Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. It is cool and rainy this morning here in Townsend.

Over the past two days we have received some much needed rain. It has fallen slowly, allowing it to soak in and replenish the ground. Streams are flowing mostly clear but any that are cloudy will clear quickly over the next days. Little River is higher. This morning the gauge is reading 2.29 feet or 330 c.f.s. This is a bit above the daily normal flow of 249 c.f.s. Water temperatures are a moderate 59.4F. Mid to higher elevations will have even cooler water temps.

Fishing has been good in the Smokies and higher water should only make it better. There has been a wide variety of bugs hatching. Anglers are seeing large mayflies, Cahills, Yellow Drakes, left over March Browns. There is also many smaller ones including Hendricksons, Sulphurs, etc. On top of all these mayflies there is a variety of caddis and even some Yellow Sally stoneflies.

A dry / dropper is a good set up for fishing right now. Choose a fly you can see and which will float well enough not to be sunk by your nymph. The trout are going to be in the choppy water but no neccessarily the fastest water. Think about edges.

28 anglers so far have claimed their 2026 Grand Slam sticker! All you have to do is catch all three species of trout in the mountains and get a picture of each. A rainbow, a brook, and a brown. After you catch all your trout come back to the Shop and transfer the photos to us and get your sticker. There is no limit to how many times your can get your Slam.

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

Daniel Drake
May 7, 2026

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