Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. We are heading into a seasonably warm weekend, but cooler weather returns next week.

Fishing conditions are pretty good. Water levels are excellent. This morning the gauge is reading 1.90 feet or 181 c.f.s. The daily normal flow is 116 c.f.s. Last year the Little River was gauge read 41 c.f.s.

Water temperatures have been warming up over the past week. This morning we were at 69.8F. Higher elevations such as above Elkmont Campground or up Lynn Camp Prong, will be much cooler. The weather forecast for the coming week is filled with light scattered rains and cooler temperatures. We should be seeing overnight temperatures in the mid to low 50's by later next week. This is going to drop water temps and really improve fishing conditions.

Fishing early in the day or late evening is going to be the best times unless you are going to take the hike into the high elevations. Like always, concentrate on faster broken waters. There is more oxygen for the trout and it is also more difficult for them to see you. Fish quickly with just a cast or two to each pocket then moving on.

Dry dropper rigs are a good choice. Use a high floating fly pattern that is easy for you to see as the top fly then drop a nymph below. Some good choices for that are the Green Weenie, Pheasant Tail, Prince Nymph or Squirmy Worm. You can also use an ant pattern as the trailing fly. Ants are great patterns in the Summer but they have the big problem of being almost impossible to see on the water. They are going to float, or atleast be in the film but the black color makes them difficult to see. If you fish it as the dropper and you see a trout rise near your indicator fly set the hook. Fishing a terrestrial pattern such as a beetle is also a good choice. Plop the beetle on the water near some overhanging cover. There is a good likelyhood it will peak a trout's attention.

Just a note of warning....the Jeep invasion starts today in the Smokies. If you come this weekend bring some extra patience. You are likely to find some extra traffic. I would avoid Cades Cove on Friday and Saturday. The event is going to take several days but that is good because it spreads out the times of when people are going in and out of the event meaning the road doesn't clog up as bad. The Jeep folks aren't generally anglers so the rivers shouldn't be any extra busy. Just be patient and enjoy the mountains as best you can.

This is preseason ordering time of year here at the Shop. Sales Reps are making appointments to come by. We are receiving order forms and new catalogs. So far we haven't seen anything that blows our minds but there is still time.

If you head out to the mountains this weekend enjoy the cool, running waters. Let the woods restore you. Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.

Daniel Drake
August 21, 2025

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