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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:41 am, the temperature is 59.7 degrees.

Today will be mostly sunny with a high temperature around 80 degrees dropping to about 60 tonight. Warm dry days and nights will continue through Friday with only a slight chance for rain through the period. Rain is possible Saturday and colder air will move into the area. We can expect highs in the 60’s with lows in the 40’s beginning Saturday and extending through October 25th, according to the long term forecast.

Little River is flowing at 246 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.12 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 79 cfs. The water temperature is 61.5 degrees this morning.

Fishing conditions in the Smokies are very good. Water temperatures are within the preferred range of trout at most elevations. Stream flows are Spring-like and at good fishing levels.

This is going to be a very good fishing week in the mountains. Dry flies and nymphs will work for you.

Lowland rivers are flowing at good levels. Smallmouth bass, rock bass and panfish will be active, as water temperatures in these rivers are within their preferred range, like we normally see in the Spring, when fishing for these species can be excellent. That may change next week as water temperatures cool but for now, fishing in the low elevation rivers for warm or cool water species is very good. Try streamers, nymphs, poppers or foam floating flies.

TVA and the Corps will be generating most of the day at the local dams I checked this morning. There may be tailwater wade fishing options in some rivers and more if you are boating. Visit the TVA website to see what is going on at your favorite tailwater.

I would fish the lakes early or late if using fly fishing tackle, when the sun is low and the banks are dimly lit. Winds will be calm today. There is no chance for rain. I would cast to the banks with poppers, foam floating flies, streamers or swimming nymphs. This will be a very nice day to be fishing on a lake.

I normally go to the shop very early on Mondays, then take my weekly day off. Daniel and I will be working on some advertising ideas today so yesterday was my day off. Paula and I went to Maryville to buy some flexible plastic downspouts for our house.

A bear, swatted and tore down the lower section of a downspout here at home, crushing the 4” x 3” metal form and penetrated both sides of the aluminum with either a tooth or claw. I think it was a claw. We took the section to Home Depot to make sure what we bought, would fit.

We got some funny looks from the staff there, rolling the cart around with the destroyed downspout. At checkout, I told the lady who was helping us that we brought the downspout in and we were not buying it. I thought about telling her we were returning it for a warranty refund. But, I told the truth and explained a bear tore it up. She asked, “Where do you live?” “Townsend” I replied. She nodded as if to say, “That explains it”.

Bears destroy bird feeders. We learned how to avoid that decades ago. Start feeding the birds in November, bring the feeders in at night, and cease feeding in March. It hasn’t happened to us, but our neighbors have had bears chew water hoses, steal door mats and break in screened porches. Bears open and enter unlocked vehicles and destroy the interior. We lock the doors on our vehicles.

Now, if the bears decide to rip off our downspouts, the lower section will easily come off and can be replaced with the $10 dollar plastic piece. We bought a spare in case that happens again.

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

Byron Begley
October 11, 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