Fishing Season: Year Round

Little River - TN

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Temperature 65°

Temp:

65°

Water Temp:

58

Orvis Sevierville's Tip of the Week

Waters temps are pretty decent and flows are not looking bad for this week. Keep an eye out for thunderstorms this week!! With the warmer outside temps, various hatches are out! Adams and terrestrials are out in full force, keep an eye out for other hatches on the water. Yellow stone flies were out the past few days and fish have been loving them.

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Map of Little 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

Nymph with small and dark patterns have been a good choice for subsurface, Adams and chubbies have been a good alternative for top water. Keep an eye out for hatches on the warmer days this week, yellow stone flies are out on the water!

Local Species Available Year Round

  • Fish Icon

    Trout

Orvis Sevierville's Recommended Fly Patterns

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

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Elk Wing Caddis Black 16-18
Blue Quill Olive 16-22
Quill Gordon grey 18-22
Tunghead Pheasant Tail Jig brown 18-12
Pats Rubber legs Brown 10-14
Hares Ear Grey 12-16
Yellow Sally Light Yellow 14-20
Adams Parachute Dry Fly Grey 18-12
Mirco Chubby Olive 10-14
Sulfer Light yellow 14-20

Elk Wing Caddis

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Orvis Sevierville's Recommended Gear

Description: About Little River

The Little River system is among the largest and most varied watersheds in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Within its bounds one can find everything from roadside fishing for some of the Park’s largest brown trout, to tiny backcountry streams choked with rhododendrons and native brookies. Wild rainbow trout are also abundant throughout. The Little River system can be broken down into its component branches or “Prongs”. Little River Rd. (Hwy 73) follows the East Prong from where it flows out of the Elkmont Campground to where it meets the Middle Prong (Tremont) and West Prong at the “Y” just inside the Townsend entrance to the Park. The roadside section of the East Prong offers smallmouth bass in its lower reaches. The best trout fishing begins near the series of giant plunge pools known as “The Sinks”, with the largest rainbows and browns frequently found between the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic area and Elkmont Campground. Above the campground the stream narrows and is more rugged in character. The Middle Prong of the Little (known as Tremont) is similar in nature to the East Prong above Elkmont Campground. Both follow old logging railroad beds up their respective mountain valleys, both are medium-sized streams by Smokies standards, and brook trout are present for those anglers who want to invest the time hiking into the backcountry to reach them. The West Prong of the Little is low-gradient, small stream offering tighter casting conditions for feisty, wild rainbows. The West Prong (and its tributary Laurel Creek) flows along the road leading to Cades Cove.

Nearest Airport:

Knoxville, TN (TYS)

Hatches:

Blue quill Quill Gordons BWO Little Black/ Tan Caddis

Best Time to Fish:

Afternoons

Best Stretch:

Metcalf Bottoms to Elkmont Campground and above

Best Access:

Little River Road