Porter's Creek:
Porters Creek is one of the picture
perfect streams in the park. It
appears to holds some big rainbow
trout but catching a few doesn't
mean that is a statical fact.
Porters Creek is one of the picture
perfect streams in the park. It
appears to holds some big rainbow
trout but catching a few doesn't
mean that is a statical fact.
Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon River (Greenbriar):
| Fly Fishing the Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
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Description:
The Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon River is one of the parks most beautiful
streams. Fishing pressure is low to moderate.
Stream Size:
We would classify this stream as a medium to large stream in comparison to other
Great Smoky Mountain National Park streams.
Accessibility:
A road closely follows the first five miles of the stream from the entrance to the park
near Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The lower portion of the stream (the first mile or two)
gets a little too warm for the trout during the hot summer months. There is not
enough oxygen for the fish to feed aggressively if at all. During the summer fishing
is usually better starting two or three miles upstream from the park boundary.
Species:
There may be a few brown trout in the lower section of the stream, but by far the
great majority are rainbows. Starting at about the Ramsey Prong Trailhead located
at the end of the road you will begin to catch some brook trout. The stream is
stocked outside the park and it is possible that some of the trout may swim up into
the stream inside the park.
Average Fish Size:
The average size of the fish in the Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon River is probably
slightly less than that of most other streams of its size in the park. In certain parts of
the stream and its tributaries, where the population of the fish is low, you may find
some very large trout. This is true for the rainbow trout in certain areas and the
brook trout in certain areas.
Difficulty:
From the Ramsey Prong Trailhead downstream, the Middle Prong is fairly easy to
fish. Ample casting room can be found in most places. Upstream of the Ramsey
Prong Trailhead, accessing the stream is more difficult but still fairly reasonable.
Casting room naturally declines in the headwater area.
Tributary Streams:
Several streams make up the Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon River. One major
one is Porters Creek. The main stream becomes much larger below the Porters
Creek confluence.
Porters Creek:
Heading upstream, Porters Creek is the first major tributary stream that enters the
Middle Prong. It seems to have a smaller population of trout but probably for that
reason, it also usually has some very large rainbows. Is this due to the low PH?
About a mile of Porters Creek is accessible from a gravel road that runs along side
it. From there upstream you can access the stream from a trail but it is fairly tough
getting to the stream from the trail in most places.
Cannon Creek:
Cannon Creek is a very small tributary stream of Porters Creek with small rainbow
trout. It is accessible from Porters Creek.
Ramsey Prong:
Ramsey Prong, a tributary of the Middle Fork of Little Pigeon, can be accessed from
the Ramsey Cascades Trail. Most all the trout in the Ramsey Prong tributary will be
brook trout.
Buck Fork Prong:
Buck Fork is a very small brook trout stream that is a tributary of Ramsey Prong.
Chapman Prong.
Chapman Prong and Lost Creek form the headwaters of the Middle Fork of the Little
Pigeon River. It is a very small brook trout stream that is difficult to access.
Eagle Rock Creek:
Eagle Rock Creek is a very small brook trout stream that contains brook trout but it
is very tough to get to. There are no well established trails.
Comments:
Most of the feeder streams, especially Porters Creek, has a higher than normal
acid level. This limits the food supply and consequently the fish.
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
The Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon River is one of the parks most beautiful
streams. Fishing pressure is low to moderate.
Stream Size:
We would classify this stream as a medium to large stream in comparison to other
Great Smoky Mountain National Park streams.
Accessibility:
A road closely follows the first five miles of the stream from the entrance to the park
near Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The lower portion of the stream (the first mile or two)
gets a little too warm for the trout during the hot summer months. There is not
enough oxygen for the fish to feed aggressively if at all. During the summer fishing
is usually better starting two or three miles upstream from the park boundary.
Species:
There may be a few brown trout in the lower section of the stream, but by far the
great majority are rainbows. Starting at about the Ramsey Prong Trailhead located
at the end of the road you will begin to catch some brook trout. The stream is
stocked outside the park and it is possible that some of the trout may swim up into
the stream inside the park.
Average Fish Size:
The average size of the fish in the Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon River is probably
slightly less than that of most other streams of its size in the park. In certain parts of
the stream and its tributaries, where the population of the fish is low, you may find
some very large trout. This is true for the rainbow trout in certain areas and the
brook trout in certain areas.
Difficulty:
From the Ramsey Prong Trailhead downstream, the Middle Prong is fairly easy to
fish. Ample casting room can be found in most places. Upstream of the Ramsey
Prong Trailhead, accessing the stream is more difficult but still fairly reasonable.
Casting room naturally declines in the headwater area.
Tributary Streams:
Several streams make up the Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon River. One major
one is Porters Creek. The main stream becomes much larger below the Porters
Creek confluence.
Porters Creek:
Heading upstream, Porters Creek is the first major tributary stream that enters the
Middle Prong. It seems to have a smaller population of trout but probably for that
reason, it also usually has some very large rainbows. Is this due to the low PH?
About a mile of Porters Creek is accessible from a gravel road that runs along side
it. From there upstream you can access the stream from a trail but it is fairly tough
getting to the stream from the trail in most places.
Cannon Creek:
Cannon Creek is a very small tributary stream of Porters Creek with small rainbow
trout. It is accessible from Porters Creek.
Ramsey Prong:
Ramsey Prong, a tributary of the Middle Fork of Little Pigeon, can be accessed from
the Ramsey Cascades Trail. Most all the trout in the Ramsey Prong tributary will be
brook trout.
Buck Fork Prong:
Buck Fork is a very small brook trout stream that is a tributary of Ramsey Prong.
Chapman Prong.
Chapman Prong and Lost Creek form the headwaters of the Middle Fork of the Little
Pigeon River. It is a very small brook trout stream that is difficult to access.
Eagle Rock Creek:
Eagle Rock Creek is a very small brook trout stream that contains brook trout but it
is very tough to get to. There are no well established trails.
Comments:
Most of the feeder streams, especially Porters Creek, has a higher than normal
acid level. This limits the food supply and consequently the fish.
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
There is a steady and fast
decline in the elevation of the river
in this image.
decline in the elevation of the river
in this image.
Wading isn't the best way to fish
the small streams of the Smokies.
It is necessary in many places
because casting from the banks
is next to impossible.
the small streams of the Smokies.
It is necessary in many places
because casting from the banks
is next to impossible.
The Middle Prong of the Little
Pigeon River headwaters has a
little of every type of water
conceivable for a freestone stream.
Pigeon River headwaters has a
little of every type of water
conceivable for a freestone stream.
The runs located at the head of
pools usually hold trout that are
anticipating food.
pools usually hold trout that are
anticipating food.
This view is from the top of the
second bridge over the Middle
Prong of the Pigeon River.
second bridge over the Middle
Prong of the Pigeon River.
It is difficult to see the angler
hidden under the tree in this
image but she is in a perfect spot
to catch a rainbow.
hidden under the tree in this
image but she is in a perfect spot
to catch a rainbow.
Site Map (Click on Links)
Abrams Creek Fishing Methods Marine Food Species
Anthony Creek Forney Creek Mayflies Spring
Big Creek Freestone Streams Midges Stoneflies
Beginners Recommended Gear Misc N.C. Streams Straight Creek
Caddisflies Hatches Misc Tenn. Streams Streams
Casting Hazel Creek Middle Prong Little Pigeon River Summer Season
Cataloochee Creek Headwater Stream Middle Prong Little River Terrestrials
Cosby Creek Caddisfly Imitations Noland Creek Twenty Mile Creek
Deep Creek Mayfly Imitations Oconaluftee River Wild Trout
Midge Imitations Other Aquatic Insects Winter Season
Eagel Creek Home PH West Prong Little Pigeon River
East Prong Little River Stonefly Imitations Presentation West Prong Little River
Fall Season Streamers Raven Fork Spring Hatch Chart
About Us Terrestrial Imitations Reading Hatch Charts Summer Hatch Chart
Recommended Flies Links Seasons Winter Hatch Chart
Fall Hatch Chart
Abrams Creek Fishing Methods Marine Food Species
Anthony Creek Forney Creek Mayflies Spring
Big Creek Freestone Streams Midges Stoneflies
Beginners Recommended Gear Misc N.C. Streams Straight Creek
Caddisflies Hatches Misc Tenn. Streams Streams
Casting Hazel Creek Middle Prong Little Pigeon River Summer Season
Cataloochee Creek Headwater Stream Middle Prong Little River Terrestrials
Cosby Creek Caddisfly Imitations Noland Creek Twenty Mile Creek
Deep Creek Mayfly Imitations Oconaluftee River Wild Trout
Midge Imitations Other Aquatic Insects Winter Season
Eagel Creek Home PH West Prong Little Pigeon River
East Prong Little River Stonefly Imitations Presentation West Prong Little River
Fall Season Streamers Raven Fork Spring Hatch Chart
About Us Terrestrial Imitations Reading Hatch Charts Summer Hatch Chart
Recommended Flies Links Seasons Winter Hatch Chart
Fall Hatch Chart