Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:41 am, the temperature is 67.3 degrees.
Today will be mostly sunny with a high temperature in the low 80’s and a chance for showers this afternoon. Tomorrow will be warmer with a high in the upper 80’s and a chance for thunderstorms in the afternoon. Showers and thunderstorms are likely Friday and each day through the weekend. Hopefully we will get some significant rain this week.
Little River is flowing at 72.7 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.47 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 106 cfs. The water temperature is 68.9 degrees this morning.
Most rivers and small streams in the mountains are flowing below normal. One exception is Tellico River which is flowing at normal. Normal at this point in the year is low. The water is warm in the low elevations. Do the trout a favor and fish in the higher elevations where the water is cooler. Look for water temperatures in the middle to low 60’s.
Trout are taking dry flies and nymphs. Yellow sally stonefly and beetle imitations are good dry fly choices. Drop a small nymph or Green Weenie off your dry fly. Under these low water conditions, stealth is paramount to your success. Dress to blend with the forest to help you stay hidden from the trout. Fish the broken water where the trout are hiding.
Anglers who are catching more trout right now are going early in the mornings.
Lowland river fishing for smallmouth bass and panfish is fair. They will be found in the deeper runs and pools. Foam floating flies and poppers are good fly choices.
Lake fishing will be best early, when the sun is low. Fish the banks with poppers, foam floating flies, streamers or swimming nymphs. As the sun rises, move to shaded banks to fish. Watch for fish feeding on the surface on shad. Cast small Clouser Minnows or Puglisi Threadfin Shad patterns in the school of shad. When the sun rises high and the water is well lit, that activity will be over unless there is sufficient cloud cover.
Tailwater anglers have many choices today though there is generation planned this afternoon at most dams. View the generation schedules on the TVA website and choose your tailwater to fish.
I read an article this morning written by Rene’ Harrop on the subject of fishing for trout with beetle patterns. You can read it on the Fly Fisherman Magazine website by CLICKING HERE. Terrestrial insects are an important food source for trout and all species during the Summer months. I would fish with foam terrestrial flies now in lakes, tailwaters, lowland rivers and mountain streams.
Rene’ Harrop’s home water is the Henry’s For of the Snake River in Idaho. There, he prefers small beetle imitations. But, we should not rule out big bugs that imitate other terrestrials, including annual cicadas. I tie mine on a #6 hook and use them on tailwaters, lowland rivers and lakes. They catch trout, bass, panfish and other fish species. It is almost July and now is the time.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
June 29, 2022
NOTICE: FLY TYERS WEEKEND SCHEDULED ON NOVEMBER 5TH AND 6TH HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES.
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com
|
