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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:25 am, the temperature is 63.1 degrees.

It will be mostly sunny, hot and humid today with a high temperature in the middle to upper 80’s. It looks like we will get some rain from the tropical storm moving north from the gulf though the heaviest rain should move by us to our south. Rain and thunderstorms are in our forecast tomorrow, Monday and Tuesday.

Little River is flowing at 107 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.63 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 137 cfs. The water temperature is 66.5 degrees this morning.

Most streams in the Smokies are flowing slightly below normal. Water temperatures are warm in the low elevations. Fish in the middle to high elevations where the water is cooler. Dry flies and nymphs are working. A dry and dropper rig will probably work best for you. My dry fly would be a Yellow Sally Stonefly imitation, including a small Yellow Stimulator. A Green Weenie is an ideal dropper.

Lowland rivers are flowing near normal which is fairly low. Fishing is good for smallmouth bass and other species. Go early or late today when the sun is off the water or fish the shaded areas in some of these rivers that have tree canopy. Fishing will be best in the deeper runs and pools. I would plan on using poppers or foam floating flies.

If you are planning to fish a tailwater today, you will find some angler friendly flows, especially early. TVA and the Corps will be generating at some dams this afternoon. If you fish from a boat, you will have more options this afternoon. Check the TVA website to see what is going on at your favorite tailwater.

I would go early or late to fish one of the many lakes in our area, when the sun is not on the water. It may be a little breezy at times today. Winds are predicted to be out of the west at 5 to 10 miles per hour. It is going to be hot and humid. Drink lots of water if you fish all day. There is also a slight chance for thunderstorms late.

Use foam floating flies, poppers, streamers or swimming nymphs. Cast to the shaded banks, especially if you are using top water flies and poppers.

Yesterday, I worked on organizing our “Popper Making Store” which is a category on our online store. I also photographed and added some new popper hooks that just arrived. Next week I will add some more new popper bodies, hooks and eyes. Making poppers is easy unless you paint the bodies, which I don’t do. I always add solid plastic eyes to the unpainted and uncoated bodies. My favorite colors are Chartreuse and Black. I don’t spend a lot of time on the tails either. I just use round rubber legs for tails and crisscross the same material for the legs.

You can see the updated Popper Making Store by CLICKING HERE.

You can learn how I make poppers by CLICKING HERE. I skip the "cupping the face" step. I don't think it is worth the trouble. Flat faces work fine on poppers, in my opinion. And, they pull of the water easier and quiet to make your next cast.

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

Byron Begley
June 19, 2021

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com