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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:47 am, the temperature is 69.3 degrees.
It will be warm today with a high temperature in the upper 80’s and a high chance for showers and thunderstorms. “Widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected today, some of which could produce some heavy downpours and isolated flash flooding” according to the National Weather Service. Thunderstorms are likely tomorrow, especially in the afternoon hours. Wednesday and Thursday will be sunny and hot, with highs in the low to middle 90’s.
Little River is flowing at 83.8 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.52 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 137 cfs. The water temperature is 71.6 degrees at the low elevation site near Townsend.
Some streams in the mountains are flowing lower than normal. There are exceptions this morning. Oconaluftee River rose overnight but it is receding and currently flowing slightly higher than normal. The water was stained but it is clearing. I know that because the USGS site on the river has a turbidity sensor that reports stained or clear water.
Tellico River is flowing higher than normal, but not by much. Cataloochee Creek was affected by rain overnight, but it is receding and flowing higher than normal.
Water temperatures are very warm in the low elevations. Fish higher where the water is cooler. Look for temperatures in the middle 60’s or cooler. Watch for stained and quickly rising water. They may indicate a flash flood condition has occurred upstream and is headed your way. Get out of the stream if you see that happening.
Dry flies and nymphs will work. Try a Yellow Stimulator or terrestrial dry fly. Drop a Green Weenie or bead head nymph off your dry fly. Or, use Euro Nymphing tactics with weighted nymphs. Fish the broken water where the trout are hiding.
Some lowland rivers are flowing low while others could be flowing higher and possibly stained. Conditions may change throughout the day. Smallmouth bass, rock bass and panfish should take poppers or foam floating flies if the water is clear. Switch to streamers or nymphs if the top water flies are not working. Fish the shaded deeper pools and runs.
Generation schedules vary today at the TVA and Corps dams. They will be generating early at some dams, and later today at others. Visit the TVA website from the links below to see what your options are.
I would go lake fishing early. Winds are supposed to be light, except in thunderstorms. Make sure the bilge pump is working in your boat. Heavy rain is possible today. Try casting to the banks with poppers or foam floating flies and be prepared to switch to streamers or swimming nymphs. It tend to fish closer to the ramp on days like this one.
I am hoping for plenty of rain today and tomorrow. We can use it.
I talked to Walter Babb yesterday. We launched a web page almost two weeks ago for him to sell some of the bamboo rods he has made during the past 20 years. So far, he has sold seven of the sixty one that are for sale.
If you are in driving distance, you can go to his home in Sweetwater, Tennessee to see the rods you are interested in and cast them before purchasing. Call him to make an appointment. Or, you can have him ship a rod to you. His contact information is on the web page that you can view by clicking on the link in the last paragraph on this page.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
July 26, 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
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