Big Snowbird Creek is located in the southwestern part of the state. It sits in the Snowbird Mountains and flows from its headwaters down into Santeetlah Lake, followed by Big Snowbird Road for several miles, which is where most of the access is found. This stream offers its fair share of rugged and easy access options, with more of the latter than many creeks in the area.
Big Snowbird Creek has a variety of fish, including rainbows, browns, and brook trouts in various areas of the creek. It’s the “grand slam” of mountain fly fishing if you’re willing to make the trip. You’ll find the hatchery section near the Junction, which is supported with stocked brown and rainbow trout. There are even some deep pools here where trout can get as big as 18-20 inches (the browns, at least).
There are 12 miles of foot access between the headwaters and Junction, where you’ll find plenty of wild trout and about five miles of wide-open water that’s prime for rainbow trout. The large boulders ensure that runs are fast and pools are deep, giving rainbows the ideal opportunity to “hide” and giving you the opportunity to target them.
Brookies run up to 12 inches in the seven-mile stretch at the lower falls, with several tributaries for shoreline and wade-in fishing all around the area. The Snowbird Mountains are notorious for their role in the Battle of Horseshoe in 1814, and Chief Junaluska of the Cherokee Indians is buried in Robbinsville, located nearby.
While you’re fishing, you can check out the history and enjoy exploring such a notorious place in the state’s history. Or, you can just catch as many trout as possible. We’ll help by telling you where and when to go next.
Best Places to Fish Big Snowbird Creek
Big Snowbird Creek offers a few different spots for access, including the parking area near the old railroad turnaround that is known simply as the “Junction”. Here, there is ample access and anglers can hike a little way to find different types of waters, as well. There is access off of Big Snowbird Creek Trail, too.
This creek runs through the Nantahala National Forest, emptying into Santeetlah Lake outside of Robbinsville, and can be accessed from a few spots in the national forest, as well. However, these areas are more rugged so be prepared for a little more difficulty in the hike.
If you want to access the creek from the Snowbird trail, you’ll enjoy a well-maintained hike that offers plenty of access. However, this is also a popular area because it’s easy to get to, so during the spring and early summer there is a lot of competition and pressure. Consider visiting during a different time or on a different day if you want to visit the easiest-to-access areas on this creek.
Big Snowbird Creek has multiple waterfalls, and underneath each, there is a significant improvement in the fishing opportunity as the waters are cooler, deeper, and churned up to keep the fish active and moving.
Best Time to Fish Big Snowbird Creek
The least amount of traffic is during the fall, and fishing remains fairly successful for those who venture into the creek. The ants, grasshoppers, and beetle imitations do best during this season, while blue-winged olives and midges also offer ideal patterns for fall angling.
The late winter and spring offer premium conditions from about noon until dusk, with plenty of aquatic insects to keep the trout biting. Midges, blue-winged olives, and quill gordons are popular and attract the wild fish, as do plenty of other mayflies and caddisflies. The fish enjoy the cooler waters of these seasons, making them easier to catch.
Plus, in the stocked areas, the stocking usually happens in the spring. The summer does offer some good fishing since the creek stays cool, thanks to its mountain location. Expect to find more brookies and browns since rainbows like the cooler months, but you’ll still have a good time.
Year-round fishing is allowed in this creek but be sure to check the different access areas that might have artificial bait restrictions.