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

It will be sunny today with a high temperature in the upper 70’s dropping to the low 50’s tonight. The forecast is almost identical for tomorrow and Friday. No rain is predicted during the period. In fact, no rain is predicted this weekend.

I often refer to the rainfall data at the Knoxville Airport which is only about a 25 minute drive from Townsend. This year, so far, we have had 2.61 inches less rainfall than normal. That’s not a lot in 10 months.

But, the land is dry and the streams are flowing very low. The Airport data shows that we have a 4.74 inch deficit of rain since September 1st. Rainfall since September 1st has amounted to .89 inches. Normal during the period is 5.63 inches.

Little River is flowing at 45.4 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.33 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 87 cfs. The water temperature is 51.3 degrees and falling at the low elevation USGS gauge site near Townsend.

All streams in the Smokies that have USGS gauge sites are flowing lower than normal. Normal in October is low anyway.

Some customers I have talked to are catching trout. Some are not. Nobody is saying fishing is great. Most trout are holding in the choppy water, hiding from predators. Some can be seen out in the open pools preparing to spawn or spawning. They are brown and brook trout.

If you go, you need to be sneaky so you are not seen by the trout. Use fine tippet. Fish in the broken water using dry flies or nymphs. The low elevation mountains are beautiful right now and the temperatures are comfortable. Enjoy your time on the water and hopefully catch a few trout.

Fishing for smallmouth bass in the lowland rivers is fair. Water temperatures have been chilly in the mornings, but warmer mornings are in our immediate future. Fishing will be best later in the day when the water is warmer. Try streamers and crayfish imitations fished in the deeper pools and runs.

Fishing will be best on the lakes early or late when the sun is low. Winds will be calm today. I think your best bet is to use weighted streamers or swimming nymphs retrieved slow and deep. I know I would at least try foam floating flies or poppers.

There are generation schedules that are workable for tailwater angling at some dams today. If you are boating, there are more options. Check the TVA website to see what is going on at your favorite tailwater today.

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

Byron Begley
October 25, 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