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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 7:07 am, the temperature outside is 70 degrees.

It will be hot today with a high of 90 degrees. We have a low chance for thunderstorms this afternoon. Tomorrow, Independence Day, will be slightly cooler with a 50% chance for thunderstorms. We will see highs in the mid 80’s Friday through Sunday, with a 50% to 60% chance for thunderstorms each day.

Little River is flowing at 107 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.60 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 129 cfs. The water temperature is 71.6 degrees and it rose to almost 75 degrees yesterday. Those readings are taken at the low elevation USGS gauge site, just inside the Park at the Townsend entrance.

Right now, it looks like all streams in the Smokies that have gauges are flowing slightly below or slightly above normal for this date.

So, the streams are low this morning, which is typical in early July. However, July is normally wet, in fact one of the wettest months. That is usually due to the afternoon thunderstorms that occur, like they are now. Streams will probably rise and fall this week because of the expected scattered thunderstorms.

Low water equates to spooky trout. You can test your stealth skills today. Dress to blend with the forest. Stay low, hide when you can, cast side arm, wade as little as possible, and concentrate on the choppy, shaded water where the trout are hiding.

The water is also warm, which is also typical. Look for water temperatures in the 60’s. Those streams are at the mid to high elevations. You don’t want to catch and release a trout in 75 degrees water. The fish may die. And, due to the lack of dissolved oxygen, the trout in the warmer elevations will be less active.

Dry flies and nymphs will work, if you don’t scare the trout first. I would use terrestrials, probably a foam black beetle with a Green Weenie dropper. Or, fish the Green Weenie weighted and drifting deeper. Try Yellow Stimulators or Yellow Neversink Caddis. Other nymphs will work too.

Lowland River fishing is fair. Go early or late. Poppers or streamers will work for smallmouth bass, rock bass and sunfishes. If you are fishing during the day, cast to the shaded water.

The same holds true when fly fishing in the lakes. Unless it is going to be overcast, go early or late and fish the shaded banks with poppers, dragons or streamers. Watch for gamefish feeding on threadfin shad when the sun is off the water.

In some cases, generation or sluicing schedules are not wading friendly today on the trout tailwaters. There are exceptions. Check the TVA website from the links below to plan your day on a trout tailwater.

I have heard all kinds of elk stores lately. I heard there were two bull elk in Townsend. Then I heard, there were also two cow elk. I read an article this morning that tells a different story. It seems there is only one elk in Townsend and it is a young bull. He may not even be here now.

You can read the story and see photos of him on the Daily Times website by CLICKING HERE.

According to experts, elk will move here to set up a herd at some point. They will migrate from North Carolina. I’m looking forward to that.

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

Byron Begley
July 3, 2019

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com