Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:40 am, the temperature is 44 degrees.

It will be partly sunny today with a high temperature near 70 degrees with a low tonight in the low 50’s.

Here is the good news. It is going to rain tonight and tomorrow. We may even get a thunderstorm or two tonight. The chance for rain is 80% tonight and tomorrow.

The high temperature tomorrow will be in the low 60’s.

Little River is flowing at 57.1 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.40 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 81 cfs. The water temperature is 51.6 degrees this morning

Some streams in the Smokies are flowing lower than normal and some are flowing close to normal. Little Pigeon River is flowing higher than normal. Water temperatures are within the trout’s preferred range at all but the highest elevations.

I am talking to customers who are catching trout but nobody says fishing is great. The streams are flowing low which is usual this time of the year. Those who are catching trout are staying hidden from the fish. Most trout are holding in choppy broken water, in pockets, plunge pools, runs or eddies. Trout are taking nymphs and dry flies. Stealth and presentation are more important than fly selection right now.

Fishing for smallmouth bass in the lowland rivers if fair. Of course the rivers are flowing low so bass will be holding in the deeper pools and runs. Water temperatures are barely within the smallmouth bass’ range this morning but they will warm some today. Streamers and crayfish patterns are good fly choices.

This will be a fair to good lake fishing day. It should be overcast at times, hopefully all day. That is the good part. The weather forecast calls for breezy conditions, with winds blowing at 10 to 15 miles per hour and gusts as high as 20 miles per hour. If the forecast is correct, that would be a little too breezy for me. Sometimes the wind forecasts are wrong. If you go, cast weighted streamers or swimming nymphs to the banks and cover. I would retrieve slow but be willing to vary the speed if needed. I would also still try foam floating flies or poppers.

There are not many ideal generation schedules for a long day of fishing on a tailwater today if you are planning to wade. If you are boating, there are more options. Check the TVA website from the links below to see what tailwater fishing options you have.

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

Byron Begley
October 19, 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