Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:54 am, the temperature is 34 degrees.
It will be sunny today and tomorrow with a high temperature in the low 70’s and a low tonight in the middle 40’s. This is going to be a beautiful weekend.
Little River is flowing at 43.9 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.26 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 79 cfs. The water temperature is 46 degrees this morning.
The lowest flow recorded at the USGS gauge site near Townsend on this date was 17.9 cfs in 2008. On the same date, flow at the Little Pigeon gauge site in Sevierville was recorded 36 cfs in 1954. On this date in 2008, flow on the Tellico River was 21.3 cfs, the lowest the river has been on this date during the past 77 years.
We think the streams are low now, but they have been much lower. We have a chance for rain Tuesday and overnight into Wednesday morning. I hope it pours! Blount and Sevier counties are considered to be abnormally dry in the mountains on the US Drought Monitor website. Counties to our south and west are in a moderate drought with a small area designated as being in a severe drought.
All streams in the Smokies are flowing low. Water temperatures are chilly this morning but will warm later today. If you plan to fish in the mountains today, wait a while before going, when the water is warming. Fish in the low elevations where the water is warmer. Most trout will be hiding in the broken choppy water. Small nymphs will probably work best. Use light tippet and stay hidden from the trout.
You may see brown trout out in the open, in pools, preparing to spawn.
Lowland rivers are flowing very low. If you plan to fish in the areas that are stocked with trout, they will be holding in the deeper pools and runs. Nymphs will work best.
Further downstream in the lowland rivers, smallmouth bass fishing is fair at best. Fish in the deeper pools with nymphs, hellgrammite patterns or crayfish imitations. Go later when the water is warmer.
This will be a nice day to be fishing on the lakes. Winds will be calm and it will be warm later. It will also be sunny, not my favorite lake fishing condition. Overcast days are better. Cast to the banks and cover with weighted streamers. Let them sink deep and retrieve slowly.
TVA and the Corps will be generating most of the day at many dams. There are some exceptions. Check the predicted flows at Center Hill and South Holston dams. You may be able to get in some tailwater fishing times at other dams. Visit the TVA website to see what your tailwater fishing options are today.
Have a wonderful beautiful Saturday and thank for being here with us.
Byron Begley
October 22, 2022
For the first time since 2019, we will be holding our Free Fly Tying Demonstrations on Saturdays. The demonstrations will begin at 10 am and last until 2 pm. You do not need a reservation. Just show up and enjoy. These demonstrations will kick off November 5th, and last through mid-December. Then, they will resume in January.
Mike Adams will be tying on Saturday November 5th. Mike is a retired fly fishing guide who lives in upper East Tennessee. He is an excellent fly tyer who has come up with some unique trout patterns to share with you. When Mike demonstrates at the shop, we always have a big crowd.
Bill Boyd will be tying on Saturday November 12th, with his granddaughter “Half Hitch”. Bill lives in Dayton Tennessee. He has been a regular, with his dad and wife at many fly tying demonstrations, Troutfest and other fly tying shows. You can learn more about Bill on the Dubbing Teasers website by CLICKING HERE.
Mike Bone will be tying on Saturday November 19th. Mike has been guiding, mostly on the Clinch River and Holston River trout tailwaters for decades. He is also an accomplished smallmouth bass guide. Everyone likes Mike. You will too. CLICK HERE to visit Mike’s website.
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com
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