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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:12 am, the temperature outside is 69.3 degrees.

It will be warm today, in the mid 80’s with a chance for showers and thunderstorms. The chances for thunderstorms are low today, but high tonight. Thunderstorms are likely tomorrow.

Rain fell in the area yesterday, causing the streams to rise but not too high for good fishing today. Flows in the Smokies are very good for the month of August.

Little River is flowing at 246 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.11 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 89 cfs. The water temperature is 68.0 degrees this morning.

Little Pigeon River is flowing at 512 cfs, 2.14 feet, compared to median flow of 168 cfs.

Oconaluftee River is flowing at 642 cfs, 2.04 feet, which compares to median flow of 200 cfs for this date.

Tellico River is flowing at 323 cfs, 1.72 feet, compared to median flow of 90 cfs.

Cataloochee Creek is flowing at 104 cfs, 2.60 feet, which compares to median flow of 47 cfs for this date.

Most streams are receding. Barring heavy rain today, which is unlikely, fishing conditions are good in the mountains. The streams are warm in the low elevations so fish higher where the water is cooler. Dry flies and nymphs will work.

Lowland rivers are flowing higher than normal and most appear to be in good shape. Stained water in the lower reaches is possible but I don’t think that will be the case today. I can’t be sure. Barring any heavy rain today, fishing should be good in these rivers. I would cast poppers, hair bugs or foam floating flies in shaded areas, or go early or late when the sun is off the water.

I checked expected flows at several dams this morning and found tailwater fishing options below some, especially early. Visit the TVA website from the links below to see what your opportunities are today.

Lake fishing is fair. Go early and hit the banks with foam floating flies, poppers or hair bugs. Switch to streamers or swimming nymphs if the topwater action is slow. It may be partly cloudy today which is beneficial to those of us who fish the lakes with fly rods.

I have done most of my lake fishing on the Little Tennessee River impoundments where the water is typically very clear. I seldom do well on sunny days. The smallmouth bass I target and other species tend to move deep when the sun is on the water in these clear lakes. I have always chosen cloudy days or go early when the sun is not glaring down on the water, driving the fish deeper.

The same has been true for me, when floating the tailwaters for smallmouth bass. I prefer overcast skies. You can do very well on the tailwaters on sunny days. If you are fishing with a guide, they know what to use under all conditions. All of my drift fishing on tailwaters has been with guides Josh Pfeiffer and Gary Troutman. I’ve never had a bad day with them. You do need to be willing to switch between topwater flies and streamers as conditions warrant. It is the same when fly fishing on lakes.

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

Byron Begley
August 30, 2020  

NOTICE: FLY TYERS WEEKEND HAS BEEN CANCELLED THIS YEAR.

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com