Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon River

[Parzival]

I'm thinking of getting out there and poking around in the next week or so. From what I gather I can access the river at the Ramsey Cascades Trail. Is that correct? I'm not in the greatest shape but I want to fish it so I am wanting to stay relatively close to the trailhead. I can do a couple of miles without a problem but will that allow me to find decent water to fish on the river?
Also, what condition is the trail?

Thanks...

[sammcdonald]

i'd try lower down than ramsey...that's on the commonly called greenbrier prong...unless you like boulder hopping

[Rog 1]

Another option would be Porter's Creek....with the current water you can fish from the fork of the river at the bridge to Ramsey and be by the road for a good ways

[joefly]

Parzival, thanks for asking the question for those of us who can't hike 5 miles, and thanks for those of you who responded. I'm a newbie, as of last year, love fishing the Smokies and am also looking for relatively easy streams to access. I can do OK...waded for 5 hours up the Middle Prong a few weeks ago when it had lots of water, but sometimes don't want to wade, especially when I take the wife, who has a back problem and can't hike/wade long distances. Any advice from others about easily accesibale streams would be most appreciated! I know the fishing may not be the best there, but catching isn't really the point, right? Well, maybe a few :-)

Thanks

[Rog 1]

The lower end of the WPLP just above the Park HQ has a trail that follows the river almost to the Chimney's picnic area...the upper end has a lot of bolders and steep climbs...also go above the Chimney Trailhead where the river comes back to the road

[Parzival]

Originally Posted by sammcdonald

i'd try lower down than ramsey...that's on the commonly called greenbrier prong...unless you like boulder hopping

Are there places to park along the road right there or am I going to need to park somewhere else and hike to it?

[sammcdonald]

plenty of pull offs all along the river...the road is never far away from the water

there is a great hole at the first 20 mph sign past the ranger station....and for sight seeing, there is a path to the right by the sign that will take you back to a full standing chimney (to the left before you cross the little stream) or an old cemetery if you follw the path across the stream and up the knoll.