Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:58 am, the temperature is 55 degrees.

Today will be mostly sunny and warm with a high temperature in the low 80’s dropping to the upper 50’s tonight. Tomorrow, Tuesday and Wednesday will be sunny with a high in the low 80’s and a low in the upper 50’s. There is no rain predicted during the period.

Little River is flowing at 48.5 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.35 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 79 cfs. The water temperature is 62.2 degrees this morning.

Streams in the mountains are flowing very low. Low flows are normal in early October but the flows we have now are mostly lower than normal. Fishing for trout in the mountains is fair. Trout are concentrated in the broken choppy water where they are hiding from predators.

If you go fishing in the mountains today, dress to blend with the forest so the trout are less likely to see you. Cast to the choppy water in pockets, plunge pools, runs and eddies. A dry and dropper rig should work well. Try a Yellow Stimulator or a beetle pattern for your dry fly. A Green Weenie is an excellent sub surface fly to use as your dropper.

Fishing for smallmouth bass and other species in the lowland rivers is fair. The rivers are flowing low. Fish in the deeper pools and runs using streamers, crayfish patterns, foam floating flies or poppers.

Fishing will be best early or late on the lakes when the sun is low. Or, find shaded areas to fish. Larger fish will be caught deeper in most lakes. Try a weighted streamers or swimming nymph retrieved slow to keep them deep. Foam floating flies and poppers will work in the cooler lakes or the colder areas in lakes.

There are some interesting generation schedules that tailwater anglers can work with today whether wading or boating. Check the TVA website from the links below to see what tailwater fishing options you have today.

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

Byron Begley
October 1, 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