Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:36 am, the temperature is 64 degrees.

Today will be mostly sunny with a high temperature in the upper 70’s. There is a good chance for thunderstorms this afternoon and tonight.

Showers are likely tomorrow. The high temperature will be in the low 70’s, dropping to the middle 50’s overnight. Now that is going to feel like Fall.

Little River is flowing at 89.7 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.58 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 77 cfs. The water temperature is 66.4 degrees this morning.

Streams in the Smokies are flowing low but most are at normal levels. Normal this time of the year is low. Trout will be spooky so do everything you can so they don’t see you. Dress to blend with the forest. Fish in the choppy water where the trout are hiding. Fish today in the higher elevations where the water is cooler. Look for water temperatures in the middle 60’s or cooler.

Terrestrial flies are good choices in September. Land based insects are an important food source during the Fall months and trout are looking for them. Beetles, ants and inchworms are on the trout’s watch list. I would drop a Green Weenie off of a foam hi-vis beetle.

Most lowland rivers are flowing low but still very close to normal and in some cases they are flowing higher than normal. Fishing for smallmouth bass, rock bass and panfish is fair to good. Cast streamers, crayfish patterns, foam floating flies and poppers into the deeper pools and runs.

Fishing will be best on the lakes early or late when the sun is low. Larger gamefish and panfish will likely be holding or cruising in deeper and cooler water. Cast to the banks and cover with streamers or swimming nymphs. Allow your flies to sink deep and keep them there by slowly retrieving. My favorite September lake fly is a Puglisi Threadfin Shad fished near downed trees and shaded banks. You might do well using topwater flies in the cooler lakes or the cooler areas of lakes. Some lakes are cold or cool below dams.

If you are planning to fish on a tailwater today you will see some very interesting generation schedules on the TVA website for you to choose from. There are many boating and wade fishing options.

We should be busy at the shop today. UT’s football game will be played at night, after we close. And, Peaceful Side Social will host their second annual Oktoberfest event. A lot of people turn out for that event and some are fly anglers.

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

Byron Begley
September 16, 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