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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 6:05 am, the temperature outside is 71.4 degrees.

Thunderstorms are likely today and tonight. Today’s high temperature is expected to reach the mid-80’s. There is a chance for thunderstorms tomorrow and a high temperature around 80 degrees. Sunday will be partly cloudy. The high temperature is expected to be in the mid 80’s.

Little River is flowing at 295 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.22 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 138 cfs. The water temperature is 67.3 degrees this morning, at the low elevation USGS Gauge Site near Townsend.

All streams in the Smoky Mountains are flowing above median flow and none are flowing too high to fish or wade.

Fishing is good in the mountains. It would be best for the trout you catch and release, and the fishing will be better in the mid to high elevations. Look for water temperatures in the mid-60’s or cooler.

Always be aware of the chance for quickly rising water in the steam you are fishing, when thunderstorms are predicted.  

Dry flies and nymphs will work. I’m still sticking with my favorites, Foam Black Beetle, Yellow Neversink Caddis, Yellow Stimulator and Green or Pink Weenies. If the Weenies are not working for you, try a Bead Head Pheasant Tail for sub-surface fishing. You can drop a nymph off your dry fly to improve your odds. Or, try fishing a nymph or Weenie weighted and alone. Wet flies may be working well too, though I have not heard of anyone using them lately.

Fly fishing conditions in the Smokies are ideal, especially for July.

Some lakes are fishing well for fly anglers. Go early or late when the sun is off the water, unless it is overcast. Watch out for thunderstorms on the lakes. I try to stay fairly close to the ramp when thunderstorms are expected. Getting caught in a fierce thunderstorm, while in a boat, can be unnerving and I suppose you could be struck by lightning. I’ve been stuck in a whole lot of storms in a boat, on lakes, the ocean and on float trips down rivers. I never thought that was much fun.

The tailwaters are fishing well for trout and smallmouth bass. Check the TVA website to view their generation schedules before going.

The lowland rivers are fishing well for smallmouth bass and panfish. Poppers or streamers should work well. Go on cloudy days or early and late. At midday, fish the shaded banks.

I’m looking forward to next week. Three of my buddies, who I grew up with, and I, are going to float a tailwater for smallmouth bass. We are floating with Josh Pfeiffer and Gary Troutman. That will be fun. I’ve been friends with these guys for 50 to 60 years. We all grew up in Kentucky. We all fly fish.

There will be some stories told on that float.

“Josh and Gary, don’t believe everything they say about me.”

We should all be happy about the cooler temperatures we will enjoy through the weekend. It is going to be hot again later next week, just in time for our float trip.

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

Byron Begley
July 6, 2018

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com