The Great Smoky Mountains National Park isn’t just known in the United States, it’s known all around the world, thanks to its historic mountain range. This range is home to a huge amount of wildlife, beautiful foliage, and of course, scenery that just can’t be beaten.
The Great Smoky Mountains contain more than 300 trout streams totaling over 700 miles, home to the native Southern Appalachian strain of brook trout. Encompassing over 500,000 acres, the Park provides some of the best small-stream wild trout fishing in the Southeastern United States. The park actually sits in two different states: Tennessee and North Carolina. No matter which state you visit from, you’re in for a fabulous experience.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the country, and for good reason—it is a beautiful place! This park has four distinct seasons, from warm, sunny days in the middle of summer to heavy snowfalls blanketing the streams, rivers, and mountains in the winter.
Fly Fishing in the Smokies
Among all the other outdoor activities and adventures, fly fishing is one of the top sports in the park. There are remote headwater streams that require a hike to reach and those that are a bit “easier” to fish with ample roadside access. The opportunities are as diverse as the landscape itself.
Great Smoky Mountains Trout Streams
Most Smoky Mountains trout streams are 10 to 30 feet wide and clear and swift. In the higher elevations, the streams are steep and strewn with boulders. Downslope, as the gradient lessens, they are characterized by large pools and deep runs.
Probably the hardest part about visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is narrowing it down to just a few top places for fly fishing. The sheer number of trout streams is a bit overwhelming. Remember that you’ve got some streams on the Tennessee side and some on the North Carolina side.
Here’s a look at some of the best trout streams on both sides of the park, so no matter which side you happen to be visiting, you’ll be off to a great start with some suggestions.
Best Places to Fish in the Smokies
Let’s examine some of the top places for fly fishing in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Great Smoky Mountains – Tennessee Trout Streams
- Abrams Creek
- Cataloochee Creek
- Little River
- Middle Prong Little Pigeon River (Greenbrier Creek)
- West Prong Little Pigeon River
Great Smoky Mountains – North Carolina Trout Streams
- Big Creek
- Deep Creek
- Eagle Creek
- Forney Creek
- Hazel Creek
- Noland Creek
- Oconaluftee River
- Raven Fork Creek
- Straight Fork
- Twentymile Creek
Hazel Creek Watershed, North Carolina
This is a very popular creek on the North Carolina side of the park despite its’ remote location. It is located near Fontana Lake, and the creek offers brown and rainbow trout. Sometimes, you’ll get lucky and find smallmouth bass, but these tend to be near the lower end. It’s not unusual to find brook trout in the headwaters, either. What anglers like about this location is that, as far as skill level goes, this creek is relatively easy to fish. Not only that, but the creek tends to produce fish of above average size.
Twentymile Creek Watershed, North Carolina
This particular creek isn’t as popular, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a great spot for fly fishing. This creek is extremely easy to access, making it great for a day trip. Typically, you’ll find rainbow trout in the creek, but occasionally, you can catch brown trout since they are stocked. What anglers like about this location is how quiet it is and that you won’t be dealing with crowds, even during peak fishing season. If you’re looking for more of a challenge, some areas of the creek will require advanced angling skills and techniques.
Abrams Creek Watershed, Tennessee
If you ask anglers what their favorite spot in the park is, the name Abrams Creek will repeatedly come up. Not only is the water excellent for fishing, but the quality of the fish is also extremely high.
Another feature to note is that this stream is much larger than some of the others in the park. The waters are typically challenging but in all the right ways. And when you do catch a fish, which tends to be rainbow trout, the size is quite impressive.
Middle Prong of the Little River, Tennessee
If you like the idea of a smaller stream that still offers challenges and beautiful scenery, Middle Prong of the Little River may be exactly what you want. It consists of two tributary streams and is usually pretty accessible.
The fish you’ll find are mainly rainbow trout, but you can also find the occasional brook and/or brown trout. The fish’s size is usually above average, which makes anglers quite happy.
Overall, this stream is quite easy to fish, and because of that, it gets pretty busy during peak season. For some anglers, the crowds are too heavy. The river is also sometimes used by tubers during the summer months, which can certainly interfere with your fishing.
Best Time for Fly Fishing in the Smoky Mountains
Fly fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park occurs year-round, so you can’t pick the wrong time to visit. Granted, there are times of the year when the fishing is a bit better and easier. Also, keep in mind that you will need to adjust your technique, strategy, and possibly equipment based on the time of year.
The weather in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will change throughout the year, so depending on the conditions you like best, it may help to determine when you want to fish. Some find the winter months too damp and chilly, while others find the summer months too muggy and hot. It’s really about personal preference.
The Smokies are known for a rather large number of aquatic insects and the fact that hatches occur year-round. This helps to keep the fishing so great no matter what time of year you visit.