Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:39 am, the temperature is 54 degrees.

Today is going to be another beautiful day with plenty of sunshine, a high in the middle to upper 70’s and a low tonight in the 50’s. In fact, we can expect sunny days with no rain and cool temperatures through the end of the week.

Little River is flowing at 78.1 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.52 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 72 cfs. The water temperature is 62.6 degrees this morning.

Streams in the Smokies are either flowing higher than normal or right at normal this morning. Normal at this point in the year is low. Water temperatures are plunging but well within the trout’s preferred range at most elevations.

We would like to have higher flows but otherwise, fishing is good in the Smokies. You should do everything possible not to be seen by the trout. Dress to blend with the forest and stay low if you can. Trout will be hiding in the broken choppy water. Fish in the plunge pools, runs, pockets and eddies. Dry flies will work. Try a Yellow Stimulator or a foam beetle for your dry fly. Drop a Green Weenie off your dry fly.

Fishing in the lowland rivers is fair to good. Some are flowing higher than normal. Water temperatures have chilled in the lower elevations. Fishing for stocked trout has improved in the streams where they are regularly stocked.

Fishing for smallmouth bass, rock bass and panfish is fair to good. Fish in the deeper pools and runs using streamers, crayfish imitations, foam floating flies or poppers.

Lake fishing will be best early or late when the sun is low and the banks are dimly lit. Cast to the banks or cover with weighted streamers or swimming nymphs. You might also try foam floating flies or poppers.

There will be long breaks in the generation at some dams today with only short breaks at others. You can work with the generation schedules on some tailwaters in the region. Check the schedules on the TVA website to plan your tailwater fishing day.

I talked to a lady in the shop yesterday about Beaver Creek. She lives in Knoxville and I wondered if Beaver Creek would be a good smallmouth river which runs for over 40 miles from Halls to Melton Hill Reservoir. I looks like a possible smallmouth stream to me.

Beaver Creek was not navigable at one time due to log jams. That is changing due to a very successful volunteer movement and partnerships with Knox County Parks & Recreation.

You can read more about this project by CLICKING HERE.

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

Byron Begley
September 19, 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