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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:15 am, the temperature outside is 61.7 degrees.
Today will be another beautiful one, mostly sunny with a high temperature in the low 80’s. It will be sunny tomorrow and warmer, in the mid-80’s with a low chance for showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Sunday will be mostly sunny with a high in the upper 80’s, but there is a chance for scattered showers and thunderstorms later in the day.
Little River is flowing at 235 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.05 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 221 cfs. The water temperature is a perfect 57.2 degrees this morning.
Streams in the Smokies are flowing just slightly above normal today. Water temperatures are within the trout’s preferred range. Fishing is good in the mountains. What we have now are probably the best fishing conditions we have had all year.
Trout are taking dry flies and nymphs. Your dry fly selection should include Yellow Sally Stonefly and Light Cahill or Sulphur patterns. Neversink Caddis and small Yellow Stimulators will work. Most reasonable nymphs will catch trout. Try a Tellico, Green Weenie or Pheasant Tail. You may want to drop a small bead head nymph off your dry fly.
Lowland River fishing is good for both trout and smallmouth bass. Water levels are very good. The water has warmed in the rivers, and that will continue, so smallmouth bass will be active. Nymphs, streamers and possibly poppers or foam floating flies should entice the smallmouth bass. I’m not sure about the top water offerings, but the conditions are improving for them too.
Things are looking up for tailwater fishing. TVA and the Corps are cutting back flows at the dams. There are breaks in the generation today at Norris, Cherokee and Douglas Dams. I didn’t see any mention of sluicing at those dams either. Water levels have reached Summer pool at several impoundments in the region. Tailwater fishing should continue to improve, at least in the short term. Check your favorite tailwater flows from the links below to see if and how you can work with the dam release schedules.
Lake fishing is good and it is going to get better for fly fishing anglers. Surface temperatures are rising. Game fish are active in the shallows. Nymphs and streamers will work for bass and panfish. Poppers and foam floating flies are also a possibility, depending on which lake you are fishing. Fishing will be best, early and late on sunny days.
TVA will open most recreation areas and campgrounds today. You can read details on the WBIR website by CLICKING HERE. There are a few exceptions to the full extent of opening.
Overall, the fishing news is very good. We have more choices for good fishing in our region, finally.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
May 15, 2020
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com |
