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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:47 am, the temperature is 68.5 degrees.

Showers are predicted this morning with scattered thunderstorms this afternoon and a high temperature in the low 80’s. According to the National Weather Service, “Showers and thunderstorms today may be capable of producing heavy rainfall and storms that track repeatedly over the same areas could cause localized flooding”.

Thunderstorms are likely tomorrow and every day through the end of the week. I read in one weather forecast that the mountains may receive two to three inches of rain this week. We need the rain.

Little River is flowing at 136 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.75 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 160 cfs. The water temperature is 65.3 degrees this morning.

Some streams in the mountains are flowing close to normal, or slightly below normal, with Tellico River flowing above normal. Water temperatures are warm in the lower elevations so it would be best for you to fish a little higher where the water is cooler. Check the water temperature where you are fishing. If it rises to the upper 60’s, drive or hike to a higher stream to finish the day.

Dry flies and nymphs are working. The recommendations remain the same, use Yellow Sally Stonefly, Light Cahill or Caddis dries. Small bead head nymphs or Green Weenies will work for you sub-surface flies. Dropping a Green Weenie off you dry fly is a good idea.

For now, the lowland rivers are flowing fairly low. Smallmouth bass and other gamefish will be holding in deeper runs and pools. Poppers and foam floating flies are good choices. Go early or late when the sun is off the water or fish the shaded areas of these rivers exiting the mountains. It should be overcast most days this week, which is a benefit for us.

There are many tailwater fishing options today. In some cases, TVA and the Corps will be generating for longer periods in the afternoon. They will be pulsing at times during the day at other dams.

This will be a good lake fishing day as it should be overcast. This may not be a good lake fishing day due to the chance for thunderstorms. I would go anyway. I would tend to fish closer to the ramp for a quick exit. Bass and panfish are taking poppers, foam floating flies, swimming nymphs and streamers.

Will and I have continued to add new fly tying materials to our online store, including Whiting Farms dry fly capes. CLICK HERE to see the capes we are offering. Right now, they are all in stock. I found yesterday, that these capes are very hard to find online.

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

Byron Begley
June 7, 2021  

On October 21, 2020, many of us lost a very good friend. John Thurman of Norris, Tennessee passed away. John was one of the most helpful and truly kind people I have known. He worked tirelessly teaching fly anglers to tie flies, running the TU Trout Camp for children at the Tremont Institute, and sharing his skills and knowledge as a fly fisherman and entomologist with fellow anglers. John bird hunted and fished all over the United States. He was an avid sportsman, a good friend and family man.

A memorial service for John will be held on Sunday June 13th at 2:00 pm, at the Norris Religious Fellowship Church in Norris, Tennessee. The church is located at the corner of East Norris Road and Dogwood Road across from the Norris Middle School. Park in front or behind the Norris Middle School. Handicap parking is located behind the church.

There will be many of John’s friends and family attending. Paula and I will be there. We will honor the life of John Thurman, someone we all admire and miss very much. If you knew John, you will want to be there too.

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com