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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:48 am, the temperature is 74.7 degrees.
It will be mostly sunny and hot again today with a high temperature around 90 degrees. We have a low chance for showers and thunderstorms this afternoon. The temperature will be cooler tomorrow, in the low 80’s with a chance for thunderstorms and showers.
Little River is flowing at 139 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.77 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 200 cfs. The water temperature is 66.7 degrees at the low elevation USGS gauge site near Townsend. The water temperature there rose to about 70 degrees yesterday.
All streams in the mountains that have gauge sites are flowing below normal. Water temperatures will be warm in the low elevations today. Fish the higher elevations where the water is cooler. Check the water temperature with your thermometer. If the water reaches 70 degrees, move further upstream.
Fishing is good. Anglers I talked to yesterday did well. Trout are taking dries and nymphs. Excellent dry fly choices are yellow sally stonefly imitations. Bead head nymphs, squirmy worms and Green Weenies will work as your sub-surface fly.
Fishing for stocked trout in the rivers flowing out of the mountains is good. Go early when the water is cooler. Nymphs, midge pupa, squirmy worms, Green Weenies, Pink Weenies and small streamers will produce for you.
Fishing for smallmouth bass, rock bass and panfish is good in the lowland rivers. Nymphs, streamers, crayfish patterns, foam floating flies and poppers are all good fly choices.
If you plan to fish on a lake today, go early. The lakes will be crowded with pleasure boaters. I would launch at daybreak and fish until mid-morning. Hit the banks with streamers, swimming nymphs, poppers or foam floating flies. As the sun rises, find shaded banks to fish.
There are long pauses planned in the generation at most dams today. You have many tailwater fishing choices. If you live in Kentucky, or close, check the schedule at Wolf Creek Dam. This is the first time I have seen a schedule like this one all year and I check every day.
It looks like we are going to get much needed rain next week. The streams are getting low and we could use it. It is also going to be much cooler next week. The high temperature Monday is predicted to be in the low 70’s.
We are very busy at the shop. There are also a lot of people in town.
The Smoky Mountain Scottish Festival and Games is being held in Townsend this weekend for the first time. The event will be held at the Townsend Visitors Center. You can read all about it on the WBIR website by CLICKING HERE.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
May 21, 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
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