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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. It is cool and clear at 9:00 am. Byron and Jack are starting to re-paint the front of the Shop today. I can't wait to see how it turns out. The Shop faces west so the afternoon sun bakes it and has faded the paint over the years. New signs, new paint job. The Shop is going to looked renewed.

The weather is going to be beautiful today through Thursday. Rain chances return for the weekend. I'm not sure we can ask for better weather this time of year.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PREDICTED HIGHS AND LOWS TODAY

Little River is flowing at 256 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.12 feet on the flow gauge. The normal flow is 115 cfs. Water clarity is good. This morning the water temperature is a cool 65.1 F.

Flows on the Clinch look like they would be favorable for fishing today. Always check with the website or the phone number before heading over.

Fishing in the Smokies has been very good for this time of year. Water levels are quite a bit higher than normal so if you are used to typical low, clear conditions of a regular late summer, things will look different. Flows are more what you would find in April or May.

Mid to high elevations are good choices for where to head. The West Prong of the Little Pigeon River along US 441/Newfound Gap Road is a great late summer stream. High gradient keeps that water very well oxygenated. It is near the road but far enough away that it gives more of a backcountry feel without the effort. If I had all day to fish I would most definitely consider the Oconoluftee. I really enjoy that stream. It flows mostly straight so you don't get the big bend pools like Little River has. It does have long riffled run, perfect for fishing dry flies.

Dry flies have been producing well. Light colors are best. Try Rob's Hellbenders, Yellow Stimulators, Yellow Parachute Adams, Little Yellow Stoneflies etc. Sizes are going to be #14 - #16. Regular Parachute Adams, Elk Hair Caddis and attractor dries like Humpies and Wulffs can work well too.

Terrestrials are excellent patterns for Summer. Beetles plopped under a tree branch can entice lazy summer trout. Ant patterns are very effective also. Ants are small, dark and hard to see. Consider using them as a dropper behind a visible yellow dry fly.

With water levels such as they are don't pack your nymph box away. Cool water temperatures seem to have the bigger than average brown trout out and about more than they should be this time of year. Dredging the stream with a couple of nymphs and split shot could be worth your time.

Work on Fly Tyers Weekend is really kicking into high gear. October 27 and 28 is going to be here before we know it. I received an email from Anthony Hipps this morning. He already has 34 tiers committed. The tent has been ordered and a deposit paid (no going back now!). Like last year the 40x80 foot tent will be out behind the Shop. This gave us plenty of space for the event to spread out. The ladies of Casting for Recovery of East TN will be back again with food. The money they raise from the food goes to pay for their life changing work at their retreat. Mark your calendar!!

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

Daniel Drake
August 14, 2018

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com