If you do not see today’s Fishing Report, please refresh your browser to empty your cache.
Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:43 am, the temperature is 61.3 degrees.
Today will be partly sunny with a high temperature in the low 80’s. We have a chance for showers and scattered thunderstorms today. Showers and thunderstorms are likely tomorrow and it will be cooler, with a high reaching the upper 70’s.
Little River is flowing at 218 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.05 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 224 cfs. The water temperature is 60.6 degrees this morning at the low elevation USGS gauge site near Townsend.
Streams in the mountains are flowing at normal or slightly lower than normal. Water temperatures are within the trout’s preferred range. The fish are actively feeding. Fishing is good.
Dry flies or nymphs will work for you. A prime choice for your dry fly is a Yellow Sally Stonefly imitation. Most reasonable nymphs will produce for you. Try a small bead head nymph, Squirmy Worm or Green Weenie. Pink Weenies work well too. Our best selling Squirmy Worm material in the fly tying department is pink.
Those who are fishing for stocked trout in the rivers flowing out of the mountains are doing well. Stocked trout are taking nymphs, squirmy worms, midge pupa and small streamers. A good streamer pattern to use is an olive Wooly Bugger tied in a size #10.
Fishing in the lower sections of these rivers for smallmouth bass and panfish is good. You should have a lot of fun using a foam floating fly. However, streamers, nymphs and crayfish patterns might do as well or better.
The rivers are flowing at a good level so you may want to float in a canoe or kayak. A raft or drift boat can be used in the larger and deeper rivers.
Lake fishing is good. Smallmouth bass can be caught on the rocky banks. Largemouth bass may be found near submerged cover. Bluegill and shellcrackers should be spawning is some lakes. Streamers, swimming nymphs, foam floating flies and poppers are all good fly choices. I prefer a foam floating fly for fishing on the surface.
I would go lake fishing early or late when the sun is off the water and there are less pleasure boaters. It should be cloudy at times today, which is very beneficial to those of us who fly fish in shallow water.
TVA and the Corps of Engineers are trying to raise the lake levels to Summer pool. The goal is to provide a better recreational boating experience. The agencies are behind schedule at some reservoirs and on target at others.
If you look at the generation schedule on the TVA website at most dams, there is a link to the Operating Guide, which shows at what levels the lakes should be right now and at what levels the lakes are. Dams operated by the Corps of Engineers do not have this feature.
Tailwater anglers are benefiting from less generation at the dams as the lakes are raised. You have many tailwater fishing options today.
We are all enjoying a time, when fly fishing is very good, in the freestone streams, lakes and tailwaters. Anglers are actively participating. Due to the many choices we have, the fishermen are spread out, which is good for all of us.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
May 15, 2022
IMPORTANT INFORMATION CONCERNING THE CANEY FORK TROUT FISHERY BELOW CENTER HILL DAM!
The US Army Corps of Engineers is seeking public input as they are planning to update their Water Control Manual for Center Hill Dam. The manual was last updated in 1998. David Knapp, who guides on the Caney Fork and other rivers, brought this to my attention.
According to David, the current manual requires only one hour of generation during a 48 hour period, which is not enough to provide cold water during the warm months. Years ago, before the dam was repaired, seepage helped maintain much needed cool water that is essential for a sustainable trout fishery. David says that is not the case now. If you love fishing the Caney Fork River tailwater, you should look into this and get involved.
The Corps will be holding a public meeting to discuss changes for the new manual on Thursday May 26th from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the Smith County Agricultural center in Carthage, Tennessee.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com
|
