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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:41 am, the temperature is 55.0 degrees.
This will be another Fall-like day, with a high temperature in the low 70’s and a low tonight in the mid-40’s. Tomorrow will be almost identical to today.
Little River is flowing at 121 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.68 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 71 cfs. The water temperature is 62.2 degrees this morning.
All streams in the Smokies that have USGS gauge sites are flowing higher than normal.
Normal flows in September are low. What you will find today is fairly low water. Stealth is essential to your success. Dress to blend with the forest, avoid being seen by the trout, and you will catch more. It will be sunny today. Don’t cast your shadow over the water you are fishing. Trout notice things like that.
Water temperatures are falling to the trout’s preferred range, even in the low elevations. Trout are actively feeding. Dry flies and nymphs are working.
Lowland river water levels are falling, though they are still higher than normal in September. Fishing will be best early or late when the sun is off the water. If you are fishing a river with good tree canopy, fishing may be good all day. Cast to the shaded areas in deeper water. Poppers, foam floating flies and hair bugs will work for smallmouth bass, rock bass and other species.
There are some tailwater fishing options in the area for wading, especially early. There are more options if you are boating. The TVA website mentions generator unit testing is possible today at Norris Dam, resulting in flows between 700 to 800 cfs. The Corps is sluicing at Wolf Creek Dam in Kentucky. I’m not sure why. I suppose they are trying to lower the lake. The lake level is currently 14.52 feet below full pool.
Lake fishing will be best early and late when the sun is off the water. I would launch at daybreak and fish until mid-morning. As the sun rises, fish the shaded banks with poppers, foam floating flies, hair bugs, streamers or swimming nymphs.
This is going to be a beautiful Fall-like day. Tomorrow will be nice too. If you plan to fish the higher elevations today or tomorrow, throw in some warmer clothing just in case. Tonight, we will see low temperatures in the 30’s in the high elevations.
We were busy at the shop yesterday. A lot of anglers took advantage of the nice weather and went fishing. They probably did very well. It was overcast most of the day. Fishing conditions were very good.
Tuesday is the first day of Fall!
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
September 20, 2020
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com |
