Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:40 am, the temperature is 73 degrees.

Well, it looks like we will have two more hot days! Today will be sunny and hot with a high around 91 degrees.

Tomorrow will be sunny and hot again with a high around 92 degrees and a chance for thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Sunday will be cooler with a high in the low 80’s. There is a slight chance for thunderstorms in the morning  with showers likely in the afternoon.

Little River is flowing at 132 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.76 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 105 cfs. The water temperature is 70.2 degrees this morning. Yesterday, the water temperature peaked at 72.3 degrees at 4:00 pm.

Most streams in the Smokies are flowing at or higher than median flow for today’s date. Median flow is low this at this time in August.

The streams are very warm in the low elevations, reaching or exceeding 70 degrees in some locations. Catching and releasing a trout in water that warm can be lethal for the fish. Fish in the higher elevations where the water is cooler. Look for water temperatures in the middle 60’s or cooler.

Trout will be active in the cooler areas and taking dry flies or nymphs. A dry and dropper rig is an excellent combination. Using a dry fly that mimics a Yellow Sally Stonefly, with a Green Weenie dropper will work for you.

Most lowland rivers are flowing low though higher than normal in late August. Fishing for smallmouth bass, rock bass or panfish is good. You will find them holding or cruising in the deeper pools or runs. Streamers, crayfish patterns, foam floating flies or poppers are good fly choices.

If you are dead set on fishing a lake, go early. Launch at daybreak and hit the banks or cover with weighted streamers or swimming nymphs. You might do fairly well using foam floating flies or poppers when the sun is low, especially on the cooler lakes. As the sun rises high, find shaded water to fish.

TVA and the Corps will be generating most of the day at several dams. I saw a few generation schedules you could work with today, with careful planning. Check the TVA website from the links below to see what tailwater fishing options you have today.

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

Byron Begley
August 25, 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