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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:40 am, the temperature is 53.0 degrees.

The rain is over for a few days but we got plenty yesterday.

Townsend – 1.32 inches
Cades Cove - .90 inches
Gatlinburg - .80 inches
Dry Valley - .57 inches
Knoxville Airport - .58 inches

It will be cloudy early today but clearing later with a high temperature in the middle 60’s, falling to the upper 40’s tonight. Tomorrow will be sunny with a high around 70 degrees and a low in the high 40’s. Sunday will again be sunny with a high in the upper 70’s and a low in the middle 60’s. This is going to be a beautiful weekend.

Little River is flowing at 463 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.61 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 74 cfs. The water temperature is 61.2 degrees.

Some streams and rivers in the Smokies are flowing much higher than normal, including Little River. Normal flows this time of the year are low. You can fish on Little River but you will find some swift water, especially where the river narrows. We consider 2.5 feet on the gauge to be on the high side of good. Currently, the gauge reading is 2.6 feet, so it is pretty close and the river is receding.

Little Pigeon River is flowing high at the Sevierville gauge, 2.95 feet, 1,170 cfs, which compares to median flow of 134 cfs. The Little Pigeon and many of its tributaries will be swift. The river is receding.

Tellico River is flowing higher than normal at 429 cfs, 1.98 feet, compared to median flow of 71 cfs.  

Other streams are also flowing higher than normal, but some were not affected as much by the rain we got yesterday. Those are mostly on the North Carolina side of the Park. They will all be receding today and through the weekend.

This will be an excellent weekend to be fishing in the Smokies. Water temperatures will remain cool, even in the lowest elevations. Stream flows will be excellent this weekend. We really could not ask for better flows and temperatures, especially on Saturday and Sunday.

Many lowland rivers are flowing high. Safe wading will be limited in some rivers. You may find smallmouth bass and rock bass in the faster water, due to the higher flows. Streamers and nymphs will be good fly choices today. Poppers or foam floating flies might work.

There are several tailwater wade fishing options today as they will be generating later at some dams with only 1 hour pulsing at times this morning. You have a long window of opportunity below Norris Dam today. And, they will be generating around the clock at others, including Center Hill Dam. Check the TVA website to see what your options are.

You will do best, fly fishing on the lakes if you go early or late. You may have cloudy conditions today for a while. It may be a little breezy at times today. Winds should be calm tomorrow through Sunday. But, after this morning, it will be sunny all day tomorrow and through the weekend.

My choice would be to launch at daybreak and fish until the sun is high and you can’t find shaded banks. But, you could go later in the afternoon and fish until dark. I would start by casting to the banks with poppers and foam floating flies. Be prepared to switch tactics and go to streamers or swimming nymphs.

This is going to be a great fly fishing weekend in East Tennessee.

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

Byron Begley
September 23, 2021

WALTER BABB MADE BAMBOO FLY RODS FOR SALE – CLICK HERE

Walter is selling a selection of over 50 bamboo fly rods. All but one was made by him. The other one was custom made for Walter by Walton Powell. Read the description of each rod on the list and contact him if you are interested in buying one or more than one. Even if you are not interested in a purchase, this web page is very interesting to read. Walter has made over 285 bamboo rods over the past 20-years. You will be working directly with Walter on a purchase and you can test cast the rods before you buy one at his home. Or, call him and he will ship a rod to you. His contact information is on the web page he and I created.

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com