Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:53 am, the temperature is 59 degrees.
It will be sunny and warm today and tomorrow, with a high temperature in the low 80’s and a low at night in the upper 50’s to low 60’s. There is no rain in the forecast over the next several days.
Little River is flowing at 78.1 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.50 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 73 cfs. The water temperature is 63 degrees this morning.
Streams in the Smokies are still flowing right at normal, which is low. Water temperatures will remain cool today and tomorrow, due to the very cool nights in the high elevations. For instance, the low temperature predicted tonight at Newfound Gap will be in the low 50’s and in the upper 40’s at Mount LeConte.
The streams are receding and that will continue over the next several days as the chance for rain is low through next weekend.
Trout are taking dry flies and nymphs. Fish the broken water or near cover where the trout are hiding from predators. Staying hidden from the trout is extremely important to your success. Dress to blend with the forest and stay low if you can.
Fishing for smallmouth bass and warmwater species is fair in the lowland rivers, which are also flowing low. Fish in the deep pools and runs with streamers, nymphs and crayfish patterns. Poppers and foam floating flies may work so give them a try.
Lake fishing with fly tackle is fair. The larger game fish and panfish are holding in deep water. Weighted streamers and swimming nymphs will probably work best. Cast to the banks and cover. Allow your flies to sink deep and retrieve slowly. You might do OK using top water flies but you will probably catch smaller fish.
There are tailwater angler friendly generation schedules planned this morning at some dams. TVA and the Corps will be generating later this morning or early afternoon at most dams. Visit the TVA website from the links below to see what your tailwater fishing options are and plan accordingly.
We had the annual inspection of our fire sprinkler system early yesterday morning. I was at the shop at 7:15 and Bobby arrived at 8:00 to perform the work. It is best to do this before opening time because the fire alarm does activate during the inspection and a loud voice warns people to “get out of the building”.
When water is flowing through the system, our security monitoring company also receives a signal that we have a fire in the building. Of course, I called to let them know we would be testing, so the fire department is not sent to our store.
We also have a 5-year inspection, which was done last Fall. In that inspection, they actually disassemble some pipes to check for clogging.
When Paula and I built the building 19 years ago, we decided to spend the extra money to have this system installed. Back then, these systems were somewhat affordable. Today, they are expensive. Savings in insurance premiums over the years paid for ours. According to what I read at the time, 90% of fires are extinguished by one sprinkler head. We have over 200 heads in the building.
We have some other fire safety features in the shop, including 5 exits, a steel fire escape that was custom built, and smoke detectors in the four HVAC units. If smoke is detected in the air handlers, they shut down.
All of this gives us “Peace of Mind”.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
September 17, 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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