Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:37 am, the temperature is 50 degrees.

We finally got some rain in the Tennessee River Valley. Rainfall amounts yesterday varied greatly by location. The Knoxville Airport reported 1.48 inches. Cherokee North Carolina got 1.74 inches. Sevierville reported .99 inches. Townsend received only .54 inches.

According to what I read this morning, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is now open, including the campgrounds that were closed Monday afternoon.

Fire crews were still working on the Rich Mountain Fire near our home yesterday. The evacuation request in our area was lifted yesterday afternoon.

And, streams in the mountains and in the valleys are flowing higher.

We have a 30% chance for more showers today with a high temperature around 50 degrees. Tonight will be mostly cloudy with a low in the low 30’s.

Thanksgiving day will be sunny with a high in the middle 50’s. There is no rain in the forecast through the weekend after today.

Little River is flowing at 311 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.30 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 199 cfs. The water temperature is 54.5 degrees this morning.

All streams in the mountains are flowing higher. None I saw were too high to fish or wade but some could be. Water temperatures are good in the lower elevations. Fishing will be much improved today. Trout are taking dry flies and nymphs.

Fishing for smallmouth bass in the lowland rivers may be fair today. The higher flows will certainly help. Water temperatures are fine in these rivers today though they will chill over the next few days. Try streamers or crayfish imitations.

The low elevation rivers that are stocked with trout are now in much better shape due to higher flows. Today should be a great day to fish in these stocked streams.

There are generation schedules you can work with at a few dams today for at least a partial day of tailwater fishing. Check the TVA website from the links below to see what tailwater fishing options you have today.

We will be closed tomorrow to celebrate Thanksgiving Day. For the first time in a while, I won’t be dragging myself out of bed early to write a fishing report. The water will be colder tomorrow. Fish in the low elevations if you go.

We will be open Friday and of course each day this weekend.

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

Byron Begley
November 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