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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:57 am, the temperature outside is 69.8 degrees.
Today will be sunny and warm with a high temperature in the upper 80’s and almost no chance for rain. It will be even warmer tomorrow, with a chance for thunderstorms in the afternoon.
Little River is flowing at 103 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.57 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 137 cfs. The water temperature is 71.4 degrees this morning. Other streams in the Smokies that have USGS gauge sites are flowing at or above normal.
Water temperatures are very warm in the low elevations. Over the next few days, we should be fishing in the higher elevations where the water is cooler. Look for water temperatures in the mid-60’s. Warm water does not hold dissolved oxygen well. Trout caught and released in warm water are stressed and may die. These conditions are typical in July.
Stealth is very important to your success. Dress to blend with the forest. Fish the broken water in riffles, plunge pools and runs. Dry flies and nymphs will work. I would use terrestrial patterns, such as foam beetles, ants and Green Weenies.
Lowland rivers are flowing low in most cases. It will be sunny today. Go early or late or fish shaded areas. Top water flies such as poppers, hair bugs and foam floating flies should do the trick. If not, try nymphs or streamers.
Generation schedules at many dams are offering us many options for wade and boat fishing on the area tailwaters. Check the TVA website from the links below to see what your options are today.
If you a planning to fish on a lake, you should be heading that way right now. It is going to be sunny and hot. I would launch at daybreak and fish until shaded banks cannot be found. Poppers, hair bugs and foam floating flies might work, especially early. Streamers and swimming nymphs will be a better choice later this morning. The lakes are going to be crowded today.
It was on this date, 58 years ago, I took up the sport of fly fishing. I was eleven years old and it was my birthday. My parents gave me a fly rod, reel, fly line and a fly tying kit as a gift. The rod was a white fiberglass Shakespeare Wonder Rod. The reel was a Pflueger Medalist. The line was level, not tapered and probably made by Cortland.
I grew up in Kentucky. Fly fishing tackle was hard to find there. I did not know anyone who fly fished. My desire was inspired by articles I read in magazines like Outdoor Life, Sports Afield and Field & Stream. I think the idea of tying flies myself had more to do with wanting to fly fish, than the actual fishing.
I tied a couple of streamers that day and walked to a pond. After making a few casts, I finally hooked and landed a nice largemouth bass. That sealed the deal for me.
I remember those streamers well. I tied in a mallard body feather on top, curved up, to push more water and move when stripped. The body was made by wrapping chenille on the hook shank. That was an eventful day and it is amazing what I can remember from that long ago.
I have told this story on the fishing report, on this date, for about 13 years or longer.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
July 11, 2020
NOTICE: FLY TYERS WEEKEND HAS BEEN CANCELLED THIS YEAR. WE ARE PLANNING THE EVENT FOR 2021.
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com |