Fishing Season: Year Round (Prime: May 1 - October 1)

Little Pigeon River - TN

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Temperature 65°

Temp:

65°

Water Temp:

59

Orvis Sevierville's Tip of the Week

Waters are pretty solid at the moment, fish definitely are hitting well on top water. Water above Gatlinburg is slowly warming up but still nice and cold. Fish are definitely hungry for Dries, worms and nymphs with a collar and/or bead head, colors~ Orange, yellow, purple and red. Adams and yellow stone flies have been a great choice for top water along with a Dun colored abdomen dry flies after a light rain. Chubbies have been a solid alternative for top water if you're looking to spice things up with Terrestrials.

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Map of Little Pigeon River

Water Flow Data

5-Day Outlook as of 5/13/24

Monday, May 13 Day Increasing clouds with a slight chance of a stray shower late. High around 75F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.Chance of rain 20%. Night Cloudy with occasional showers and a few rumbles late at night. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%. Tuesday, May 14 Day Rain showers in the morning with thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. Isolated strong to severe storm. High 75F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. Night Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Low near 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. Wednesday, May 15 Day Scattered showers and thunderstorms around. High around 74F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. Night Mostly cloudy with spotty showers. Chance of rain 30%. Low 60F. Winds light and variable. Thursday, May 16 Day Partly cloudy skies. High 80F. Winds light and variable. Night A slight chance for a few showers late. Low near 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 20%. Friday, May 17 Day Scattered thunderstorms, most likely in the afternoon. High 77F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%. Night Spotty thunderstorms during the evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low around 63F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%. Saturday, May 18 Day Scattered showers and thunderstorms. High 79F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%. Night Partly cloudy with a stray shower. Low 61F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 20%. Sunday, May 19 Day Partly cloudy with a stray shower. High 82F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 20%. Night Cloudy with occasional rain showers. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.

Techniques & Tips as of 5/13/24

Nymphs ranging from sizes 14-18 are working well, hot spot pheasant tails, egg patterns and worms, hares ear with bead heads have had a high success rate the past couple days on the Spur. CDC collar nymphs with some flash have also been a good choice for fish to snack on. In the Park - dry fly action has been great the past few days, Yellow Sally's/ yellow stone flies, small BWO, parachute Adams or Caddis are a good choice for dries. Terrestrials are not a bad route either, Chubbies have been working well on the Spur!

Local Species Available Year Round (Prime: May 1 - October 1)

  • Fish Icon

    Trout

Orvis Sevierville's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Bead Head Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail brown 14-18
Bead Head Woolly Bugger Streamer brown 6-10
Adams grey 12-18
Blue Quill grey 18-20
Yellow Stoneflies Yellow 14-18
Pheasant Tail Brown 12-18
Yellow Sally sulfer 14-20
Adams Parachute Dry Fly grey 12-18
Mirco Chubby Olive and Yellow 10-14
Hares ear Grey 14-18

Bead Head Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail

Wet fly patterns don't get any better than this.

2.49

Item #164J

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Orvis Sevierville's Recommended Gear

Description: About Little Pigeon River

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. Near the headwaters, small plunge pools in these freestone streams hold lively populations of native brook trout that eagerly take well-presented flies. The Middle Prong begins near Ramsey Cascades and gains significant flowage with the introduction of Porter's Creek upstream of Greenbrier, producing wonderful habitat for naturally reproducing populations of brown and rainbow trout. As the West Prong flows north out of the Smokies into the lower elevations, it parallels Newfound Gap Road, a major thoroughfare in the Park, offering anglers ample access to the stream. The Prongs meet up near downtown Sevierville, at which point the Little Pigeon becomes one of the Southeast's best spring smallmouth fisheries.

Nearest Airport:

Knoxville (Tyson-McGee Airport)

Hatches:

Olive caddis Little Black Caddis Blue Winged Olive Pheasant tail Stonefly Adams Hare's ear

Best Time to Fish:

Morning to afternoon

Best Stretch:

lower elevation

Best Access:

quiet walkways