The lower section of the West
Prong has some of about every
type of water found in a freestone
stream.
Prong has some of about every
type of water found in a freestone
stream.
West Prong of the Little Pigeon River:
| Fly Fishing the Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
Description:
The West Prong of the Little Pigeon River is one of the best fly fishing streams in
the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Stream Size:
The size of this stream ranges from medium to large.
Accessibility:
The West Prong of the Little Pigeon River is very accessible in most places.
However, in some places it is very inaccessible. From its exit at the main entrance
to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, for the
first couple of miles the stream is not far from the road and is easily accessed.
Heading up the mountain on highway #441 you will find that you have to make a
short hike of a few hundred yards to reach the stream from the road. It is again
easy to access from the Chimneys Picnic Area but upstream from there, the West
Prong is very difficult to get to. If you fish upstream from the Chimneys Picnic Area
you will find that staying in the stream is not easy to do in some places due to the
huge boulders that block your path. Accessing the stream from highway #441is
very tough between the Chimneys Picnic Area and the Chimney Tops Trail that
crosses the stream where it begins from the confluence of Walkers Camp Prong
and Road Prongs..
Species:
This stream contains mostly rainbow trout and both rainbows and brook trout in its
upper portion and headwaters.
Average Fish Size:
The size of the trout in the stream is about average for the park.
Popularity:
Some areas of the stream, especially those areas that are easy to access, sees a
good number of anglers but most other areas don't. It strictly depends on what area
of the stream you are talking about.
Difficulty:
Like the access, fishing the stream can be easy or difficult, again, depending on
what part of the stream you are talking about.
Tributary Streams:
The Walkers Camp Prong and Road Prong of the Little Pigeon River flow together
at the Chimney Trail crossing to form the main stream of the West Prong of the
Little Pigeon River.
Fighting Creek:
Fighting Creek is a small stream that enters the West Prong of the Little Pigeon
River near the park headquarters. It has a population of small rainbow trout.
Walkers Camp Prong:
Walkers Camp Prong is a small stream that is fairly easy to access from highway
#441. It contains mostly brook trout and some rainbow trout. The stream together
with Road Prong, forms the West Fork of the Little Pigeon River.
Alum Cave Creek:
Alum Cave Creek is a small tributary of Walkers Camp Prong. It enters Walkers
Camp at highway #441 and is accessible from the Alum Cave Trail. The stream
contains small brook trout and a few rainbow trout.
Road Prong:
Road Prong is a small tributary of the West Fork of the Little Pigeon River. It is
accessible near the Chimney Tops Trailhead. It contains brook trout and some
rainbow trout. You can access the Road Prong from the Road Prong Trail which
follows along it for over 3 miles. When the trail first starts, the stream is not very
accessible from it. Access is better upstream.
Comments:
Because this stream and it Walkers Camp tributary follows along the busiest road
in the park, many anglers think it is fished heavily. In sharp contrast, some areas of
the stream are so tough to get too they are ignored by many anglers. Everything
considered, there is rarely a problem finding room to fish on this stream.
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
The West Prong of the Little Pigeon River is one of the best fly fishing streams in
the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Stream Size:
The size of this stream ranges from medium to large.
Accessibility:
The West Prong of the Little Pigeon River is very accessible in most places.
However, in some places it is very inaccessible. From its exit at the main entrance
to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, for the
first couple of miles the stream is not far from the road and is easily accessed.
Heading up the mountain on highway #441 you will find that you have to make a
short hike of a few hundred yards to reach the stream from the road. It is again
easy to access from the Chimneys Picnic Area but upstream from there, the West
Prong is very difficult to get to. If you fish upstream from the Chimneys Picnic Area
you will find that staying in the stream is not easy to do in some places due to the
huge boulders that block your path. Accessing the stream from highway #441is
very tough between the Chimneys Picnic Area and the Chimney Tops Trail that
crosses the stream where it begins from the confluence of Walkers Camp Prong
and Road Prongs..
Species:
This stream contains mostly rainbow trout and both rainbows and brook trout in its
upper portion and headwaters.
Average Fish Size:
The size of the trout in the stream is about average for the park.
Popularity:
Some areas of the stream, especially those areas that are easy to access, sees a
good number of anglers but most other areas don't. It strictly depends on what area
of the stream you are talking about.
Difficulty:
Like the access, fishing the stream can be easy or difficult, again, depending on
what part of the stream you are talking about.
Tributary Streams:
The Walkers Camp Prong and Road Prong of the Little Pigeon River flow together
at the Chimney Trail crossing to form the main stream of the West Prong of the
Little Pigeon River.
Fighting Creek:
Fighting Creek is a small stream that enters the West Prong of the Little Pigeon
River near the park headquarters. It has a population of small rainbow trout.
Walkers Camp Prong:
Walkers Camp Prong is a small stream that is fairly easy to access from highway
#441. It contains mostly brook trout and some rainbow trout. The stream together
with Road Prong, forms the West Fork of the Little Pigeon River.
Alum Cave Creek:
Alum Cave Creek is a small tributary of Walkers Camp Prong. It enters Walkers
Camp at highway #441 and is accessible from the Alum Cave Trail. The stream
contains small brook trout and a few rainbow trout.
Road Prong:
Road Prong is a small tributary of the West Fork of the Little Pigeon River. It is
accessible near the Chimney Tops Trailhead. It contains brook trout and some
rainbow trout. You can access the Road Prong from the Road Prong Trail which
follows along it for over 3 miles. When the trail first starts, the stream is not very
accessible from it. Access is better upstream.
Comments:
Because this stream and it Walkers Camp tributary follows along the busiest road
in the park, many anglers think it is fished heavily. In sharp contrast, some areas of
the stream are so tough to get too they are ignored by many anglers. Everything
considered, there is rarely a problem finding room to fish on this stream.
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
West Prong of the Little Pigeon
River can produce large brook
trout as well as rainbow. This
one came from just above the
Chimneys Picnic area.
River can produce large brook
trout as well as rainbow. This
one came from just above the
Chimneys Picnic area.
West Prong of the Little Pigeon
River: Access to the lower part of
the stream ranges from very
tough to very easy depending on
the location.
River: Access to the lower part of
the stream ranges from very
tough to very easy depending on
the location.
Road Prong is a major tributary
stream with brook trout.
stream with brook trout.
Walkers Camp Prong is a major
tributary stream with brook trout
and rainbow that is easy to
access from highway #441. .
tributary stream with brook trout
and rainbow that is easy to
access from highway #441. .
This is the West Prong a short
distance below the Road Prong
and Walkers Camp confluence.
distance below the Road Prong
and Walkers Camp confluence.
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
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