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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:08 am, the temperature outside is 73.4 degrees.
It will be mostly sunny today and hot, with a high temperature in the low 90’s. Thunderstorms are possible this afternoon. It will be somewhat cooler tomorrow through Saturday, with an increased chance for thunderstorms each day. Some storms could produce damaging winds and brief heavy rainfall.
Little River is flowing at 69.2 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.40 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 134 cfs. The water temperature is 74.7 degrees this morning.
Little Pigeon River, Oconaluftee River, Tellico River, Cataloochee Creek and the West Prong of Little Pigeon River at Gatlinburg are flowing at or above normal.
Normal is low right now. Trout will be hiding in broken water, in riffles, plunge pools and deep runs. Staying hidden from the trout is essential to your success.
Water temperature are very warm in the low elevations. Fish the high elevation streams where the water is cooler. Look for temps in the mid-60’s. A dry and nymph dropper rig is a good choice under these conditions. Also, a weighted nymph rig may work as well or better. I would use a foam beetle for my dry and a Green Weenie as a dropper.
Lowland rivers are flowing low. Smallmouth bass and other gamefish can be caught in the deeper pools. Poppers, hair bugs and foam floating flies will produce. Cast to the shaded areas or go early or late. If the fish are not taking your topwater offerings, try nymphs or streamers.
TVA and the Corps of Engineers will be generating or sluicing at most dams today, especially later. You could go early and fish on some tailwaters for a while. Pick from the list below to see what tailwater opportunities are available today.
Fly fishing on the lakes is probably fair. Go early and cast poppers, foam floating flies, hair bugs, streamers or swimming nymphs to the shaded banks. The surface temperatures are very warm in many lakes, so you may do best by fishing deeper. It will be hot. You may prefer a shorter fishing day. Be alert for thunderstorms with strong winds this week.
I don’t know if it is the heat, or tourist season slowed early this year, but there are definitely less people in Townsend, suddenly. We were slow at the shop yesterday. We usually see that in August, not in July.
Fly tying is certainly popular right now. I have had problems keeping the department stocked this year, but availability from our suppliers is improving. To keep the supply chain moving in a positive direction, I have been ordering more often. I used to order from Wapsi, one of our largest suppliers on a weekly bases. Now, I am ordering every four days. Last week, I got three orders from Wapsi. There is one in their facility now, waiting to be filled. I will order again today.
We have a shipment arriving from Whiting Farms today. I will order from them again tomorrow.
I talked to Lily Renzetti yesterday. She and I have been friends for about 25 years. They make fly tying vises and tools at their small plant in Florida. Her husband Andy designs and oversees production of their tools. Lily takes care of everything else. I think they still have eleven people working there, including them. The Renzetti Traveler vise, is touted to be the best selling fly tying vise in the world. You can see them on our online store by CLICKING HERE.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
July 21, 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 |