Fishing Season: Year Round

Little River - TN

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

60

Orvis Sevierville's Tip of the Week

It's gonna be a mix of rain and sunshine this week so plan those fishing adventures accordingly! Hatches have been out on the water so keep an eye out for top water action! Nymphs are the way to go this week. Stone flies and CDC collard flies have been working well along with some bugger patterns. For top water, caddis and terrestrials have been working well.

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Map of Little River

Water Flow Data

5-Day Outlook as of 5/21/25

oday - Sunny, with a high near 77. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Tonight - Mostly clear, with a low around 55. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Thursday - A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 5pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Thursday Night - A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then a chance of showers between 11pm and 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Friday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 67. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Friday Night - Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Saturday - A 20 percent chance of showers after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. Calm wind. Saturday Night - A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Sunday - Showers likely, mainly after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Sunday Night - Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 2am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Memorial Day - Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 76. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Monday Night - Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Tuesday - A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72.

Techniques & Tips as of 5/21/25

Some caddis and sulfurs have been spotted on the water! We've been having a good amount of luck on larger stoneflies such as Patt's rubber legs. Alternative flies are - egg patterns, CDC collared nymphs and midges. If your able to swing some buggers or some single hook streamers in those deep pools, it's not a bad route to take either.

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 Tan 12-18
Adams Grey 12-16
Quill Gordon grey 12-16
Tunghead Pheasant Tail Jig brown 10-18
Pats Rubber legs Brown 8-12
Hares Ear Grey 12-16
Yellow Sally Light Yellow 14-18
Adams Parachute Dry Fly Grey 12-18
Stimulator Olive 8-14
Sulfer Light yellow 14-20

Elk Wing Caddis

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Item #0378

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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

Nearest Airport:

Knoxville, TN (TYS)

Hatches:

Pheasant tails Midges Hares ear Woolly Buggers Duracells

Best Time to Fish:

Afternoons

Best Stretch:

Metcalf Bottoms to Elkmont Campground and above

Best Access:

Little River Road