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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:49 am, the temperature is 68.4 degrees.

They say we have a good chance for rain today and each day through Tuesday night. I’ll believe it when I see it. Though we got a trace of rain in Townsend yesterday, those predicted thunderstorms missed us again. Here is what I read on the National Weather Service website about the predicted rain today: “Widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected again today and tonight as a cold front slowly moves into the area. Locally heavy rainfall looks to be the primary threat, leading to the possibility of localized flooding”.

It will be cooler through Tuesday, with highs in the low 80’s.

Little River is flowing at 103 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.61 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 117 cfs. The water temperature is 69.8 degrees this morning. Little River did rise somewhat yesterday but it is receding now.

Oconaluftee River is rising but still flowing slightly below normal. Little Pigeon River is flowing below normal. Tellico River got a bump in the flow yesterday and last night. That river is still flowing higher than normal. The water level at Cataloochee Creek shot up overnight, but it is receding now and flowing slightly above normal.

I am hoping for rain. The streams are flowing low. Low is normal in July. Water temperatures are very warm in the low elevations. Fish higher where the water is cooler.

A dry fly with a dropper is a good choice. Make my dry a terrestrial bug with a Green Weenie dropper.

I found a short but very good article this morning on the Hatch Magazine website called, “7 Terrestrial Tips”. You should read this one. CLICK HERE.

Most lowland rivers exiting the mountains are flowing fairly low. That may change over the next few days, hopefully. It should be mostly cloudy today. That is good. Poppers and foam floating flies will be a good choice today. Cast them in the deeper pools and runs. I would still go early or late.

I looked at the generation schedules at several dams this morning and found plenty of tailwater fishing opportunities available for wading or boating. Check out the TVA website from the links below to plan your day.

This should be a good lake or pond fishing day, if it really does remain overcast. Winds will be light. Thunderstorms are possible. Try casting poppers or foam floating flies to the banks in the lakes or anywhere in ponds. Switch to streamers or swimming nymphs if the top water flies are not working. You might want to drop a nymph off your popper.

I make my own foam poppers and have for many years. A lot of our customers make their own poppers. In fact, I enlarged the popper making department at the shop and created a category on our online store to sell everything you need and both are doing well. I found something amazing online this morning. It is a video that teaches you and I how to paint our popper bodies in the most unusual way, similar to using an airbrush.

Charlie Craven uses a can of compressed air that he bought at Office Depot. He holds the nozzle of the air can near the tip of a Sharpie and the air blows the ink onto the popper body. You have got to watch this if you have any interest at all. See the video by CLICKING HERE.

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

Byron Begley
July 18, 2021

WALTER BABB MADE BAMBOO FLY RODS FOR SALE – CLICK HERE

Walter is selling a selection of over 50 bamboo fly rods. All but one was made by him. The other one was custom made for Walter by Walton Powell. Read the description of each rod on the list and contact him if you are interested in buying one or more than one. Even if you are not interested in a purchase, this web page is very interesting to read. Walter has made over 285 bamboo rods over the past 20-years. You will be working directly with Walter on a purchase and you can test cast the rods before you buy one at his home. Or, call him and he will ship a rod to you. His contact information is on the web page he and I created.

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com