Tennessee
Little River above Townsend
Location Snapshot
Little River above Townsend is a clear Appalachian mountain stream draining the high country of the Great Smoky Mountains before entering the Tennessee Valley. Rainbow and brown trout define the fishery, with rocky pocket water, pools, and forested banks giving the reach a distinctly upland coldwater character.
Current River Rating
Fair · 64
Conditions are mixed. Review the details below before heading out.
Scores are model-specific and are not directly comparable across water types.
Partial water evidence · Medium confidence
Should I Go?
Consider
Recommended Window
Tuesday, 3:00 PM–6:00 PM
Why
- Water temperature is within the preferred trout range.
- Light wind should make casting and boat control easier.
- Very clear skies may make trout more cautious in shallow water.
Favorable Factors
- Recent precipitation has been light.
Timing Evidence
Window confidence: High
Current Readings
- Flow
- 58.8 CFS
- Gage Height
- 1.39 ft
- Water Temperature
- 51.4 °F
- Observation Time
- Oct 20, 2026, 9:45 AM
Updated recently · USGS station 03497300 · Direct monitoring location
Readings from past 7 Days
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Historical readings are provided for context. Readings outside the current freshness window are not used to rate current conditions.
Better Nearby Options
Checking nearby StrikeTracks waters…
Preliminary guidance only. Always assess current weather, access, water depth, current speed, and your own ability before entering the river.
Changing Conditions Advisory
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Weather Near Gauge
Current Weather
Clear
Temperature
47°F
Feels like
42°F
Wind
3 mph SE
Wind gust
3 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Oct 20, 2026, 5:45 AM
Recent Rainfall
Estimated precipitation near this gauge
Last 6 hours
0.00 in
Last 24 hours
0.00 in
Last 48 hours
0.00 in
Little recent rainfall near this river.
Next 24 Hours
Tue 6 AM
Clear
Temp 47°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 4 mph
Tue 10 AM
Clear
Temp 57°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 1 mph
Tue 2 PM
Clear
Temp 72°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 4 mph
Tue 6 PM
Overcast
Temp 71°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 5 mph
Tue 10 PM
Overcast
Temp 60°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 6 mph
Wed 2 AM
Clear
Temp 56°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 2 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Tue, Oct 20
Overcast
High 74°F / Low 47°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 9 mph
Wed, Oct 21
Clear
High 74°F / Low 55°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 11 mph
Thu, Oct 22
Clear
High 71°F / Low 51°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 9 mph
Fri, Oct 23
Clear
High 72°F / Low 52°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 4 mph
Weather and rainfall are estimated for this river's coordinates. Local conditions can vary, especially in mountainous terrain and during isolated storms.
Recent rainfall can influence river flow, but the timing and magnitude depend on watershed size, soil conditions, upstream reservoirs, and dam releases.
Weather data: Open-Meteo
Historical Flow
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Fishing Overview
The Little River above Townsend is the East Prong from Townsend to the Sinks in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Little River.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Target species
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
Source: National Park Service Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
Source: National Park Service Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Brook Trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
- Expectation
- Present
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Source: National Park Service Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Natural flow
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Dry flies
- Fly fishing
- Nymphing
- Spinning
- Streamers
Official sources
Hatch Match
General fly suggestions
- Parachute-style dryGeneral attractor dry family — not a claim that a named mayfly is hatching.
- Pheasant-tail-style nymphGeneral nymph family for trout rivers without destination hatch timing.
- Elk-hair-style dryGeneral dry/attractor family. Pattern choice only — not a report that caddis are hatching.
- Woolly-bugger-style streamerGeneral streamer family. Not a forage or insect Hatch event.
These are general fishing suggestions, not a report of insects currently hatching at this destination.
Location and Access
USGS monitoring location
Blount, Tennessee
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
River Details
County
Blount
Management Category
National Park wild-trout river
Regulation Scope
Little River above Townsend.
Regulation Summary
Little River above Townsend: NPS Great Smoky Mountains National Park fishing rules. Confirm current official regulations.
Target Species
rainbow-trout, brown-trout, brook-trout
Access, Parking, and Regulations
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