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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:48 am, the temperature is 70.9 degrees.
Today will be partly sunny with a high temperature around 84 degrees. We have a good chance for thunderstorms today. Tomorrows forecast is identical to today. More rain is predicted Monday as a cold front moves into the area. It will be cooler next week.
Little River is flowing at 141 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.76 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 82 cfs. The water temperature is 68.5 degrees this morning.
Most streams in the Smokies are flowing at or above normal today. We may see spikes in the flows this weekend due to scattered thunderstorms.
Dry flies and nymphs are working. Stealth and fly presentation are essential to your success. Stay hidden from the trout and get a good drift.
Lowland rivers are flowing above normal in most cases. Fly fishing for smallmouth bass has been good, especially in shaded areas or when the sun is off the water completely, early or late. Poppers, hair bugs and foam floating flies are working well.
I spoke to Wayne yesterday. He lives on Little River and fly fishes for smallies often. We discussed hair bugs and why they are so effective. One of our friends is a warmwater fly fishing expert. He thinks bass hold on to hair bugs longer, and are more likely to be hooked, because the flies are soft, like a live insect. That may be true. I like the way they land on the water, softly, and the fact that they float in the surface film and not higher on the surface.
This is a great time of the year to fish with surface flies for smallmouth bass in the free flowing lowland rivers.
I am seeing some very good tailwater fishing opportunities below the dams today. Check the TVA website to see what your options are.
It will be cloudy to partly cloudy today which is certainly a benefit for fly fishing on the lakes. I would still go early. There is no doubt, I would start by casting to the banks with hair bugs, poppers or foam floating flies. Watch for thunderstorms.
I believe smallmouth bass tend to prefer the soft presentation of hair bugs and foam flies on the quiet waters in lakes. Largemouth bass love the noise created by hard bodied poppers. That has been my experience. Yours may be different.
Fishing for smallmouth bass on the tailwaters and in choppy water in the lowland rivers is different. There, smallmouth bass are attracted to the noise of poppers. Again, that has been my experience.
Fishing may be really good this weekend for many reasons, especially due to the chance for overcast skies at times. On the other hand, we may see temporarily stained water caused by the predicted thunderstorms. I would go!
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
September 12, 2020
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com |
