Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:40 am, the temperature is 65 degrees.

Scattered thunderstorms moved through the area yesterday afternoon and evening. A little over a third of an inch of rain fell in Townsend.

Thunderstorms will develop again this afternoon. Some storms may contain gusty winds. The chance of rain is 70%. The high temperature will be around 80 degrees.

Thunderstorms are likely again tomorrow. It will be cooler, with a high temperature in the middle to upper 70’s.

Little River is flowing at 146 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.82 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 88 cfs. The water temperature is 67.6 degrees this morning.

The water rose in some of the mountains streams late yesterday but they have receded. Still, most streams are flowing higher than normal. Normal is low in early September. I don’t see any streams on the USGS site that are blown out. Most are flowing at very good fishing levels for this time of the year. Fishing has been very good recently because of the higher than normal flows.

The streams will be warm in the lowest elevations today and maybe tomorrow. During this time we should be fishing in the middle to higher elevations where the water is cooler. Fishing is good at those elevations. Trout are taking dry flies and nymphs. Try a dry and dropper rig with a terrestrial imitation or Yellow Sally Stonefly pattern for your dry fly with a Green Weenie dropper.

Later next week the streams will be much cooler. Fishing in the low elevations will be good.

Fishing for smallmouth bass, rock bass and panfish is good in the lowland rivers. Some of these rivers are flowing higher today but at good fishing levels. Streamers, crayfish patterns, foam floating flies and poppers are all good fly choices.

It will be partly cloudy today. That is a good lake fishing condition. You may have to deal with  thunderstorms. That is not a good lake fishing condition. I would go fishing on the lakes early. Cast to the banks and cover with weighted streamers or swimming nymphs. Try foam floating flies and poppers, though I think the sub-surface flies will work best.  

There are some very workable generation schedules planned today for tailwater anglers. With good planning on your part, you should be able to spend a few hours wade fishing on several rivers. If you are boating you have more options. Visit the TVA website from the links below to see what tailwater fishing opportunities you have today.

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

Byron Begley
September 9, 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