Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:34 am, the temperature is 57 degrees.

It will be cloudy this morning before clearing later with a high temperature in the middle 70’s. Light rain is possible this morning. Tomorrow will be sunny with a slight chance for showers and a high in the middle to upper 70’s.

Rain is returning to the forecast this weekend.

Little River is flowing at 42.4 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.31 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 74 cfs. The water temperature is 56.7 degrees this morning.

Streams in the mountains continue to flow very low. Most trout are hiding in the broken water or near cover. We have not had a hard freeze in the low to middle elevations so terrestrial insects are still an important food source for trout and other fishes. I would still be using a Green Weenie dropped off of a dry fly.

Staying hidden from the trout is essential to your success so wear clothing that blends with the forest. Downsize to light tippet. Drift your flies through pockets, runs, plunge pools and eddies where the water is choppy.

Fishing for smallmouth bass and other species in the lowland rivers is fair due to the low water conditions. Fish in the deeper pools and runs with streamers or crayfish imitations. You could also try foam floating flies or poppers.

Lake fishing will be best early today when the sky is overcast. Cast weighted streamers or swimming nymphs to the banks and cover. Retrieve slowly to keep your flies running deep. You may attract gamefish with foam floating flies or poppers.

There are scheduled releases you can work with below many dams today, if you are hoping to fish on a tailwater. Visit the TVA website from the links below to see what tailwater fishing opportunities you have today and plan accordingly.

We are busy at the shop. There are many visitors in town and a lot of our local customers are shopping and fishing.

I am increasing the inventory selection in the fly tying department as we will soon be in the fly tying season. There are a lot of material and tool orders arriving this week starting today from Whiting Farms, Wapsi, Hareline, Renzetti, Semperfli, Umpqua and Firehole. That will keep me busy for a while.

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

Byron Begley
October 12, 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