Fishing Season: Year Round

Little River - TN

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

70

Smoky Mountain Gillies's Tip of the Week

Water temps are on the rise, Fish early in the morning and late in the evening. With the low water try dropping down to a size 18 nymph or smaller.

Directions open in app

Map of Little River

Water Flow Data

Tidal Conditions

5-Day Outlook as of 6/18/22

Monday: A few afternoon clouds but mainly sunny. High 90F. Winds light and variable. Monday Night: Clear Skies with a few passing clouds. Low 64F. Winds light and variable. Tuesday:Mostly sunny. Near record high temperatures. High 97F. Winds light and variable. Tuesday Night: Mostly clear skies. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Wednesday: HOT! Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. Near record high temps. High of 99F. Winds light and variable. Wednesday Night: Mostly clear. Low 74F. Winds light and variable. Thursday: Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm possible. Near record High. High near 98F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 20%. Thursday Night: Isolated thunderstorms during evening, then partly cloudy overnight. Partly cl Low 73F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 20%. Friday: Partly cloudy. Stray shower or storm. . High around 98F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 20%. Friday Night: Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms before midnight. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40% Saturday: Sunny Skies. High of 88F. Winds NNE at 5-10 MPH Saturday Night: Clear skies. Low 61F. Winds NNE at 5-10 MPH. Sunday: Sunshine. High around 89F. Winds light and variable.

Techniques & Tips as of 6/18/22

Try Fishing a large dry with a heavy nymph dropper

Local Species Available Year Round

  • Fish Icon

    Trout

Smoky Mountain Gillies's Recommended Fly Patterns

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

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Adam's Purple Parachute N/A 12-14
Tunghead Pheasant Tail Jig N/A 14-16
Adams N/A 14-18
Stimulator Yellow 10-16
Pats Rubber legs Brown 10-14
Chubby Chernobyl Yellow 10--14
Yellow Sally N/A 14-16
CDC Caddis N/A 14-16

Adam's Purple Parachute

Tie on this deadly purple parachute dry fly to show trout something unique.

2.49

Item #7R6K

Buy Now

Smoky Mountain Gillies'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:

Caddis Stoneflies Yellow sallys Sulphurs Lt. Cahills Ants

Best Time to Fish:

All Day Long!

Best Stretch:

Metcalf Bottoms to Elkmont Campground

Best Access:

Little River Road