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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:18 am, the temperature outside is 66.4 degrees.
It will be partly sunny today with a chance for showers and thunderstorms this afternoon. Expect a high temperature in the low 80’s. Sunshine is predicted tomorrow through Tuesday with only a slight chance for showers tomorrow.
Little River is flowing at 373 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.39 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 189 cfs. The water temperature is 61.0 degrees this morning.
Most streams in the mountains are receding slowly. Afternoon thunderstorms have affected them slightly and that could happen again today. You should not have problems finding fishable water that can be safely waded today, though the water is higher than normal and swift in some areas.
Dry flies and nymphs are working. Fishing is good.
Most lowland rivers are flowing lower, though wading in some will be limited in areas. Trout fishing is good where they are stocked. Smallmouth fishing is good. Nymphs and streamers will catch trout and smallmouth bass. Poppers, hair bugs and foam floating flies will work for smallmouth bass.
TVA and the Corps are generating around the clock at many dams. I did notice a break in the generation at Douglas Dam this morning but they will begin full generation at 9 am. Check the TVA website to see if you have a chance at your favorite tailwater. I didn’t see any options for wade fishing below the dams I checked this morning.
Fly fishing on the lakes is good. Watch out for thunderstorms today. Streamers and top water flies will produce. Fishing will be best early and late this weekend due to the anticipated sunshine.
The lakes are crowded with fishermen and recreation boaters. Fishing and boating is extremely popular right now. Americans have been spending more time at home and we want to get outside. It will probably be very crowded on the lakes this weekend.
The conventional tackle business has gone crazy due to the rush to enjoy the outdoors. Suppliers of spinning and baitcasting equipment are having problems filling orders. That does not affect us too much. Our spinning department is small. But, I am in touch with the companies that sell conventional tackle and the news is always the same, “we are slammed”.
The same is true of gardening. Seeds, plants, tools, tillers and soil amendment are in short supply. Even composted cow manure is hard to find. I bought 400 pounds and I wish I had bought 800 pounds. That is a lot of cow piles or so I thought. It does not go as far as you think. Americans decided to take up gardening this year, in big numbers.
I picked the worst year to expand on Paula’s garden. I tilled up some ground and started raising plants inside under artificial light. It has been almost impossible to transplant because it has rained most days this Spring. The ground has been soaked. The plants inside are so tall they are pushing on the top of the humidity domes. I need to get them in the ground so I can start more from seeds.
I am working seven days a week at the shop but when the sun comes out this weekend, I’m taking off early. I did the same thing yesterday.
Paula’s raised bed gardens are doing great. She started earlier than I did.
If your business sells spinning tackle, boating gear, live bait or gardening supplies, you are busy right now.
If you sell cow manure nearby, I’m interested. I never thought I would say or write that.
We have been busy at the shop too, thankfully.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
May 29, 2020
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com |