Location: GSMNP East Tennessee
Nearest Town: Townsend, TN
Species: Rainbow & brown trout, smallmouth bass
Average Size: 8-12” (Some browns exceeding 20”)
Stream Size: Open
Pressure: Moderate to heavy
Type of Water: Freestone, Mountain
Boat Access: None
Best Times: Spring and fall
Favorite Flies: Attractor dries, beadhead nymphs, stonefly nymphs
Nearest Fly Shop: Little River Outfitters – Townsend
Lodging: Docks
Talley-Ho
Camping: Little River Campground
Elkmont Campground
Directions:
From Townsend, travel southeast on 73 to GSMNP entrance. At the “Y” in the road, turn left toward Gatlinburg on Little River Road. This road will follow Little River for approximately twelve and a half miles and provide numerous pull-offs throughout. The lower stretch has fewer trout but offers opportunities for smallmouth. The trout you find in this stretch will be a mix of wild fish and the occasional stocker from Townsend. The trout fishing gets much more consistent above “The Sinks,” which is about five and a half miles up the road. Near the twelve and a half mile point, you can turn right toward Elkmont Campground and continue to access the river by road up to the campground entrance. The river winds through the campground and can be accessed by foot.
Alternate Route:
To skip approximately the bottom eight miles of river, you can come in from Wears Valley Road which runs from Townsend to Pigeon Forge. From Townsend, turn on Wears Valley road at the only traffic light in town. At about six and a half miles, turn right on Lyon Springs Road. This road will eventually end at Little River Road at Metcalf Bottoms picnic area, approximately two and a half miles above “The Sinks.”