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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:15 am, the temperature outside is 73.2 degrees.

It will be hot today, in the upper 80’s. There is a low chance for showers and thunderstorms. Tomorrow will be cooler, in the low 80’s. There is a higher chance for showers and thunderstorms tomorrow. Rain is likely both days this weekend.

Little River is flowing at 43.9 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.38 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 119 cfs. The water temperature is 73.8 degrees this morning.

I don’t remember the water being this warm in Little River, during the early morning, this year.

It rained in the Little Pigeon watershed after midnight. Flow at the Sevierville gauge is currently 363 cfs, 1.86 feet, compared to median flow of 227 cfs.

Oconaluftee River was affected by rain last night. Flow is 313 cfs, 1.60 feet, compared to median flow of 265 cfs at the Birdtown gauge. The water temperature is 67.8 degrees.

Tellico River is flowing near normal at 102 cfs, .93 feet, compared to median flow of 101 cfs. Rain fell in the Tellico River watershed yesterday morning.

Cataloochee Creek got some rain early this morning. Flow there is 59.6 cfs, 2.35 feet, compared to median flow of 54 cfs. The water temperature is 63.9 degrees.

Most streams that have USGS gauge sites are flowing at or above normal today, except Little River.

I would choose a stream that is flowing above normal, and fish at a higher elevation where the water is cooler.

Dry flies and nymphs will work. I would probably use terrestrial dry flies with a Green Weenie dropper, or fish a Green Weenie alone and weighted. Other flies will work. Yellow dry flies are always a good choice during the Summer months.

Rainfall is likely over the next few days so stream conditions will probably change as we move into the weekend. Stream temperatures will fall.

Though many streams are flowing near normal today, they are still flowing low. Stealth is very important to your success.

Fishing is certainly improving in the Smokies.

Lowland river fishing will be fair to good in some rivers. I would use poppers or foam floating flies. If the sun is shining bright, fish the shaded areas during the day. Early and late will be best on sunny days.

Lake fishing is good on some lakes, early or late. If you pick a cloudy day, fishing may be good all day long. Use poppers, floating foam flies, streamers or Rubber Legged Dragons. I tie Dragons in many different colors, and usually use them to target larger bluegill and shellcrackers. However, I often catch other species on them, including smallmouth and largemouth bass. I tie mine with black bead chain eyes for weight. My favorite colors are rust and chartreuse. Cast them to the banks and let the fly sink. Retrieve slowly and hold on.

There are a few opportunities on some trout tailwaters today. Check the TVA website from the links below to see what is available for you.

Frank and I will be floating a lower tailwater tomorrow, fishing for smallmouth bass. Daniel will be writing the fishing report tomorrow and Friday. I am really looking forward to this.

We will be floating with guide Josh Pfeiffer. Frank and I met in the first grade in 1957. We have done a lot of fly fishing together. We have two other buddies who we fly fish with, that we have known almost that long. Another good friend and fishing buddy of ours, passed away last year. I’m sure Frank and I will raise a glass to him this week.

Though we are all in our late 60’s and in one case 70 years old, we are all still working full time. None of us plan to retire, that I know of. I love work. I won’t retire until I have to. I hope to be sitting here, writing this fishing report, then driving to the shop, ten years from now.

Relationships like ours are rare and a blessing. There is no doubt, fly fishing helped keep us together this long.

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

Byron Begley
August 21, 2019

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com