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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:44 am, the temperature is 59.5 degrees.

It will be mostly sunny today and every day through Friday, with highs in the low to middle 80’s and lows in the upper 50’s. We have a chance for rain this weekend, though not a high chance yet. Next week will be cooler with a chance for rain every day.

Little River is flowing at 151 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.81 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 90 cfs. The water temperature is 59.5 degrees this morning.

Most streams in the Smokies are still flowing higher than normal. Normal this time of the year is fairly low. And, the streams continue to recede. Water temperatures will be good today, within the trout’s preferred range at most elevations. They  will be actively feeding and taking nymphs or dry flies.

Lowland rivers are flowing higher than normal as they flow out of the mountains and through the valleys. Fly fishing for smallmouth bass, rock bass and panfish will be pretty good, especially early and late. Fish in the deeper pools and runs with poppers, foam floating flies, nymphs, streamers and crayfish patterns.

Tailwater fishing options are sparse today, as the Corps of Engineers and TVA will be generating almost all day at some dams. There may be better tailwater opportunities I didn’t see this morning, so check the TVA website from the links below to see what your options are.

Lake fishing will be best early or late when the sun is low and shaded banks can be found. This is going to be a bright sunny day. Winds are supposed to be out of the west a 5 to 10 miles per hour. I would go early and launch at daybreak. Cast poppers, streamers, foam floating flies and swimming nymphs to the banks.

Will is off, fishing for a few days, so I will be ordering and receiving fly tying materials and tools all week. We are preparing for the fly tying season, during the colder months and increasing our inventory. Some materials and tools remain hard to get.

Our distributors are struggling to keep up with demand and supply shortages from their suppliers. To overcome that obstacle, we are ordering more often. I have switched from a 7 day ordering cycle to 4 days, from our largest supplier. So, every 4 days, I will get a shipment from that supplier to process and display. We are also ordering more often from other suppliers.

A lot of items are out of stock at our suppliers during one order cycle, but in stock on the next cycle, then out of stock again. Stocking more of each and ordering often helps us keep our selection in much better shape for you. I think we have done well during this time. All it takes is extreme organization and tenacity.

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

Byron Begley
September 28, 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