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Welcome to the Fishing Report form Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:56 am, the temperature outside is 72.5 degrees.

Thunderstorms with heavy rain blew through early yesterday evening. Rainfall totaled 1.57 inches at a personal weather station near our house. At 10:49 pm, we had a power failure, so more rain could have fallen. It didn’t wake me up so I don’t know.

It will be warm today, with a high in the upper 80’s and a low chance for thunderstorms this afternoon. It could be breezy today. We have a slightly greater chance for rain tomorrow and a much greater chance Monday.

Little River is flowing at 239 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.06 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 132 cfs. The water temperature is 70.5 degrees this morning.

Little Pigeon River is flowing high at the Sevierville gauge, 1,260 cfs, 3.07 feet, compared to median flow of 251 cfs. The river is rising.

Oconaluftee River is flowing at 1,300 cfs, 2.84 feet, compared to median flow of 301 cfs. The river appears to have just peaked.

Tellico River is flowing at 749 cfs, 2.66 feet, compared to median flow of 126 cfs. The river is receding.

Cataloochee Creek is flowing at 184 cfs, 2.92 feet, compared to median flow of 58 cfs. The river is receding.

You may find high and stained water in some streams early this morning. Little River is fishable and safe to wade. There is a low chance rain may raise some streams this afternoon.

I would go today. Look at the flows on your favorite stream and plan accordingly. Dry flies and nymph rigs will work. Fishing could be very good, depending on where you go. Fish in the higher elevations where the water is cooler.

Some lowland rivers are flowing high. Others are not. Most will recede this morning. Tributaries that run through farms in the low elevations may be stained, causing the same in the rivers where they merge and below. Smallmouth bass, rock bass and other warmwater species fishing may be good in some rivers today. Try poppers, foam floating flies and hair bugs. Fish the shaded water. Streamers and nymphs may work well too. Most lowland rivers have USGS gauge sites. Check those before going.

There are some tailwater fishing opportunities today, especially early. Check the TVA website from the links below to plan your day.

The weather websites I check every morning mention wind today, 10 to 15 miles per hour. If they are correct, this may not be a good lake fishing day using fly rods. It is difficult to control a boat with your trolling motor and cast flies when it is that windy. On the other hand, these predictions could be wrong. That is often the case.

I would go early, like right now and be on the water at daybreak. If you are lucky, the wind won’t be bad and you might have cloud cover at times later. There is a chance your efforts will be futile. I would go but be prepared to leave earlier than normal or stay if conditions are good.

A light chop on the water is good. You won’t spook the fish as easily.

I have always started with top water flies during the Summer. My favorites are foam floating flies, but hard bodied poppers and hair bugs may work as well. I believe smallmouth bass like the light landing and low noise you get with a foam fly or hair bug. Largemouth bass seem to be attracted to more noise. If these don’t work switch to a streamer or swimming nymph, especially when the sun is on the water. You will still probably do best fishing the shaded banks.

I hope this turns out to be a good fishing day for you.

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

Byron Begley
August 1, 2020

NOTICE: FLY TYER WEEKEND HAS BEEN CANCELLED THIS YEAR.

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com