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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:58 am, the temperature outside is 72.3 degrees.
Today is going to be hot and humid again with a high temperature in the low 90’s. We have a low chance for thunderstorms this afternoon. The chance for rain is greater beginning Tuesday and lasting through the week.
Little River is flowing at 71.0 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.41 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 123 cfs. The water temperature is 74.3 degrees this morning.
Little Pigeon River is flowing below median flow. Tellico River, Oconaluftee River and Cataloochee Creek are flowing at or above normal this morning.
Plan on fishing a high elevation stream where the water is cooler. Look for water temperatures in the mid-60’s. The low elevation streams are very warm. Catching and releasing a trout in these conditions could be lethal to the fish.
The streams are flowing low. Though some are at normal levels, others are not. Stay hidden from the trout and you will catch more. Fish the broken water in riffles, plunge pools and deep runs. A dry and dropper or a weighted nymph rig are both good choices.
Lowland rivers are flowing low. Go early or late. Try poppers, hair bugs or foam floating flies. If they are not working, switch to streamers or nymphs. You will find smallmouth bass and other warmwater species in the deeper pools.
There will be fly fishing opportunities on the tailwaters early. Most dams will be generating this afternoon. You can plan around that. View the TVA website to see what is available for you today.
Lake fishing is probably fair for fly fishing anglers. Go early. Try top water flies and be prepared to switch to streamers or swimming nymphs. Fish the shaded banks early.
Yesterday I mentioned the trend of selling more barbless hooks in our fly tying department. What I failed to mention is, we are continuing to sell more jig hooks and slotted tungsten beads. Following the direction of competition trout anglers, more people are tying and using flies tied on jig hooks. Most are tied weighted using slotted tungsten beads that work well for weighting these hooks. This combination is ideal for creating an anchor fly on your nymph rig.
You can view our selection of jig hooks on our online store by CLICKING HERE. And, you can see the slotted beads we sell by CLICKING HERE. We have more slotted beads arriving tomorrow from Firehole. I hope to have those on the online store later this week.
These flies drift with the hook up under an indicator or fished Euro style. That is supposed to help avoid snagging the bottom of the stream. Competitors believe they catch more trout tied on the weighted jig hooks.
I have been using large jig hooks to tie streamers, especially weighted Wooly Buggers for a long time. I use them when fly fishing for smallmouth bass. I am sold on that idea. I know for sure it works.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
July 19, 2020
NOTICE: FLY TYERS WEEKEND HAS BEEN CANCELLED THIS YEAR. WE ARE PLANNING FOR THE EVENT TO BE HELD IN 2021.
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com |
