Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 6:13 am, the temperature is 44 degrees.

Today will be sunny with a high in the middle to upper 60’s and a low tonight around 40 degrees. Tomorrow will be sunny and warmer with a hig in the low 70’s and a low overnight in the middle 40’s.

Unfortunately, rain is not in the weather forecast through at least Saturday. It is going to be dry and warm.

Little River is flowing at 64.3 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.44 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 78 cfs. The water temperature is 52.3 degrees this morning.

Streams in the mountains have receded back to normal or slightly below normal. Water temperatures are within the trout’s preferred range in the low to middle elevations.

If you go today, fish in the low to middle elevations where the water is warmer. Trout are taking dry flies and nymphs. Stay hidden from the fish as much as possible and you will catch more. Most trout are holding in the broken water in pockets, plunge pools runs and eddies. Some spawning or pre-spawn trout may be out in the open in pools.

Fishing for smallmouth bass in the lowland rivers is likely fair. The rivers have receded since yesterday and that trend will continue for several days. Water temperatures are within the bass’ preferred range and we will see the rivers warm further over the next few days. Fish in the deeper pools and runs with streamers and crayfish imitations. Give poppers or foam floating flies a try too. They might work.

Fishing on the lakes will be best early or late when the sun is low. Winds will be calm today. Cast weighted streamers or swimming nymphs to the banks and cover. Retrieve slowly to keep you flies deep. Try to find shaded areas to fish when the sun is high.

There are generation schedules at some dams you can work with today whether you are wading or boating. Check the schedules and choose a tailwater to fish from the links below.

All indications are, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is crowded, especially on weekends. A lot of people are enjoying the Fall scenery and the very comfortable weather. In a couple of weeks, the crowds will likely be gone. The leaves will turn brown and fall. We will likely get our first frost in the low elevations soon. It won’t be this week.

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

Byron Begley
October 22, 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