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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:58 am, the temperature is 55.9 degrees.
It will be sunny today with a high temperature in the high 60’s falling to the low 40’s tonight. Wind will be out of the southwest at 5 to 10 miles per hour. No rain is predicted. In fact, no rain is predicted through the weekend. Expect highs in the 60’s with lows in the 40’s through the period.
Little River is flowing at 611 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.85 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 78 cfs. The water temperature is 55.9 degrees this morning. We have always considered a gauge reading of 2.5 feet to be on the high side of good. We are nearing that number now.
Little Pigeon River is flowing at 1,130 cfs, 2.94 feet, compared to median flow of 141 cfs.
Oconaluftee River is flowing at 796 cfs, 2.25 feet, which compares to median flow of 210 cfs.
Tellico River is flowing at 469 cfs, 2.07 feet, compared to median flow of 81 cfs.
Cataloochee Creek is flowing at 153 cfs, 2.80 feet, compared to median flow of 41 cfs.
The streams are receding and that will continue every day through the weekend. Flows are high compared to normal. Normal is low in October. Some streams are swift so be careful wading. Some anglers prefer high flows like we have now. Others do not. If you like lower water, wait a day or so.
Water temperatures are well within the trout’s preferred range in the low to mid elevations. Fishing is good. Nymphs and dry flies will work. Most reasonable nymphs will catch trout, including Tellico, Pheasant Tail, Hare’s Ear, Green Weenie, Pink Weenie and Prince patterns. Yellow or orange dry flies are good choices. Stimulators, Elk Hair Caddis and many other dries are good choices.
Lowland rivers are flowing much higher than normal. Wading may be limited in some rivers. Smallmouth bass and other lowland river species will be feeding actively. Top water flies may work. Nymphs and streamers certainly will.
TVA and the Corps will be generating at all the dams I checked this morning. I didn’t view the schedules at every dam, so check the list yourself. You may find your favorite tailwater to be fishable. Watch for sluicing and spilling notices on the pages.
Lake fishing is probably fair. Some lakes may be stained. It will be a little breezy and sunny today. These are not perfect fishing conditions. An overcast day would be better. I would go early when the sun is off the water and cast top water flies, streamers or swimming nymphs. When the sun is high, use sub-surface flies. If they are not working, you may decide to go home or cruise around the lake enjoying this beautiful weather.
October is historically our driest month of the year. Looking at the long term forecast, there is only a slight chance for rain each day through mid-month. That is what we expect. Lucky for us, we are moving into October with much higher than normal flows. The ground is saturated from heavy rain this week and last week. This will bode well for our October fishing in the Smokies and other areas.
Many of our customers and friends are here from out of town this week and next to fish in the Park. They were disappointed by high water but their persistence will pay off with above average flows and great water temperatures now that the streams are receding.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
October 1, 2020
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com |
