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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:09 am, the temperature outside is 53 degrees.
  
Today will be mostly sunny with a high temperature in the mid-70’s. The low tonight will be in the mid-40’s. Tomorrow, Columbus Day, will be sunny with a high in the mid-70’s.

Little River is flowing at 25.5 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.10 feet. Median flow for this date is 75 cfs. The lowest recorded flow for this date was 17.0 cfs in 2008. The water temperature is 64 degrees this morning.

All streams in the Park that have USGS gauges are flowing below median flow. Little River is flowing comparatively lower than the other streams.

Stream temperatures have cooled. Fishing in the lower elevation, larger rivers is now fine. That should be the case for the next several days and probably through the end of the year. Temperatures in the Smokies are finally normal, with cooler days and nights expected.

Rain and thunderstorms are likely Tuesday and Tuesday night.

Trout will be hiding in broken water or near cover. Stealth is of the utmost importance to your success. Dress to blend with the forest. Stay low and away from potential trout lies. Don’t let your fly line land on likely spots and get a good drift. Do this and you will catch more trout.

I would try dry flies with a nymph dropper, probably a beetle and a Green or Pink Weenie. Fly choice is not as important as stealth and fly presentation. The trout are hungry and actively feeding. But, they are spooky.

Water temperatures have fallen to a safe level to stock trout in lower Little River, outside the Park. I heard, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is waiting for higher water, which makes sense to me. Ronnie, a friend of mine talked to the folks at the hatchery last week. I heard what I know from Ronnie. They will hold the trout at the hatchery until the river conditions improve further.

Tourism is at a high level right now. A lot of people are camping in the Park and in the campgrounds outside the Park. Fishing for stocked trout in Townsend is usually very good in the Fall months, after the stocking resumes. Maybe that won’t be far off.

Check the flows on your favorite tailwater from the links below. You might find favorable fishing conditions on your river today, whether you are wading or boating.

Despite the drought, our business has been very good in October, and it is up from last year. This has been a good year, though the weather not been favorable at times. Tailwaters were flowing very high earlier this year. Now, the mountain streams are flowing low.

Customers do drive long distances to shop with us. They know we have a great selection and we will take excellent care of them. Many customers shop with us, on days when they are not fishing. Also, we are in the mail order business, and have been for over 20 years. We do not charge for ground shipping.

We are open 7 days. We are open today. Come on by and check us out.

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

Byron Begley
October 13, 2019

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com