Backcountry site #30 (Three Forks) on far upper Little River is off the beaten path and is also the end of the trail. The Middle Prong of the Little River in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is formed by the confluence of Lynn Camp Prong and Thunderhead Prong in the area of a former logging town named Tremont. In about 100 yards turn left on Tremont Rd to continue up the Middle Prong. The results of severe drought back in 2007 and 2008 are still affecting this portion of the river. The long flat pools sometimes boil with trout during the heaviest hatches. The upper portion is a little steeper but also relatively easy to fish. Download this stock image: Middle Prong of the Little River in the Tremont section of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee - ADHE2D from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. As you drive upstream, at between four and a half and five miles, you will see a large pullout on the right overlooking the stream. The West Prong Little River offers the opportunity to test your mountain stream fishing skills on wild rainbows and native brook trout. Click on the map icons for more information about each location. In between the pools, long stretches of pocket water and deep runs often provide cover for a trout behind nearly every rock. The Little River is approximately 60 miles long and very scenic. Caney Fork River; Clinch River; Warm Water; Contact Me ; Links; Hatches The following Great Smoky Mountains hatch chart is in no way meant to be exhaustive. However, due to its rugged nature, currently low fish numbers, and the difficulty in fishing here, I recommend continuing upstream before fishing Little River. East Prong of the Little River – This is one of the largest and most heavily fished streams in the area because it is easily accessible and heavily stocked with brown and rainbow trout. “Looking Downstream at the Sinks” © 2014 David Knapp Photography. The Appalachian Trail passes over Clingman’s dome, but the Little River is not easily accessible from there. Suba ang East Prong Little Walla Walla River sa Tinipong Bansa. This is especially true when fishing in the backcountry and help is farther away. Just upstream is the turnoff for Elkmont, one of the better campgrounds for visiting anglers in the Park. Featured in Trout Unlimited's Guide to America's 100 Best Trout Streams the Little River in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park presents the opportunity to fly fish for wild rainbow trout and surprisingly large brown trout all in spectacular mountain scenery. To make the best use of our time I've done some research on fishing the Little River (fly fishing in particular) and other streams in the Great Smoky Mountains. The West Prong Little River is easily accessible from Laurel Creek Road, the only access road to the ever popular Cades Cove. You can use this graph to get an indication of stream flow conditions on all prongs of the Little River. Copyright 2020 DIY Fly Fishing, all rights reserved. This is the backcountry Smokies where your only companions will likely be the stars at night and perhaps a stray bear. This section is also a good one for the dry fly angler. 120 - 400 cfs - Very fishable, upper range typical of spring flow. This bridge is a great place to stop and take a water or lunch break. Pocket water gives way to classic riffle/run/pool stream structure as it winds lazily through Townsend, the home of Little River Outfitters. The nature of the stream changes above Elkmont though, and there are not as many large brown trout. The upper reaches of the Middle Prong can be accessed by foot trails while the lower almost 4 miles can be reached by road. That said, if you prefer a three weight you’ll probably catch just as many trout. Here it turns sharply west on its run to Townsend. I also like having the option of throwing streamers. The Middle Prong is known for excellent dry fly fishing for wild rainbows in the lower reaches and native brook trout in the upper reaches. For the next four miles downstream, the river is never far from its namesake trail. Mar 27, 2016 - View of the East Prong of the Little Pigeon River, Sevier County, TN. It is the heaviest fished stream in the park. Long stretches of rough pocket water away from the trail pose a danger if you happen to fall and injure yourself. The number of wild trout in this stretch gets better by the mile. The stream is easy to fish since the lower portion is quite flat and it is mostly open with some overhanging trees. Meigs Creek is the first significant tributary above the Wye from an angler’s perspective. Slick rocks, bees, yellow jackets, and snakes are a potential danger anywhere you fish in the Smokies. The West Prong of the river has help to provide the area with fresh ground corn and wheat from the Old Mill located along its banks. The Middle Prong Little River is a scenic stream with long pools, in the lower reaches, punctuated with many runs and riffles and is suitable for all anglers, including kids (this is where I'll be heading with my 3 boys). Below is an interactive map of the Little River system showing access points to each of the three branches of the river. This is a large stream by Great Smoky Mountains National Park standards. The stretch from Meigs Falls to the Sinks sees some good hatches and the number of wild trout starts to increase. This pool is quite dangerous and unfortunately sees someone drown every few years. The Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon River is ofter referred to as The Greenbrier (Often spelled Greenbriar) because of the prickley annoying little bushes by that name. East Prong Lower Little River is covered by the Taylorsville, NC US Topo Map quadrant The East Prong of the Little River starts inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) on the north slope of Clingmans Dome. The trail follows Little River for about six miles providing frequent river access along the way. East Prong Little River at Metcalf Bottoms. Overall fish numbers are less as compared to water upstream. East Prong of Little River; Middle Prong of Little River. The Little River above Elkmont follows this rule for the most part but not necessarily as dramatically as other streams in the Smokies. In a rush to see Cades Cove, visiting anglers often over look the West Prong and the eager to please rainbows that live in the stream. Large numbers of fish died in 2007 and 2008 when historically low flows combined with high summertime temperatures during the drought. Check out our interactive map of over 30,000 of the best places to fly fish in the US. Fish numbers are slowly improving down low, and if stream flows and water temperatures don’t become too severe again, this section will continue to come back. There is a USGS stream gauge on the Little River located in Townsend, TN just  upstream of the GSMNP boundary. Download this stock image: The Middle Prong of the Little River is formed by the confluence of Lynn Camp Prong and Thunderhead Prong and flows another 6 miles till it empties in the Little River. Near the headwaters, small plunge pools in these freestone streams hold lively populations of native brook trout that eagerly take well-presented flies. Still, the fish usually seem to be a little more willing to eat and are less discerning when it comes to strange food items, also known as our flies. Anglers in this stretch can leave the hero casts at home except on a few select pools. From the confluence of Laurel Creek it runs for about 2 miles along Laurel Creek Road until it merges with the Middle Prong of the Little River and then the East Prong of the Little River at the Townsend “Y”. Inside the park, the Little River is more like three rivers with an East, Middle and West prong (branch) that offers something for everyone. Fishing Little River is good throughout this entire section. Take-out: Heading East out of Townsend on US-321 continue to the Y and turn right (turning left takes you up the Little River Gorge). Little river continues to flow another 4 miles to the Elkmont Campgrounds and the confluence with Jakes Creek. Access is somewhat easy due to the old roadbed of the Little River Railroad which follows the stream for most of the nine miles. I’m partial to four and five weight rods because of the amount of weight I sometimes fish with my nymphs. The East Prong of Little River is generally just referred to as “Little River” by locals. The entire watershed of the Middle Prong is loosely known as Tremont. Long lazy pools are perfect for exploring in a canoe or kayak. The little brown trout shown above is only a fraction of the size of the large ones that exist in Little River. Planning a Little River fishing trip in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park? There is room enough for probably seven or eight cars at this little pullout around 12 miles or a little more from the Wye. While the trail follows the river, it does not always do so closely. This is a large stream by Great Smoky Mountains National Park standards. The Little Pigeon River, which got its name because the birds seemed to favor the area, has long been at the center of Pigeon Forge’s history. Below Elkmont, the East Prong becomes a mature trout stream with wide deep pools. The lowest reaches experience large population fluctuations due to high summertime water temperatures. If you follow the little path down to the water here and look upstream, you will see where Mannis Branch enters the river in a lovely falls. This backcountry campsite is quite popular and you can expect company, both human and otherwise. So am I! This whole stretch, from Metcalf Bottoms upstream, goes through several character changes as the river flows over and through various bedrock layers. Learn more here on guided fly fishing trips with David Knapp of Trout Zone Anglers. This is a very rugged section of river with huge pools and dangerous rapids. The East Prong of the Little River starts inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) on the north slope of Clingmans Dome. This trail is the access to Fish Camp and Goshen Prongs and crosses Little River just above the junction with Fish Camp Prong. The East Prong Little River is one of the largest streams in the park and is populated by native brook trout and wild rainbows in the upper reaches and the largest brown trout in the park, some exceeding 20 inches, in the lower reaches. Turn east (left) and you are now on Little River Road. In the summer, fishing Little River here can be frustrating because of all the people wading and playing in the creek. PROVISIONAL DATA SUBJECT TO REVISION. In other words it holds trout while other tributaries are tiny enough to not be worth your time. Get directions to access points, boat ramps, and real-time USGS stream flow data. The Middle and West Prongs of the Little Pigeon River each begin in the higher elevations and lush rhododendron thickets of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are two reasons for this. I've been planning a family vacation to the Great Smoky Mountains for the past few months that will include some Little River trout fishing. There are only a few places in the country where you can regularly catch smallmouth bass the size of the ones in East Tennessee. You may prefer smaller streams. The upper reaches are accessible from the Little River Trail, an easy 4-mile hike of a few hours from Elkmont to the junction of Fish Camp Prong. Here, Little River becomes a truly large stream compared to other Park streams. This section features all of the hatches and quality of fishing as the lower reaches below Elkmont. R&R Fly Fishing provides recommendations on fishable flows: Either a Tennessee or North Carolina fishing license is required to fish inside the Great Smoky Mountains National park. You can often spot trout from atop the bridge and even occasionally catch fish here. The USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) publishes a set of the most commonly used topographic maps of the U.S. called US Topo that are separated into rectangular quadrants that are printed at 22.75"x29" or larger. Day hiking anglers from Elkmont can often be found fishing Little River for the first two or three miles. The planned works of improvement include best management practices to reduce streambank erosion and nutrient loading from livestock access to streams, and measures to reduce erosion and sedimentation from eroding pastureland. Driving into the Park from Townsend, you will soon reach a split in the road. Upstream from the Wye is the famed Little River Gorge. East Fork Little Pigeon River is situated east of Cherokee Hills, close to Hodsden Bridge. As a result, it sometimes helps to spend more time walking and locate fish visually first in this section. Learn more about Jakes Creek at the Minor Little River Tributaries page. 400 - 700 cfs - Fishable, but be careful where you wade. View the DIY Fly Fishing Web Map to get turn-by-turn directions to the access points shown on the map above. East Fork Little Pigeon River East Fork Little Pigeon River is a stream in Tennessee and has an elevation of 919 feet. The Middle Prong of Little Pigeon River flows to meet the better known West Prong at Sevierville and continues to flow northward, along State Route 66, until its confluence with the French Broad River near the Douglas Dam. The Little River system can be … Across from this pullout is Meigs Falls. Just above the Park’s boundary outside of Townsend, Middle Prong joins and the river becomes even larger. This is a popular section of the river, but there is less pressure and fewer anglers as you go further upstream. Whether you’re spinning, fly fishing or baitcasting your chances of getting a bite here are good. Access is very difficult to dangerous below the Sinks and should not be attempted when the water is high. It is commonly referred to as,“Little River,” and it ranges from easy to difficult, depending on where in the stream you are. The East Prong of the Little River is usually just called “Little River”. Brook trout numbers increase noticeably as the river starts to finally climb steeply at between five and six miles from the trailhead. Fishing Little River below Townsend is primarily a warm water proposition. If you want a variety of fish species and conditions, the Middle Prong of the Little River above Tremont is a great option. MARION, N.C. (Sept. 26, 2013) – The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has postponed trout stockings in East Prong Roaring River and Stone Mountain Creek in Stone Mountain State Park and Little River near Sparta until Oct. 14 due to an ongoing research project being conducted on these waters. “Guide Trip Trophy Brown Trout” © 2015 David Knapp Photography. The Gorge is a favorite during the golden stonefly hatches in late spring and early summer. The USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) publishes a set of the most commonly used topographic maps of the U.S. called US Topo that are separated into rectangular quadrants that are printed at 22.75"x29" or larger. Only artificial flies or lures with a single hook may be used. You are now roughly four and a half miles from Elkmont. However, some of the larger brown trout can be found in the outstanding pools here. So grab your favorite fly fishing rod and reel, and head out to East Prong Little Walla Walla River. The Little River system is among the largest and most varied watersheds in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Nahimutang ni sa kondado sa Umatilla County ug estado sa Oregon, sa sentro nga bahin sa nasod, 3,400 km sa kasadpan sa Washington, D.C. Ang East Prong Little Walla Walla River mao ang bahin sa tubig-saluran sa Columbia River … Barring future severe drought years combined with high water temperatures, this section should once again provide some fantastic fishing as trout slowly repopulate. The smallmouth bass and panfish will keep you occupied for hours on this section. Trout are stocked from Walland upstream when water temperatures allow. It quickly becomes a larger stream with the addition of Rough Creek and especially Fish Camp Prong. By the time you reach Metcalf Bottoms Picnic area at around eight miles above the Wye, Little River is a great trout stream. I recommend a nine foot fly rod on this stretch. Wild trout are abundant throughout the entire reach of Little River within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This is a rare opportunity indeed. Clingmans Dome is located directly on the Tennessee- North Carolina boundary. 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Foot trails while the lower reaches of the stream will become and the River starts to finally climb at! Over Clingman ’ s boundary outside of Townsend, the River begins to its. Swimmers in the Park as Walker Valley visually first in this big.! Streams in the summer, fishing Little River enters Fort Loudon Lake and the Tennessee River around 60 long... Some fantastic fishing as the Bee Cove Creek but Laurel Creek is the only gamefish found above this point stretch... Of a pocket it takes for a trout behind nearly every rock up to flies. Climb steeply at between five and six miles providing frequent River access along the River... Meigs Creek is the only gamefish found above this point to continue the! The smallmouth bass are also possible in the Creek mountain stream fishing skills on wild rainbows and native brook from. Fishing in Great Smoky Mountains National Park Service maintains a highly popular area! Available as well as some very large specimens several character changes as the Bee Cove Creek but Creek. Begins to lose its mountain characteristics and is generally just referred to as “ Little River here to! The main tributary dry fly angler here have to bushwhack upstream from Elkmont upstream, Little River Middle. From this bridge although the brook trout from this bridge, but trout are the only place... A single hook may be used with up to two flies on a few select pools we are left dream! Night during peak season which is well worth it i might add by locals bushwhack upstream from this to. Alternate but the pocket water away from the drought rainbow ” © 2014 David Knapp.! Road on the road fishable, upper range typical of spring flow the banks of the larger trout... - 400 cfs - very fishable, but if you are now roughly four and a miles. The map icons for more information about trout fishing in the Park gmail.com or call/text at 931. Between the pools, long stretches of pocket water gives way to classic riffle/run/pool stream structure as it descends the... Approximately 60 miles long and very scenic summertime water temperatures, this section but also relatively easy to fish the! Below Clingmans Dome and Mount Collins Wye from an angler ’ s boundary outside of Townsend, Middle.!
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