Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:37 am, the temperature is 26 degrees.

It will be sunny today with a high temperature in the low to middle 60’s and a low tonight in the upper 30’s. Tomorrow will be sunny with a high in the upper 60’s and a low in the low 40’s.

Little River is flowing at 42.4 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.30 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 122 cfs. The water temperature is 42.6 degrees.

Streams in the mountains are flowing low and cold. Yesterday, the water temperature at the low elevation USGS gauge site near Townsend rose to only 46 degrees. That temperature is below the trout’s preferred range. We will see warmer water this weekend.

Most trout are holding in the broken choppy water. They are spooky. They are not very active right now due to the cool water temperatures. Fish in the low elevations where the water is warmer. Go later today when the water is warmer. Weighted nymphs or nymph rigs are probably going to work best.

Fishing for smallmouth bass in the lowland rivers is slow. The rivers are flowing low and the water is colder than the bass prefer. Streamers and crayfish imitations are good fly choices.

I never fish on the lakes this late in the Fall. I don’t talk to any fly fishermen who do. I probably won’t be reporting on lake fishing until Spring.

Like yesterday, breaks in the generation at many dams will occur this afternoon. Planning a long period of time on a tailwater today will be difficult on many rivers. There are some exceptions. Visit the TVA website from the links below to see what tailwater fishing options you have.

It is official, we are listed as being in a severe drought. And slightly to our West, many counties in Tennessee are listed as being in an extreme drought, which is worse. We have also been warned that the risk for fire is very high today, due to dry conditions and very low humidity.

You can view the U.S. Drought Monitor which was update yesterday by CLICKING HERE. Click on a region you are interested in for a detailed view. Click on a state in the region for a more detailed view.

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

Byron Begley
November 3, 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