Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:49 am, the temperature is 38 degrees.
Today will be cloudy early then gradually becoming sunny with a high near 70 degrees. The low temperature tonight will be in the low 40’s. Tomorrow will be mostly sunny with a high in the low 70’s and a low in the low 50’s. Rain showers are likely Sunday and Sunday night, through Monday morning.
Little River is flowing at 46.9 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.27 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 91 cfs. The water temperature is 51.8 degrees at the low elevation gauge site near Townsend.
Streams in the mountains are flowing low. Water temperatures are very good in the low to middle elevations and possibly in the high elevations. Most trout are hiding in the broken water though you may see brown trout out in the open in pools, preparing to spawn or spawning.
I think you will do best using a dry fly with a small weighted nymph dropper. Use light tippet and make longer than usual casts to avoid being seen by the trout. Dress to blend with the forest.
Due to the low water conditions, stocked trout will be holding in the deeper pools. Small nymphs will probably work best for you.
Fishing for smallmouth bass in the lowland rivers is fair. Fish in the deep pools where the bass are holding or cruising. Nymphs, hellgrammite patterns, crayfish imitations and possibly streamers are good fly choices.
Lake fishing with fly tackle will be best early today. The predicted cloud cover this morning is an advantage for you. Winds will be calm this morning. Cast to the banks and cover with weighted streamers. Allow your flies to sink deep and retrieve slowly. My fly choices would be a large weighted black Wooly Bugger or a threadfin shad imitation.
There are breaks planned in the generation at a few dams today, including Center Hill, Norris, Wilbur, Dale Hollow and South Holston dams. There may be others. Visit the TVA website to see what tailwater fishing opportunities are available to you today and plan based on the predicted generation schedules.
The long term weather forecast indicates early to mid-November will be warm. The only good chance for rain appears to be Sunday through Monday morning at this point. Maybe the forecast will change.
According to the US Drought Monitor, most areas in East Tennessee are classified as abnormally dry with some areas rated as being in a moderate drought. Monroe County and other counties to our south are classified as being in a Severe Drought.
Using the Knoxville Airport as a reference, rainfall is down 2.48 inches from normal since September 1st. Rainfall is 1.45 inches below normal in October. Fishing in the free flowing streams and rivers has been fair but experienced anglers are catching trout in the mountains using their learned low water tactics.
Now is a good time to learn low water fly fishing tactics which will prove useful for you now and in the future.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
October 28, 2022
For the first time since 2019, we will be holding our Free Fly Tying Demonstrations on Saturdays. The demonstrations will begin at 10 am and last until 2 pm. You do not need a reservation. Just show up and enjoy. These demonstrations will kick off November 5th, and last through mid-December. Then, they will resume in January.
Mike Adams will be tying on Saturday November 5th. Mike is a retired fly fishing guide who lives in upper East Tennessee. He is an excellent fly tyer who has come up with some unique trout patterns to share with you. When Mike demonstrates at the shop, we always have a big crowd.
Bill Boyd will be tying on Saturday November 12th, with his granddaughter “Half Hitch”. Bill lives in Dayton Tennessee. He has been a regular, with his dad and wife at many fly tying demonstrations, Troutfest and other fly tying shows. You can learn more about Bill on the Dubbing Teasers website by CLICKING HERE.
Mike Bone will be tying on Saturday November 19th. Mike has been guiding, mostly on the Clinch River and Holston River trout tailwaters for decades. He is also an accomplished smallmouth bass guide. Everyone likes Mike. You will too. CLICK HERE to visit Mike’s website.
Saturday December 3rd - Jimmy Jones will be demonstrating today. Jimmy lives in Maryville. He is an avid Smokies angler and golfer. He ties some very interesting and unique flies that work very well in the Smokies.
I have learned new techniques, watching Jimmy tie.
Saturday December 10th - Walter Babb will be demonstrating his unbelievable fly tying skills. Many of you know Walter. Most people in the southeast have at least heard of him. Walter is a legend. He loves tying Catskills trout patterns. He is also a well known bamboo rod maker. Walter tells good funny stories. This demonstration will be well attended.
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com
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