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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:25 am, the temperature outside is 70.2 degrees.

It will be warmer than normal today, with this heat remaining until Saturday. Beginning Sunday, the temperatures will be cooler for a while. Scattered thunderstorms are in the forecast today, and they will remain every day through next week.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PREDICTED HIGHS AND LOWS TODAY

Little River is flowing at 80 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.50 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 94 cfs. The water temperature is a very warm 70.7 degrees at the low elevation USGS gauge site near the Townsend entrance to the Park.

Little Pigeon River is flowing higher, thanks to a thunderstorm that hit that watershed last night. The river is flowing at 373 cfs or 1.95 feet on the gauge in Sevierville. Median flow for this date is 161 cfs.

Oconaluftee River is flowing slightly above median flow this morning.

For the health of the trout you catch and release, and for better fishing, go to the higher elevations where the water is cooler. Look for water temperatures at 65 degrees or below. I would hike above Elkmont or a couple of miles up Lynn Camp Prong to fish. There are many mid to high elevation streams in the Park where you can find cooler water.

We have typical low flows in the streams. That could change if thunderstorms affect the water levels. At times, over the next few days, that will probably happen.

Stealth, or hiding from the trout is essential during low flow conditions. If the trout sees you, the game is over. Dress to blend in and stay low if you can.

Be prepared to fish with dry flies or nymphs. Try a dry and dropper or fish weighted nymphs alone. Experiment with your flies. My choices for dry flies remain the same, foam beetles, Yellow Neversink Caddis or a Yellow Stimulator. Other dry fly patterns may work as well or better. For sub-surface fishing I would start with a Green Weenie. If the trout are not taking that fly, I would switch to a Bead Head Pheasant Tail, Prince Nymph or Hare’s Ear.

I hope to fish a lake tomorrow. If that doesn’t work out, I’ll certainly go next week. Lake fishing will improve soon, as the surface temperatures fall. I always go on weekdays to avoid recreational boat traffic. If it is going to be overcast, I will fish all day. On sunny days, I will go early or late.

My favorite flies for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and other warmwater species are: BoogleBug Poppers, Byron’s Knucklehead, weighted Black Wooly Buggers and Puglisi Threadfin Shad. For bluegill, I use small poppers and Rubber Legged Dragons. Those are about the only flies I use.

Sometimes I fish lakes that have rainbow trout populations. Though I don’t usually target trout, I’ll take anything that bites. I do well using small Puglisi Threadfin Shad patterns, for trout.

I talked to Lynn yesterday. He, and many other lake anglers I know, have been catching yellow perch. I have too. The yellow perch is not native to Tennessee. They were not stocked by TWRA, though many people believe they were.

TWRA biologists think the perch are present for two reasons. First, they migrated here down large rivers, then migrated up the Tennessee River, making their way past dams through locks. Since many of our dams do not have locks, they believe the fish in some impoundments were stocked by individuals. Yellow perch are considered an exotic species. Biologists don’t know how they will affect the ecosystem. They are voracious feeders. They compete with our native species.

But, they are fun to catch and good to eat. They won’t go away. Their numbers seem to be increasing. I caught a 13 ½ inch perch a couple of years ago, on a Wooly Bugger. The state record was 15” at the time.

Ron Palewski is Townsend’s new Mayor. Ron has been re-elected to the City Commission for many terms, and served as Vice-Mayor for years. Ron is a great guy and he will do an excellent job. Mayors are chosen by the Commission. They are always an elected Commissioner.

Michael Talley has served as Mayor for many years. He has been an excellent Mayor. Maybe he was ready for a break. He is now serving as Vice-Mayor. Michael and I have been close friends for a long time. Ron and I are good friends too. Ron has the coolest Pontiac GTO I’ve seen. It is in mint condition. I think it is a 1965 model. The only time I see that car is in the Townsend Christmas Parade.

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

Byron Begley
September 6, 2018  

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com