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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:44 am, the temperature is 65.3 degrees.

Today will be sunny and hot with no chance for rain predicted and a high temperature around 90 degrees. Tomorrow and Sunday will be more of the same but with a chance for afternoon thunderstorms. Rain is likely Monday.

Little River is flowing at 105 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.62 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 130 cfs. The water temperature is 68.4 degrees this morning.

Most streams in the Smokies have receded to below normal again. Water temperatures are warm in the low elevations. Fish higher where the water is cooler. Fish the broken water in riffles, runs and plunge pools. Dry flies and nymphs will work for you. A dry and nymph dropper rig is a good choice. Try a buggy looking terrestrial dry fly pattern with a Green Weenie dropper.

Stealth and good fly presentation are essential to your success in these low water conditions.

Lowland rivers are flowing low again. It will be sunny today so fishing will be best early or late. Choose a river that has plenty of tree canopy and you will find shaded water to fish during the day. Smallmouth bass, rock bass and panfish will be found in the deeper water. Try poppers or foam floating flies and switch to streamers or nymphs if the top water offerings are not working.

There are several tailwater wade and boat fishing options today. Check the TVA website from the links below to see what your options are. In most cases, you will find periods of no to low generation early, with turbines running later today.

Lake fishing will be best early when the sun is off the water. I would go early, launch at daybreak, and fish the banks with poppers, foam floating flies, streamers or swimming nymphs. As the sun rises, move to shaded banks. Winds will be light today. It is going to be hot.

Fish on the ponds early or late using poppers, foam floating flies, streamers or swimming nymphs.

Hatch Magazine released an article on their website announcing fishing closures or restrictions on many rivers in Montana, due to low flows and warm water. You can read the article by CLICKING HERE. Fishing restrictions have been enacted by other states, due to the prolonged and intense drought in the west.

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

Byron Begley
July 23, 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