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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:14 am, the temperature outside is 60.4 degrees.

Today will be partly sunny with a high temperatures near 77 degrees, dropping into the 50’s tonight. It will be a little warmer tomorrow through Friday, during the day, but still cooling to the 50’s at night. Saturday and Sunday will be cooler, with highs in the low 70’s and lows in the 40’s. There is a chance for rain Saturday. Otherwise, the balance of the week will be dry.

Little River is flowing at 34.4 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.17 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 82 cfs. The water temperature is 67.6 degrees this morning.

Rain fell in the Little Pigeon River watershed yesterday. Flow is currently 104 cfs, 1.21 feet, compared to median flow of 144 cfs.

It also rained in the Oconaluftee River watershed yesterday morning and last night. Flow is 278 cfs, 1.52 feet, which compares to median flow of 188 cfs. The water temperature is 64.4 degrees at the Birdtown gauge site.

Tellico River is flowing at 40.8 cfs, .58 feet, compared to median flow of 81 cfs.

It rained late yesterday in the Cataloochee watershed. Flow there is 57.9 cfs, compared to median flow of 43 cfs. The water temperature is 60.8 degrees.

As you can see, some streams in the Smokies are flowing above, at or near normal, while others, including Little River are not.

Water temperatures are falling and they will continue to drop as the week progresses. You will be able to fish the lower elevation streams today or tomorrow, depending on how low you want to fish. Look for temperatures in the 60’s.

I overheard some anglers talking about fishing on the North Carolina side of the Park yesterday, including one guide. The water was higher there yesterday, like it is today.

The trout are actively feeding. They are also spooky due to the low water. Stay hidden from them and you will catch more. Dry flies and nymphs will work. Presentation and getting a good drift is more important than fly choices this time of the year. I would still use terrestrial imitations.

Lowland river fishing is probably fine, depending on where you go. Lower Little River is low. The only trout stocking I have heard about in the lowland rivers is in North Carolina. TWRA should be stocking those rivers here, soon, now that the water temperatures are falling.

If you plan to fish the lakes with fly fishing gear, go early or late and fish where the sun is off the water. I would be at the ramp at daybreak. As the sun rises, find shaded banks to fish.

In our region, there are several tailwater fishing options today. Choose your favorite rivers from the links below to see if you can work with the generation schedules.

We are busy at the shop. October is starting out well.

I did some ordering yesterday, then started searching through fly tying material catalogs to see what new products we should add to the department next. We have the new Hareline Dubbin catalog, and it contains over 800 new fly tying materials and tools.

I am concentrating on tying midges, and working on beefing up the materials in the shop to tie them. Yesterday, I watched some midge tying videos and bought some materials to tie what I learned at home.

I am looking forward to Fly Tyers Weekend next month. I plan to watch several fly tyers who specialize in midges and competition Euro nymphs.

Tying flies, was what sparked my interest in fly fishing when I was a kid. I started tying and fly fishing in 1962. Before I cast my first fly, on my 11th birthday, I tied several first. And, to my surprise, I actually caught fish, largemouth bass. I will never forget that day. Some things you remember all your life. I don’t remember many birthdays in that much detail, but that one was significantly memorable.

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

Byron Begley
October 9, 2019

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com