The Oconaluftee River is probably one of the more overlooked streams that are available for fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is also one of the better streams available, offering a good gradient with the standard riffle, run, pool type of freestone stream that makes for ideal trout fishing.
This small-to-mid-size trout stream is located in the park itself, making it accessible from the public areas where you will find plenty of parking. This is another stream that doesn’t get a lot of pressure but does offer a lot of potential for browns and rainbow trout. The fish are of average size, but you’ll find the occasional gem here and there.
Despite not being fished regularly, this river produces some nice sized fish. There are several tributaries off this river that make for good fishing, as well. Up in the headwaters, Kephart Prong and Beech Flats Prong merge to form the Oconaluftee.
The Bradley Fork enters down near the Smokemount Campground increasing the size of the Oconaluftee considerably. Further downstream the Raven Fork joins the Luftee along the Cherokee Indian Qualia Boundary. Lastly, Soco Creek enters just before the Oconaluftee enters the Tuckasegee River.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to some of the best fishing opportunities that many people don’t even know about. However, with rivers like this one waiting to be explored, you’re sure to have a great trip when you choose to fly fish in the Smokies.
Best Places to Fish the Oconaluftee River
The upper reaches of the Oconaluftee River is a tightly-enclosed river that can make casting difficult, but it is wider below Bradley Fork for those who want a little more open room to move. There are some open grass fields along the river, and those offer the best places to fish for easy access.
If you decide to fish the Bradley Fork, you will have to work harder to get to the good spots, but the perfect gradient offers good water flow and plenty of deep pockets and runs that are filled with brown trout.
The river has some great hatches, and if you fish in the Spring, you’ll find that where you go doesn’t matter as much because the fish are less fickle and hungry!
The Bradley Fork has plenty of browns and rainbow trout and could almost be its own stream system. This entire confluence is easily one of the best streams in the park, offering fishing up and down the entire length of the river and its tributaries.
Best Time to Fish the Oconaluftee River
You can find prime fishing during the spring, as discussed in regard to the excellent hatches that come off this time of year.
In the summer, the park waters can get a bit too warm on hot days. However, you can still find a lot of cool pools in this stream, thanks to its cover from the elements and plenty of shade. The fall and winter are good for trout fishing here, too, but make sure that you check North Carolina regulations.
Some creeks and rivers in the park are open for year-round fishing access. Others may have limited access or close for hatchery activities in the month of March. This is about the only thing that impacts when you come since the fishing is great year-round in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Stream Flow and Current Conditions
Be sure to check the stream conditions before heading out to fish the Oconaluftee River. The USGS stream gauge at Birdtown, NC provide a good indication of current conditions.