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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:49 am, the temperature is 70.7 degrees.

Heavy rain fell in the Townsend area yesterday, amounting to almost an inch during the brief shower.

It is predicted to be cooler today, in the low 80’s, with thunderstorms likely this afternoon. Cooler air will prevail this week. By Wednesday, through the weekend, highs will be in the 70’s with lows falling to the low 50’s.

Little River is flowing at 109 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.63 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 83 cfs. The water temperature is 68.7 degrees this morning.

Little Pigeon River is flowing at 331 cfs or 1.85 feet at the Sevierville gauge. Median flow for this date is 148 cfs.

Oconaluftee River is flowing at 419 cfs, 1.69 feet, compared to median flow of 199 cfs.

Tellico River is flowing at 164 cfs, 1.21 feet, which compares to median flow of 70 cfs.

Cataloochee Creek is flowing at 66.5 cfs, 2.41 feet, compared to median flow of 43 cfs.
 
As you can see, these and probably most streams in the Smokies are flowing higher than normal. They are flowing at good fishing levels currently. More rain is possible today, especially this afternoon. There is a chance for rising and possibly stained water in some streams later today.

Nymphs and dry flies are working well. Fish the broken water in riffles, pockets, plunge pools and deeper runs.

Lowland rivers are flowing higher than normal. Some could still be stained due to the rain yesterday, as tributaries could be muddy. If you happen to encounter stained water, drive further upstream and you may find better fishing conditions. Hair bugs, foam floating flies and poppers are working well for smallmouth bass and other species.

Check the TVA website and you will find favorable flows on some tailwaters in East and Middle Tennessee.

Lake fishing is fair. It is supposed to be partly cloudy today which is good for fly fishing anglers fishing near the surface. Start with poppers, foam floating flies or hair bugs, casting to the shaded banks early. Try streamers or swimming nymphs if the top water flies are not working for you. If it is cloudy, your fishing day will be longer.

The body of a man was found in the Hazel Creek area Friday by hikers. A black bear was feeding on the body. The hikers walked to an area where they found cell service and called authorities. Rangers arrived and killed the bear. The cause of the man’s death has not been determined. You can read more on the KnoxNews website by CLICKING HERE.

Fatal attacks by black bears are extremely rare. During the 20 year period, through 2017, there have been 25 fatal attacks in North America. One occurred in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2000. Another happened in the Cherokee National Forest in 2006.

I have been very close to black bears often, as recently as two or three weeks ago. I only felt threatened once and it was completely my fault. In the early 90’s, I was hiking through the middle of Cades Cove alone. During those days, there were cattle in the Cove. I saw a black animal, thought it was one of the cattle, and I continued walking toward it, not paying any attention to it at all.

It was not until I was about 25 feet from it, that I found I was badly mistaken. It was a bear with two cubs. I froze. She grunted and jumped up and down on her front paws facing me. That scared the heck out of me, needless to say.

She looked back at the cubs that were running away. Then, she turned away from me and did the same thing. Her intent was obvious. She was keeping me away from the cubs so they could escape. The encounter only lasted a few seconds. It seemed longer than that.

The lesson I learned is, when you see something dark out there, assume it is a bear first. Where we live, it probably is a bear. For a while this year, we were seeing them around our house almost daily. Now, they seem to be gone. I saw a sow and her cub last week, on the road while driving home from work.

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

Byron Begley
September 13, 2020

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com