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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:05 am, the temperature outside is 59.7 degrees.
It will be partly sunny today with a chance for thunderstorms this afternoon. The high temperature will be around 80 degrees. Saturday and Sunday will be warmer, in the mid to upper 80’s with a low chance for thunderstorms both days. There is a good chance for rain next week, Monday through Wednesday.
Little River is flowing at 105 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.58 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 138 cfs. The water temperature is 61.7 degrees this morning.
Little Pigeon River, Oconaluftee River, Tellico River and Cataloochee Creek are flowing above normal at their USGS gauge sites.
Elkmont Road and Campground are open. I talked to two customers yesterday who were camping there. I am jealous.
Trout are taking dry flies and nymphs. Fishing is good in the Smokies. We could use some rain in the Little River drainage.
Some lowland rivers are flowing at normal. Fishing for smallmouth bass is fair to good. Streamers, nymphs, hair bugs, poppers and foam floating flies are working. I would go early or late when the sun is off the water or fish shaded areas during the day where you have canopy.
I found wade fishing opportunities for today on all the tailwaters I checked this morning though I didn’t check them all.
I did see the following message on the Norris Dam page: “Unscheduled releases are possible due to transmission work through 7/2/20, please use caution”.
Visit the TVA website from the links below to see if you can work with their generation schedules on your favorite tailwater.
Lake fishing is good in shallow water. Go early or late to avoid sun on the water, when fishing with fly rods will be better. Top water flies should work for many species during these times. Go to streamers or nymphs if the bass and panfish are not taking your top water flies. Or, move to a different area to fish.
This time of the year, the large “bull” bluegill are often found deeper. One tactic that has worked for me and others is slowly retrieving weighted nymphs to catch the big guys. Dragon fly nymphs work well probably because they do swim. I have found that variations of the Carter’s Rubber Legged Dragon serve me well. I tie mine in many colors and use rabbit fur for the tail and collar. Pinch your barbs down or tie on barbless hooks.
I use a 9’ leader, cast the nymphs toward the bank, let them sink, then very slowly bring them back. Don’t be surprised if catch many other species, including bass and yellow perch. It is a fun way to warmwater fish in lakes and ponds when poppers are not working well.
Cades Cove Loop Road will be open to vehicles all day tomorrow. You will be able to access Abrams Creek early on Saturdays, a departure from the old schedule that allowed only pedestrians and bicycles on the road until 10 am. Now, through September, the road will be closed to vehicles on Wednesdays, all day.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
June 19, 2020
NOTICE:
The following roads and campgrounds re-opened Monday June 8th:
Cades Cove and Smokemont Campgrounds
Abrams Creek Road, Forge Creek Road and Cataloochee Road (To Palmer Chapel)
The following roads and campgrounds will open Monday June 15th:
Elkmont Road
Elkmont Campground
The Cades Cove Loop Road will be closed every Wednesday beginning June 17th to vehicle traffic. The road will be open to pedestrians and bicyclists only. The Wednesday closing to vehicles will continue through September.
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com |
