Little River Fly Fishing, Tennessee

Little River is one of the premier trout streams in America. It runs through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and offers fly fishing opportunities galore. Smallmouth bass can be found in the park's lower sections, rainbow and brown trout in its Middle Prong, and brook trout at its headwaters. There are also beautiful hiking trails within its borders. If you want the best fly fishing experience in Little River, plan your trip with Frontier Anglers TN.

Fish Camp Prong of Little River

The Little River is a mountain stream and a home of wild rainbow and brook trout. Beginning as a rugged trail in the backcountry, this stream eventually joins with the Little River.

Little River offers numerous plunge pools and riffles filled with rainbow and brook trout. It provides excellent fly fishing opportunities during spring and fall when heavy hatches of aquatic insects attract trout and smallmouth bass. Its main tributary, Laurel Creek, provides small rainbow and native brook trout in its upper reaches.

Rough Creek Best For Wild Trout

Rough Creek, part of Little River in the Smoky Mountains, provides fly anglers with exciting and challenging fly fishing skills on the wild rainbow and brook trout populations. The stream rises steeply from its source near the Sinks before plunging through several cascades to meet Mannis Branch, another small tributary of Little River with its beautiful waterfall, Meigs Falls. From here, the stream flows downstream until turning back upstream at Townsend Y. It merges with the Little River and drains through several smaller creeks, such as Laurel Creek and Jakes Creek.

This entire section of the Little River offers excellent fishing throughout the year. During summer, it becomes too warm for trout in its lower sections near towns, making room for a thriving population of smallmouth bass. Upper sections like Fish Camp Prong offer excellent fly fishing opportunities.

Middle Prong For Early Summers Fly Fishing

The Middle Prong begins where Lynn Camp Prong and Thunderhead Prong meet near Tremont's old logging town. Cutting through an enormously deep river gorge, it winds northward, absorbing Spruce Flats Branch and smaller streams like Spruce Flats Branch before meeting up with the Little River Railroad roadbed for most of its nine-mile length. It provides shade from the Little River Railroad trackbed over much of this small—to medium-sized trout stream's nine-mile journey. The combination of run-riffle-pool type water with pocket water makes for excellent trout fishing!

Little River has a robust population of rainbow trout and brown trout that grow to exceptional sizes and spectacular insect hatches in spring and early summer. Although trout fishing slows considerably during the summer heat, smallmouth fishing reaches its peak in summer. Fall and spring are ideal times to fish Little River if you prefer solitude. Although easily accessible from Townsend, Little River’s Middle Prong rarely sees tubers. Many areas of Little River have restricted access, making it an ideal location for guided fly fishing tours.

For those seeking a backpacking adventure between fishing trips, take the Little River Trail from Walker Valley into the Great Smokies' backcountry until reaching Middle Prong and its trailhead. Here, you can explore several beautiful waterfalls, including Indian Flats Falls, and visit a CCC camp before returning back to Walker Valley and enjoying all that the Great Smokies has to offer!

Best for Winter Fly Fishing

The Middle Prong of Little River can be found within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which drains watersheds between Miry Ridge and Defeat Ridge. It features small to medium-sized trout streams with run-riffle-pool water features mixed with broken pocket streams.

The Middle Prong begins at the junction between Lynn Camp and Thunderhead Prong near Tremont and flows north, taking in Spruce Flats Branch along its journey. It features beautiful waters that range from mildly rocky and quick moving waters with small rapids all the way through to tree limbs extending over its full length that can make fly fishing a fun, challenging adventure.

Moving further upstream from Middle Prong leads to Fish Camp Prong, which also drains this same watershed. This large section of the river holds both native brook trout and rainbows—perfect for fishing during cooler weather when these trout have staked out their breeding sites.

Conclusion

Little River, nestled within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is a fly fisher's paradise, offering diverse and abundant trout populations across its various prongs and tributaries. Whether you're a seasoned angler or a newcomer to fly fishing, planning your trip with experts like Frontier Anglers TN can enhance your experience, ensuring you make the most of the rich fly fishing opportunities Little River has to offer.

Frontier Anglers TN, The Best Fly Fishing Guide for Little River

Are you ready to experience the thrill of world-class bass fishing? Look no further than Frontier Anglers, TN, your trusted guide for the best fly fishing trips. We provide Fishing Guides on different rivers in Tennessee, including Cherokee - Holston River, Douglas - French Broad River, Norris - Clinch River, Little River, Pigeon River, and Caney Fork River. Contact us now!