Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:42 am, the temperature is 56 degrees.

Today will be sunny with a high temperature in the low to middle 70’s falling to the low 50’s tonight. Tomorrow will be sunny with a high in the upper 70’s and a low in the middle 50’s. It will be mostly sunny and cool every day this week.

Little River is flowing at 96 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.61 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 71 cfs. The water temperature is 64.2 degrees and falling this morning.

Most streams in the Smokies are flowing higher than normal and at fair fishing levels. Normal this time of the year is low. Streams rose yesterday but many have receded. The streams are cooler this morning and water temperatures are falling. Cool days and nights will sustain this trend for several days. This is a great trend. We will now be able to fish in the low-elevation streams.

If you go fishing in the mountains today, dress to blend with the forest to avoid being seen by the trout. Trout will be hiding in the broken or choppy water in plunge pools, riffles, eddies and runs. They are taking dry flies and nymphs.

Fly fishing for smallmouth bass, rock bass and panfish is fair in the lowland rivers. Most rivers are flowing low. Fish in the deeper pools and runs using streamers, crayfish patterns, foam floating flies and poppers.

Fishing for stocked trout in the low elevations will improve as water temperatures fall over the next few days.

Fly fishing on the lakes will be best early or late when the sun is low. When the sun is higher, look for shaded areas to fish. Weighted streamers and swimming nymphs will probably work best though you might try foam floating flies or poppers in the dimly lit areas.

There are fairly long pauses planned in the generation at several area dams today. Click through the TVA website from the links below to plan your tailwater fishing day.

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

Byron Begley
September 18, 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