by: Craig Lancaster
Thunderhead Prong is a tributary that along with its sister stream Lynn Camp Prong form the Middle Prong of the Little River. It is accessed by going to the end of Tremont Road and parking at the trailhead, where you will then take the trail to the right up the stream. The trail is not maintained by the park and is actually an old manway so it is small in most places, more often than not just big enough for one person. The trail goes up Thunderhead Prong for a little over a mile until Sams Creek comes in from the left, at which point the trail follows Sams Creek. The trail crosses the stream three times, only one of which is made via an actual bridge. Upstream from Sams Creek, the only access is by in stream wading.
The stream is your typical Smoky Mountain headwater stream in that it has a fairly steep gradient and consists of plunge pools and some deep runs. All of the fish encountered up to the confluence of Sams Creek will be rainbows in the 6”-8” range. Although small, these fish will usually aggressively hit a fly if a good presentation is made. The nature of the stream ensures that there are bigger fish to be had in some of the deeper pools. You will almost always have the stream to yourself if you decide to fish Thunderhead Prong as neighboring Lynn Camp Prong receives considerably more pressure.
http://highcountryflyfisher.blogspot.com
Copyright 2008 Craig Lancaster
