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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:51 am, the temperature is 62.8 degrees.
We have a high chance for rain today. Light rain is falling now at our house. We may get one half of an inch. Another weather website indicates a lower chance for rain. They are wrong. The high temperature today will be in the high 60’s. The chance for rain tomorrow is low but it still exists.
Though there is a low chance for heavy rain, it could happen. We have been fooled by the weather forecasts often lately. I don’t think it is likely, but you could find stained and rising water in the mountains. I would go.
It will be cloudy today and partly cloudy tomorrow. Anglers love cloudy days.
Little River is flowing at 105 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.67 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 74 cfs. The water temperature is 59.9 degrees.
Most streams in the Smokies are flowing slightly to considerably higher than normal. Normal flows in October are low.
This will be a good fishing day. It is overcast. Water temperatures are very good in the low to mid elevations. Trout are taking dry flies and nymphs. Get a good drift, stay hidden from the trout, don’t spook them with sloppy casts, and you will catch more.
Lowland river fishing is good. Smallmouth bass and other lowland species will be actively feeding today thanks to the warmer than usual water this time of the year. Overcast skies will be helpful. I think you will do well with top water flies. Try poppers, hair bugs or foam floating flies. If they are not working, switch to streamers or nymphs. If you are fishing for stocked trout in these rivers, fishing will be very good today.
There is a possibility for stained water at some point today. I think the chance is low but we never know for sure.
You have some tailwater wade fishing options today in east and middle Tennessee, especially early. There are flows from some dams you can work with. You will have more options if you are boating. Check the TVA website from the links below to see today’s generation schedules.
This should be an ideal lake fishing day due to the overcast conditions. You may get wet. Dress appropriately. The wind will be calm from the west, up to five miles per hour. West wind is good. East wind is bad, but I’m not sure why.
I would start by casting to the banks with poppers, hair bugs or foam floating flies. Switch to streamers or swimming nymphs if the top water flies are not working.
A coyote was howling outside this morning at 4:45 am, my normal time to get out of bed to begin working on this report. When I turned on the lights, the howling stopped. We have not heard or seen many coyotes this year. I wish I could say the same about bears. This has been the “year of the bear” in our valley.
Some of my best friends and I were sitting around the campfire on a hunting trip a few years ago. Wayne asked me, “When you walk out the door at your house, do you always think about bears?” My answer was “No, hardly ever”.
That has changed. This year, when Paula or I walk out the front door we always look to our left, to be certain we won’t have a bear cornered on our front porch. That would not be good. We look around, to see if one is somewhere around the house. Now, my answer to Wayne’s question would be “Yes, always”.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
UPDATE 6:49 AM - CHECK THE USGS GAUGES BEFORE YOU GO. IT IS RAINING FAIRLY HEAVY RIGHT NOW. IF THE STREAMS ARE RISING SHARPLY, THEY COULD BE STAINED.
Byron Begley
October 24, 2020
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com |
