7-day U.S. Geological Survey chart
Recent flow
Discharge
104 cfs70 cfs
Sep 5Sep 12
Latest reading: 71 cfs. Falling over about 6 hours. Chart covers Sep 5 through Sep 12; readings are provisional and may be revised.
Should I go fishing?
Go with caution.
Best option: Wading. Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.
Fishing rating66
Rating updatedRiver local time:
Why this recommendation?
Coldwater targets are a poor choice in this heat window, but warmwater targets may still be reasonable where legal and ethical.
Available live dataHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Confidence in this recommendationHighCurrent flow, weather, alerts, and trip-critical signals support this decision.
Usually checks again about every 45 minutes
If you go
- Check first
- Use NPS rules and single-hook/artificial requirements before fishing park water.
- Try
- Fish upstream with short casts and keep most of the leader off the water.
- Leave when
- Skip or pivot when thunderstorms are building, the Townsend gauge is rising sharply, trout water is too warm, park rules or road status are uncertain, or the intended pullout is crowded beyond safe rotation.
Flow and weather
Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
- Flow
- 71 cfs
- Falling over about 6 hoursU.S. Geological Survey may revise this readingWater 72.1°F · 24h high 74.1°F · USGS provisional
- Air forecast
- 72°F
- Next 24h high
- 84.0°F
NWS air forecast near
- Rain chance
- 7%
Latest stored weather check
Mostly Cloudy
- Wind
- 5 mph
- Weather checked
More forecast and source details
Mostly Cloudy
National Weather Service
Little River above Townsend, Tennessee
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
Current U.S. Geological Survey gauge: Little River above Townsend
Falling over about 6 hoursU.S. Geological Survey may revise this readingObserved
Water 72.1°F · provisional · 24h high 74.1°F provisionalWater observed · high observed
Flies for this time of year
Seasonal starting points, not a live hatch report. Match what you see on the water.
- Ant PatternsFoam antView fly guide ↗
- Beetle PatternsbeetleView fly guide ↗
- Stimulatoryellow stimulatorView fly guide ↗
- Grasshopper Patternssmall hopperView fly guide ↗
See flies for every season
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try
March to April
What to look forQuill Gordons, Blue Quills, little black stones, caddis, and early mayflies
May to June
What to look forYellow sallies, sulphurs, Light Cahills, caddis, and pocket-water dries
Flies to try
July to SeptemberThis season
What to look forTerrestrials, small yellow stones, beetles, ants, and low-water attractors
Flies to try
October to February
What to look forBWOs, midges, small stones, and slow nymphing in cold pocket water
Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.
More fishing tips
Methods, fish species and trip notes
How to fish Little River today.
Little River is most useful when flows are safe, water is cool, and you fish the pocket water methodically. The best plan is light, mobile, and tied to current park rules.
Low and clear
Use smaller dries, longer tippet, and avoid standing in feeding lanes.
Good pocket flow
Dry-dropper rigs and high-stick nymphing cover broken water well.
High or stained
Do not force wading. Fish edges only if the river is safe.
Warm weather
Check temperature, fish early, and stop when trout handling becomes risky.
Wading, bank fishing or floating?
Best access methodWading
These scores compare the risks of wading, bank fishing, and floating.
Wading · Best fit66/100
Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.
Bank fishingNot recommended
This report does not recommend bank fishing on this reach.
FloatingNot recommended
This report does not recommend floating this reach.
Full river report
Is Little River worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Tennessee before you go.
Little River above Townsend is one of the most useful Smokies flow checks for wild trout anglers. USGS 03497300 fits the core report, while lower Maryville water should be treated as a different warmwater plan.
Fishing words used on this page
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge
- A USGS gauge is an official river station that measures flow or water height.
- Cubic feet per second (cfs)
- Cubic feet per second, or cfs, shows how much water passes the gauge each second.
- Nymph
- A nymph is a young water insect. Anglers also use the word for a fly that copies it.
- Seam
- A seam is the line where fast and slow water meet.
- Tailout
- A tailout is the shallow, slower water at the lower end of a pool.
- Blue-winged olive (BWO)
- Blue-winged olives, or BWOs, are small mayflies that often hatch in cool or cloudy weather.
- Caddis
- Caddis are small water insects. The adults look a little like tiny moths.
- Dry-dropper
- A dry-dropper rig has a floating fly with an underwater fly tied below it.
- Emerger
- An emerger copies an insect as it rises from below the water toward the surface.
- Midge
- Midges are tiny flies and a common trout food, especially in cold water.
Why this call
Why this score
Target choiceUse caution
Coldwater targets are a poor choice in this heat window, but warmwater targets may still be reasonable where legal and ethical.
Water temperatureUse caution
USGS water temperature is about 72.1F. USGS marks the temperature data provisional and may revise it. Do not pressure trout or salmonids in warm water.
Best mode nowUse caution
Wade: Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.
FlowHelps
USGS shows 71 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1964-2025, 62 readings) show a typical middle range of 60 cfs to 123 cfs. Flow is within the typical range for this date, so weather, temperature, and access become the next checks.
SeasonHelps
Fall: Lower crowds, clear water, and BWO or terrestrial windows can be good.
Trip notes
Check these before you choose a reach.
Use USGS 03497300 above Townsend as the primary mountain-reach trend and safety check, then compare Maryville only for lower-river context. Stable, cool water is best. Fast storm rises should narrow or cancel the plan.
Skip or pivot when thunderstorms are building, the Townsend gauge is rising sharply, trout water is too warm, park rules or road status are uncertain, or the intended pullout is crowded beyond safe rotation.
Start with NPS rules, TWRA statewide context, the Townsend gauge, weather, and one legal access or trailhead. Fish short drifts, pocket seams, shaded edges, and dry-dropper rigs before moving far.
If Little River is high, warm, crowded, or stormy, compare Little Pigeon River for another Smokies-to-main river option, Tellico River for a Cherokee National Forest freestone plan, or Clinch River for a tailwater backup.
Little River access and rules.
Use these places as starting points. Open the access link below and check posted signs before you park or enter.
Before you go
Check Great Smoky Mountains National Park fishing rules and TWRA rules before fishing Little River or its smaller streams.
Where to access the river
Little River Road and park area
Use official NPS rules, parking, and current road status.
Townsend above-town gauge area
USGS 03497300 is the core flow check for this report.
Higher smaller stream context
Brook trout and smaller water require extra care and rule checks.
- Park water has specific fishing rules and resource-protection expectations.
- Do not move rocks, crowd pools, or leave the trail/road plan unclear.
- Storms can make the river rise quickly even when skies look better in town.
Sources and report details
Official agencies and primary river operators come first. Secondary tools are labeled so you know what carries the most weight.
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
See all 6 checked sources
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
How this report was checked
How this report was checked
Reviewed byBlueStreamFly River Review Team
Trip guidance checked
What was checked: This Little River report is maintained from Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency regulations, Great Smoky Mountains National Park fishing rules, USGS Townsend and Maryville flow context, weather, media-credit, and Smokies freestone trout planning sources.
Live measurements and forecasts keep their provider timestamps. Rules, access, and trip guidance use the source-review date shown here. BlueStreamFly planning advice is editorial interpretation, not an agency notice.
First-hand experience: BlueStreamFly does not claim a first-hand visit or local field test for this report unless a real contributor is explicitly named and linked.
Quick questions
What should I check first before fishing Little River?
Check NPS rules, USGS 03497300, NWS weather, road/access status, and water temperature.
Where should a first-time visitor start on Little River?
Start with the above-Townsend and Little River Road area, then match the water to safe flow.
Can I wade Little River?
Yes at safe flows, but boulders are slick and storm rises can make crossings dangerous.
What flies should I bring for Little River?
Bring the seasonal fly box, then adjust size, weight, and color to water level, clarity, temperature, and fishing pressure.