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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:46 am, the temperature is 53.1 degrees.

We can count on this being another beautiful day. It will be sunny with a high temperature in the middle 70’s, dropping to the low 50’s tonight. Sunny days and slightly warmer temperatures are predicted through Thursday, with highs in the low 80’s and lows in the 50’s. No rain is predicted through Saturday.

Little River is flowing at 196 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.97 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 76 cfs. The water temperature is 59.4 degrees.

All streams in the Smokies that have USGS gauge sites are flowing higher than normal but at good fishing levels. Water temperatures are good in the low to middle elevations.

At Cataloochee Creek, water temperatures fell to about 50 degrees yesterday and Friday, but rose to about 54 degrees later in the day. That indicates, some higher elevations streams may have had low temps in the 40’s both days. Most of you are likely fishing in the low to middle elevations right now. Keep that in mind if you intend to fish in the highest elevations, especially as we move further into Fall.

Dry flies and nymphs will work for you in the mountains. This is going to be a great day to fly fish in the Smokies. The only condition that would be better is cloud cover but we won’t see that for a while.

Lowland rivers are flowing higher than normal. Fishing for smallmouth bass, rock bass and panfish is good. Fishing will be best early or late due to the expected sunny conditions. Try top water offerings, poppers or foam floating flies. If that is not working, switch to nymphs or streamers. If you are fishing during the middle of the day, find shaded areas.

If you hope to fish on a tailwater today, you have some choices, especially early. The Caney Fork River below Center Hill Dam is not one of them. They are generating there around the clock. Visit the TVA website to see what is available to you today and make your choice.

Lake fishing conditions are good today except for bright sun. Go early or late. I would cast to the dimly lit banks with poppers or foam floating flies, but be prepared to switch to streamers or swimming nymphs. Winds should be light today.

I found an interesting article about sowbugs or cress bugs, the year-round food for trout. I used imitations for these isopods back when I fished the spring creeks in Pennsylvania and they worked well. You will find these bugs in streams, especially spring creeks, where they feed on vegetation. You can read the article by CLICKING HERE.

We have a spring creek running through our property. Years ago, I ordered live watercress plants from Pennsylvania, and planted them at different locations in the stream. Over time, they washed away during high flows and floods. I think the substrate in this creek has too much gravel and sand and not enough nutrients to sustain the plants. I never tried again.

I have found water cress thriving at Hatchery Creek in Kentucky. Cress bugs supposedly live in the creek or did at one time. You may have this food source in trout streams you frequent.

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

Byron Begley
September 26, 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