Little River

Where the Middle Prong meets the East Prong at the "Y" and the river leaves the park — wide, warmer, slower water that transitions from trout river to warmwater smallmouth stream. The USGS gauge (03497300) sits just upstream of the park boundary in this reach and is the reference for the whole river. Roadside access at the Wye and along US-321 through Townsend, with easy wading at normal flow.

Best for: Summer smallmouth bass and rock bass on poppers and streamers, with a few trout at the cooler upper end — warmwater fly fishing, not the trout draw.

The heart of it — a steep gorge of plunge pools, pocket water, and boulder runs, with the dramatic waterfall complex known as The Sinks as the downstream landmark. Classic Smokies pocket-water fishing. Little River Road parallels the whole reach with frequent pull-offs, including the Sinks parking area, so you can wade up from anywhere. The slick boulders make felt or studded soles worth it, and the tight quarters keep casts short.

Best for: Wild rainbows on dries and dry-dropper, plus the occasional big brown in the deeper pools — short-line nymphing and high-stick dry-fly work.

The mature trout water — deeper, wider pools mixed with productive runs and riffles, holding both high numbers of fish and the biggest specimens in the drainage. This reach between Metcalf Bottoms and Elkmont grows the park's largest wild browns, with 20-inch-class fish present (though rarely caught). Access is Little River Road to the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area, then Elkmont Road to Elkmont Campground, where campsites sit right on the water.

Best for: Wild rainbows plus the park's largest wild browns — dry-dropper, nymphing the deep pools, and streamers for browns in fall.

A small tumbling stream narrowing to brook-trout water, reached on foot up the Little River Trail — an old railroad grade — from Elkmont toward the Fish Camp Prong junction, about four miles in on an easy grade. Wild rainbows give way to native Southern Appalachian brook trout as you gain elevation, and the solitude away from the road is as much the draw as the fishing. Tight, brushy casting.

Best for: Wild rainbows and native brook trout on attractor dries — small-stream stealth fishing well away from the road crowds.

The main alternative when the East Prong is high or crowded — formed by Lynn Camp Prong and Thunderhead Prong near the old Tremont townsite, with long pools, runs, and riffles through the flat, open Walker Valley. Tremont Road (the old Little River Railroad roadbed) follows the lower four miles; the upper reaches are foot-trail access. This prong is ungauged, so read the Townsend gauge and infer its condition — there's no live overlay here.

Best for: Wild rainbows on approachable lower-reach dry-fly water near the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, and native brook trout up high toward the Lynn Camp Prong restoration water.