Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:39 am, the temperature is 54.5 degrees.
It feels like Fall out there this morning. And this week, there will be more of the same. It will be sunny today with a high temperature in the upper 70’s and a low tonight in the middle 50’s. Tomorrow will be sunny and a little warmer, with a high in the upper 70’s and a low in the middle to upper 50’s. Sunny days are expected every day through the weekend.
Little River is flowing at 134 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.75 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 88 cfs. The water temperatures plunged overnight and is still falling. Currently, the water temperature is 63.3 degrees at the low elevation USGS gauge site near Townsend.
Most if not all streams in the mountains are flowing higher than normal but at good fishing levels. Normal in September is low. Water temperatures in all streams are falling to within the trout’s preferred range at all elevations.
Fishing is good. Trout are actively feeding. They are taking dry flies and nymphs. Try a dry and dropper combination or fish with a weighted nymph rig. Or just fish with a dry fly alone. The choice is yours. Due to the cooler water temperatures, you may do well fishing in the larger low elevation rivers.
Most lowland rivers are flowing at slightly higher than normal levels. Fishing for smallmouth bass, rock bass and panfish is fair to good. Streamers, nymphs or crayfish patterns might work best. Try poppers or foam floating flies and you may do well with them too.
Fly fishing on the lakes is fair. There may be some chop on the water at times today. Weighted streamers and swimming nymphs will probably work best. Allow them to descend deep and retrieve slow. Poppers or foam floating flies may produce for you, when the sun is off the water. Go early or late. Fish the shaded banks and cover.
There are some tailwater fishing opportunities today. The turbines will be active beginning early this morning at some dams, including Douglas and Norris. They are generating around the clock at Wolf Creek Dam. Generation will begin later this morning at other dams. Check the TVA website generation schedules from the links below to plan your tailwater fishing day.
It seems slow at the shop. September is always slow. But this year, so far, we are way up from last year. It was the same in August. We are also showing very good increases over the pre-pandemic months in 2019. The guides I talk to are very busy.
I think it is safe to assume more fly fishing anglers are traveling this year.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
September 13, 2022
Note: We have a very large and well stocked fly tying department located on the second floor of our shop. Our fly tying materials and tools can also be found and bought on our online store with Free Shipping.
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com
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