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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:47 am, the temperature outside is 62.5 degrees which is 10 degrees cooler than it was yesterday morning at this time.
Today, through the weekend will be much cooler. Today’s high temperature is predicted to be 80 degrees in Townsend, 76 at Elkmont, 71 at Newfound Gap and 62 degrees at Mount LeConte. Lows at night will vary between the high 40’s at the highest elevations of the Park to the low 60’s in the low elevations, through the weekend.
No rain is predicted until Sunday and the chance then is low. In fact, the long term forecast through September 7th, does not indicate any significant chance for rain. That could change of course.
Little River is flowing at 67.6 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.51 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 109 cfs. The water temperature is 70.7 degrees this morning and it rose to 74 degrees yesterday at the USGS Gauge site, which is located in the low elevation of Little River just inside the Park at the Townsend entrance.
It appears we can count on low water through the weekend. The streams will be gradually cooling through the period. That will give you the opportunity to find cooler water in the lower elevations where larger streams are located.
I would fish the higher elevation today. Look for water 66 degrees or cooler. If the water warms, go higher. Fishing conditions will improve in the lower elevations this week but, all streams will likely be flowing low.
Fly selection recommendations remain the same. Terrestrial imitations will work. Beetles and ant dry flies and the Yellow Neversink Caddis are recommended for your dry fly. Fishing an overdressed dry fly with a dropper may produce for you. The dry could be a large foam beetle, Smoky Mountain Candy or a Yellow Stimulator. Good dropper choices include a small Bead Head Pheasant Tail, a Green or Pink Weenie and a Squirmy Worm. You may want to fish the sub-surface flies alone and weighted.
The trout are especially spooky and concentrated where they can find cover. The cover could be choppy water, or structure such as fallen tree limbs and rocks. Trout will be hiding in pockets, in riffles, behind rocks. Dress to blend in with the forest and stay hidden from the trout as best as you can.
On sunny days, fish the shaded parts of the streams. Fish early and late.
TVA plans to generate all day today at Norris and Cherokee dams.
The lowland rivers are flowing low. Smallmouth bass, rock bass and sunfish will be found in deep pools. Fish early and late unless it is cloudy. Fish the shaded banks and deep runs.
Austin Bohanan, the 18 year old, who was reported missing in Great Smoky Mountains National Park for 11 days, walked out on his own. He flagged down a fishing boat on Abrams Creek. He was transported to the search team and his family by the boat. He is healthy and unhurt. An intensive search by professionals, dogs and a helicopter in the area turned up nothing.
You can read the story and watch clips from the National Park Service press conference on the WBIR website by CLICKING HERE.
It is quiet in Townsend now. Traffic is light. This is a transition period, between Summer tourist season and the Fall color change. September is a peaceful time in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Cooler temperatures predicted over the next few days will make your visit here even better. Fishing is just fair. Rain would help matters. Those who have learned to fish in low water conditions will do fine. And, this is a good time to learn how to fish under these conditions.
As the water chills some, you will be able to fish larger rivers. Or, you can spend a day in the backcountry, where it is cool and where you can find solitude.
Both sound good to me.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
August 24, 2017
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com |
