Nestled in the foothills of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Townsend, Tennessee is a family owned fly shop and school that has become a landmark in the fly fishing world. Little River Outfitters was founded to serve anglers who visit the National Park to fly fish in it's 800 miles of wild trout streams. There is no stocking of trout in the Park and you will find only wild rainbow, brown and brook trout throughout the watersheds within. As anglers became friends with the shop they began ordering their tackle. The staff learned how to fish in saltwater and warmwater and customers relied on the staff to rig their tackle for any species they were fishing for. The strength of the shop is the staff. We employ 14 full and part time people who all love to fly fish and take care of angling customers.

To keep up with demand we designed and maintain this website so customers can order online and learn more about us and this area. This website project is all designed and maintained in house. It is updated every day. One of the most popular features you will find is the Message Board. Currently we have around 2,400 members who post and chat about fishing in the Smokies, in Tennessee and throughout the United States. You can gain a lot of knowledge by reading the board and participate yourself. Just ask questions and you'll get several answers. Another popular feature is the Fishing Report. It is written and updated every day. The Online Catalog is easy to navigate and it's full of fly fishing tackle and accessories. And, we have become known for our Beginner Fly Fishing School. Hundreds of students get their start in this sport at our school every year. We started in 1994 in a 600 square foot store. We have grown to our own 7,000 square foot facility.


Little River Outfitters is one of the largest fly shops in the United States.  We only sell fly fishing tackle from all the finest brands available in all price ranges. Our mail order service is simple, you can find what you want on our online catalog and buy online or call toll free 877-448-3474.  We don’t charge for ground shipping on any fly fishing related merchandise.  We also have an extensive fly tying department.  Though many of these products don’t currently appear on our website you may call us and we’ll ship you anything we sell. We sell Gift Cards Online or at the shop. They can be redeemed online, over the phone or at the shop.

If you need personal assistance we are just a phone call away. Call toll free 877-448-3474 and ask about the fishing conditions, where to stay in Townsend or ask technical questions about tackle. We sell almost everything made for a 1 weight to a 12 weight and we know how to rig them for the species you are fishing for, no matter where you are going to fish. We sell tackle in all price ranges too. We're not going to push you into something you can't afford. We've got a vast selection from the best rods and reels made to the less expensive tackle that works well if you are on a budget. And we don't shy away from beginners. We built our reputation by working with beginners and that is the foundation of our business.



This is a view of Tuckaleechee Cove. The small developed area in the valley is Townsend, Tennessee. On the other side of the highest peaks you see is Cades Cove, a large valley surrounded by mountains within Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
We live and work in one of the most beautiful places on earth, Townsend, Tennessee. This is a unique gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Townsend is known as the "Peaceful Side of the Smokies" and it draws a specific type of visitor. Townsend caters to people who don't want the hussle and traffic of a tourist town. But here we have an excellent choice of accomodations, restaurants and the one attraction that brings people here, Great Smoky Mountains National Park and fly fishing. There are a few small family owned motels, rental cabins and some nice lodges. There are campsites available on the Little River which meanders through town. And there's something for everyone on any budget. This is one of the nicest places you will ever visit. So, if you are planning your fly fishing vacation, choose the Peaceful Side of the Smokies and Little River Outfitters. You won't be disappointed. Our company donates to and supports most fisheries non-profit organizations such as Trout Unlimited, Friends of the Smokies, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Troutfest, and Fly Fishing Federation Clubs. Many of us who work here serve as voluteers at Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the Fisheries Department and at Troutfest.

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Little River Outfitters is a full service fly shop and fly fishing school located in Townsend, Tennessee adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in east Tennessee. Just minutes from our store you will find mountain streams, hundreds of miles of them. Wild rainbow, brown and brook trout are ready to test your skills. The company is owned by Paula & Byron Begley and Daniel Drake. The 7,000 square foot store is stocked with almost everything a fly angler or fly tyer could ever want. We specialize in trout, saltwater, salmon and bass fly-fishing. We sell Fly Rods, Fly Reels, Waders, Fly Tying Materials, Fly Fishing Books and we are a dealer for the following manufacturers: Abel Reels, Action Optics, Bauer Reels, Chota Waders and Wading Boots, Cloudveil Waders and Boots, Cortland, Dr. Slick, Dyna King Fly Tying Tools, Ewing Hackle, Fishermans Eyewear, Fishpond Products, Fitovers, Flex Coat, Frogs Fanny, Gamakatsu Fly Tying Hooks, Gehrkes Gink, Hardy, Hareline Dubbin, HMH Fly Tying Vises, Loon Products, Metz, Mustad Fly Tying Hooks, Oasis Fly Tying Benches, Orvis, Patagonia Waders, R L Winston Fly Rods, Renzetti Fly Tying Vises and Tools, Rio Fly Lines and Leaders, Ross Reels, Sage Fly Rods, Scientific Anglers, Scott Fly Rods, Shimazaki, Simms Waders and Equipment, Spirit River, St Croix Fly Rods, Temple Fork Fly Rods and Reels, Tibor Reels, Billy Pate Reels, Tiemco Fly Tying Hooks, Umpqua, Wapsi and Whiting Farms. We also have a large selection of flies. So if you are interested in purchasing tackle such as a fly rod, fly reel, wader, wader boot, fly line, fly tying vise, or anything else for flyfishing, call us or check out our online catalog. We offer free ground shipping to anywhere in the Continental United States. Also, check out our Fly Fishing Message Board Forum. There you will learn about fly fishing in the Smoky Mountains, East Tennessee and the Southeast United States. It is very active and informative. Our Fishing Report is updated daily. There you can find stream information, flies that you should use and an overall evaluation of how good the fishing is. Also of importance to anglers is the Cow Standing Factor. Check out Little River Fly Shop.