Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:50 am, the temperature is 56 degrees.

It will be mostly sunny today with a high temperature in the upper 70’s with a low tonight in the upper 50’s. Tomorrow through Friday will be almost identical with no rain predicted.

Little River is flowing at 76.3 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.51 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 73 cfs. The water temperature is 62.4 degrees this morning

Most streams in the mountains are flowing very close to normal with some flowing slightly higher. Normal this time of the year is low.

Due to the low flows, stealth is paramount to your fly fishing success in the mountains. Dress to blend with the forest. Stay low if you can. Keep your fly line off the water as much as possible. Fish the broken choppy water where the trout are hiding. A dry and dropper rig is a good choice. Try a small Yellow Stimulator or a black foam beetle imitation for your dry fly. Drop a Green Weenie off your dry fly.

Fishing in the low elevation rivers for stocked trout has improved due to the cooler water temperatures. Go early while the water is cooler. If the temperature rises above the middle 60’s, it’s time to go home or fish in the higher elevations.

Fishing for smallmouth bass and other species is fair in the lowland rivers. Most of these rivers are flowing low, though higher than normal. Fish in the deeper pools and runs using streamers, crayfish patterns, foam floating flies or poppers.

It is going to be a bright sunny day so fly fishing on the lakes will be best early or late when the sun is low. Weighted streamers or swimming nymphs will probably work best. Cast to the banks and cover, allowing your fly to sink deep. Retrieve slowly to keep your flies down. Top water flies might work in the cooler lakes or cooler areas in the lakes.

If you are fishing on a tailwater today, there are some interesting generation schedules to consider. Look at the Cumberland River below Wolf Creek Dam. You don’t see one like that there often. They are sluicing. I fished on that river over two weeks ago. They were sluicing then. Fishing was very good. We caught some nice trout on top water flies. It was overcast both days, which helped a lot.

Check the TVA website to see what tailwater fishing options you have today.

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

Byron Begley
September 20, 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