Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:43 am, the temperature is 65 degrees.

Today will be partly sunny with a high temperature in the high 70’s with a low tonight in the middle 50’s.

Tomorrow will be mostly sunny with a high around 76 degrees and a low in the middle 50’s.

The days and nights will be cooler through the remainder of the week.

Little River is flowing at 114 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.69 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 89 cfs. The water temperature is 66.9 degrees this morning.

Most streams in the Smokies are flowing very close to normal for this time of the year, which is low. Others are flowing higher. Little Pigeon River rose overnight but it is receding now.

You still may want to fish in the middle to higher elevations today where the water is cooler. That may not be the case tomorrow or other days this week as the water will be cooler.

Trout are taking dry flies and nymphs. Terrestrial patterns are a good choice as land based insects are an important source of food for trout right now. The trout are looking for beetles, ants and inchworms. Try a foam beetle with a Green Weenie dropper.

Most lowland rivers are flowing low but at about normal for September. Fishing for smallmouth bass, rock bass and panfish is good. Fish in the deeper pools and runs with streamers, crayfish imitations, foam floating flies and poppers.

Though it may be partly cloudy today, fishing in the lakes will likely be best early and late when the sun is low. If it is cloudy, that will be a bonus. Weighted streamers or swimming nymphs will probably work best for you. Let them sink deep and retrieve slowly to keep them running deep. You might also try foam floating flies or poppers.

TVA and the Corps will be generating for long periods at many dams today. Check the scheduled flows at South Holston, Dale Hollow, Wilbur and Norris dams. You may be able to work in some tailwater fishing time below those dams. The lakes are being lowered to create water storage capacity now and through next Spring which requires longer generation periods.

This cooler weather is something we have been waiting for. Finally, it is going to feel like Fall. Now, we will be able to fish for trout in the low elevations. Some trees are turning now. Leaf season if fast approaching. It is starting to look like Fall. The days are shorter. It is dark when I drove to work some mornings. I write the fishing report from home and it is always dark outside.

Our store is stocked with a huge amount of gear. We bought heavy for Fall. When it gets colder, more customers will be buying fly tying materials. That department is stocked better than ever. We are expecting to have our best year ever.

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

Byron Begley
September 13, 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