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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:45 am, the temperature is 61.0 degrees.

It will be partly cloudy to cloudy today with a high temperature in the middle 80’s. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Rain showers are likely tomorrow morning, with scattered thunderstorms moving in later. The high temperature will be in the low 80’s.

Little River is flowing at 132 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.73 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 166 cfs. The water temperature is 63.9 degrees, which rose to over 66 degrees yesterday at the low elevation USGS site near Townsend.

Most streams in the Smokies are flowing below normal, though some are very close to normal. Water temperatures are good in the middle to higher elevations. If you fish the low elevations, go early when the water is cooler, then move higher as the water warms. Check the water temperature with your thermometer. Look for 65 degrees or cooler for better fishing and lower mortality for the trout you release.

Dry flies and nymphs are working in the Smokies. Dries that resemble a Yellow Sally Stonefly are good choices. Light Cahill and Caddis dry flies are others. Nymph choices should include, Green Weenie, Pink Weenie, Pheasant Tail, Hare’s Ear and many other patterns.

Lowland River fishing is good for smallmouth bass. Go early or late when the sun is off the water or fish shaded areas. Fish deep pools and runs. Poppers and foam floating flies are excellent choices.

Nothing has changed much for tailwater anglers. TVA and the Corps will offer lighter generation early in the day today, with more and longer generation scheduled at some dams later in the day.

Trout are chomping on Cicadas in some areas on the tailwaters. In the lower reaches, carp are eating them too. Josh told Daniel yesterday, the smallmouth bass are not feeding on Cicadas yet where he has been guiding clients. It sounds like the carp are out-competing the smallies for food. That could change at any time. Be prepared with black foam floating flies.

Lake fishing is good, using poppers, foam floating flies, streamers and swimming nymphs. Go early or late when the sun is off the water or fish all day when there is cloud cover. It appears we are going to have plenty of cloud cover over the next few days.

The lack of sun offers us the chance for top water fishing in the main channels of the lakes. Plankton rises to the surface on overcast days, shad follow the plankton, and game fish follow the shad. Threadfin shad imitations, including small Clouser Minnows will work in these circumstances. I prefer a small, less than 2”, Puglisi EP fiber imitation that is colored to match a threadfin shad. Don’t forget the “dot” behind the eye on your Puglisi. I think it makes a difference. Use a round pointed black Sharpie. You can learn to tie these flies by CLICKING HERE.

Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.

Byron Begley
June 5, 2021

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com