Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:39 am, the temperature is 52 degrees.

Today will be sunny and warm with a high temperature in the low 70’s with a low tonight around 50 degrees. Tomorrow will be mostly cloudy with a high in the low 70’s dropping to the low 50’s overnight.

We have a good chance for much needed rain Friday night and Saturday.

Little River is flowing at 41.0 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.30 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 79 cfs. The water temperature is 61.9 degrees this morning.

Streams in the mountains are flowing very low. Most trout are hiding in the broken choppy water where you should concentrate on your fishing efforts. Dry flies and nymphs will work but I think most people are doing best using nymphs. I would still use terrestrial insect imitations, including Green Weenies. Foam beetles and ants are also good fly choices.

Dress to blend with the forest to hopefully avoid being seen by the trout. Use light tippet.

Fishing for smallmouth bass and other species in the lowland rivers is fair. The rivers are flowing low. Fish in the deeper pools using streamers or crayfish imitations. Foam floating flies or poppers might work.

It is going to be sunny today so lake fishing will be best early or late. Cast to the banks or cover with weighted streamers or swimming nymphs. When the sun is high try to find shaded areas to fish.

Fishing on a tailwater is probably a good option and there are a few generation schedules you can work with today. Check the TVA website from the links below to see what tailwater fishing options you have.

We are busy at the shop. Yesterday really felt like Fall. It was cool, breezy and a lot of leaves were falling. It will be warm much of the week but this weekend will be cooler again. The long term weather forecast indicates cool temperatures with some rain mixed in through October 24th. Maybe we are getting back to normal.  

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

Byron Begley
October 10, 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