areas to fish. Foam floating flies and poppers might work when the sun is low and the banks are dimly lit. Otherwise, use weighted streamers or swimming nymphs retrieved slow and deep.

There are some generation schedules you can work with today if you intend to fish on a tailwater. Check the TVA website from the links below to see what tailwater fishing options you have.

I was off yesterday and at home when Mike called. He lives on Little River in Townsend. He told me a huge tree fell completely across Little River near his home. It happened during a storm late Saturday afternoon. Of course, tubing traffic was blocked yesterday. People with chain saws were trying to cut up and remove the tree. I don’t know how that ended but I bet it was chaotic for a while. We have had some strong storms lately.

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

Byron Begley
August 14, 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