If you do not see today’s Fishing Report, please refresh your browser to empty your cache.

Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 6:43 am, the temperature outside is 71 degrees.

This is a beautiful morning. Dimly lit clouds are hovering over the Smoky Mountains. They are getting lighter and brighter by the minute, as the sun is beginning to shine over the mountain peaks. Sunrise is always about an hour later from my view. The sun has to climb over the mountains for me to get that “Sunrise” effect.

It will be warm today and hot tomorrow. We’ll get some rain too, in the form of scattered thunderstorms. The chance for rain is very high later today and fairly high every day through the weekend.

“Scattered thunderstorms capable of producing heavy rainfall are likely today and tonight”, according the National Weather Service. If you are fishing, watch for rising water. It could be pouring upstream and you may not know. If the water becomes turbid, move to the bank and be alert.

These scattered thunderstorms, which are normal in July, are maintaining the flow in the streams, which is a blessing.

Little River is flowing at 181 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.89 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 130 cfs. The water temperature is 70.9 degrees this morning.

Little Pigeon River, Oconaluftee River and Tellico River are all at a normal flow for this date. Cataloochee Creek is flowing slightly higher than normal.

They say clouds will increase this afternoon. That is great for fishing.

The streams in the lowest elevations are warm. Fish the higher elevation streams where the water is cooler. I think you will be fine above Metcalf Bottoms, upper Middle Prong, Thunderhead Prong, Lynn Camp Prong and upper West Prong.

Dry flies or nymphs will work. More important than fly choices are presentation and stealth. I would fish the choppy water in riffles, plunge pools and deep runs.

Lowland river fishing for warmwater species is fair. It will be better if the predicted cloud cover blocks the sun this afternoon. Fish with floating foam flies, Knuckleheads and poppers.

The same is true on the lakes. Go early or late unless it is overcast. Watch for thunderheads. I run the boat to the ramp when I see those getting close. Poppers and streamers will work on shaded banks.

Check the TVA website from the links below. You may be happy with what you see, depending on which tailwater you call home. Wolf Creek Dam is still blowing water around the clock. Our Kentucky neighbors need a break!

I talked to Lily Renzetti twice yesterday. She and her husband Andy own the fine company that make my favorite fly tying vises and tools. Lily has been my friend for a long time. We laugh a lot when we talk. She sent us a credit memo. I though she made a mistake and it actually belonged to another dealer. She proved to me she was correct.  

I heard yesterday, there was a rumor, Paula and I sold the business. That could not be further from the truth. I love my work. This store is my passion. Serving fly fishing customers is what I enjoy most.

The rumor probably started when I moved my office to our home. There, I could work without interruptions, and hopefully get more done. This was also a test, to see how the store would function should something happen to me.

I moved back several months ago and took over some of the departments a year ago. I’m here every day and enjoying every minute of it. I am usually at work between 6:30 and 6:45 am.

I don’t think I will ever retire. What would I do?

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

Byron Begley
July 17, 2019

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com