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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:51 am, the temperature is 55.6 degrees.

It will be cool and comfortable today and tomorrow with highs in the low 80’s and lows in the 50’s. Humidity will be low. No rain is expected. Friday will be hot, around 90 degrees. There is a chance for showers and thunderstorms Saturday and Sunday. Rain is likely Monday.

Little River is flowing at 144 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.78 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 149 cfs. The water temperature is 65.5 degrees this morning.

Most streams in the mountains are flowing at about normal. The streams will be cooler for a couple of days. Fishing is good. Trout are taking dry flies and nymphs. Yellow Sally Stonefly patterns are still what we are recommending for your dry fly, though others will entice trout too. A small bead head nymph or Green Weenie will serve you well as a sub-surface fly.

Lowland rivers are flowing at normal, which is fairly low this time of the year. Go early or late when the sun is off the water or fish the shaded areas in deep pools or runs. Poppers and foam floating flies are what I would use. If you know where cicadas are swarming, go there and use large black floating flies or poppers.

There are several tailwater fishing options today, especially early if you are wade fishing. The turbines will be running later today at many dams, giving boat fishing anglers more options. Watch for cidadas. Check the TVA website to see what your tailwater fishing opportunities are today.

A lot of my friends and customers are fishing the lakes right now where cicadas are plentiful. You will know where to fish by listening. Carp, bass, channel catfish and other species are cruising the banks looking for these big bugs. I have talked to customers for months who are tying versions of the cicada. Large black poppers and foam floating flies will work. Your fly does not have to look exactly like the real thing when the fish are actively pursuing them.

These bugs are not everywhere. I have not seen one this year but I rarely leave Townsend. There are areas where there are hoards of the Brood X insects in the trees and on the water, mostly in the lower elevations.

Anglers are having fun fishing on the tailwaters where cicadas are active. Trout, smallmouth bass and carp are looking for them. I’ve seen some incredible pictures of cicada caught fish lately. This is sight fishing, something we all love.

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

Byron Begley
June 16, 2021

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com