I am currently planning a trout fishing/hiking trip to the Smokies in early May. I have read several books and checked out a few websites, but there are so many streams within the park, that it seems a bit overwhelming as to which streams to fish, since I have never been there before.
Can anyone recommend a particular stream or two, to a first-timer there? I do not mind hiking in to remote places.
I will likely only have a couple of days for fishing (I will also be hiking a section or two of the Appalachian Trail), and plan to camp within the park.
Elkmont just past the campground can be nice if you hike a little past the old cottages. Also, Abramās Creek in the Cadeās Cove area can be nice. Again, hike a little ways past the parking, touristy area. It should also be noted that Trout Fest is happening in May in Townsend, TN. A great fly shop is Little River Outfitters in Townsend and they have a nice web site.
I recommend the Little and the Pigeon right along thehighway between Gatlinburg and Townsend. You donāt have to go to the backcountry unless you specifically want brookies. Rainbows and browns are just offthe side of the road. Check in with the crew at Little River Outfitters inTownsend or Smokey Mountain Anglers on Gatlinburg for fly suggestions anddirections. Bobbymojo hit on several spots I like. If Troutfest is going on the best sources of information will be there.
Dear Bob and billhouk,
Thank You for your replies and for the info. I will check out these streams for sure.
Unfortunately, I will miss TroutFest, since my trip will occur a week prior to it, and I am unable to reschedule, due to work conflicts.
I am sure that I will love the park, since it seems like the perfect place for my 2 passions (other than my wife and kids, of course), hiking and flyfishing for wild trout. I hope to make it an annual trip, to explore the many streams and trails.
I appreciate your help,
Jimā¦
Thank You very much for your help. I just briefly checked out the Little River Outfitters website and it is very cool! I will spend quite a bit of time perusing it (such a wealth of information). Looks like a great online catalog tooā¦ I will certainly stop in there when I get down there (with an excursion first into northern Georgia to hike a section of the AT, either Springer or Blood Mountain). I am very excited about this trip. Iād better get started tying nowā¦Best Regards, JimBob
I am still in the planning stages (first wk of May is all I could get off of work here in NJ), and I was thinking about doing a dayhike or two on the AT in Georgia (Springer Mt and/or Blood Mt), then some AT dayhiking within GSMNP, along with catch & release flyfishing for wild trout. I have some experience with remote trout streams (PA forests and Shenandoah National Park in VA). My formal backpacking (and backcountry camping) days are likely over, but I still enjoy challenging dayhikes. I enjoy tent camping (away from large RVs and loud motorcycles), so I was considering one of the tent campgrounds within the park. However, I would not rule out any other ideas.
A couple of years ago, I realized that I would like to hike a section of the AT in each of its 14 states (I have 6 under my belt now), so I figured that GA, TN & NC are in the same area, and maybe I could add these 3 states. I was originally planning to add a hike up Mt. Mitchell in NC, but I will not have the extra time. Iāll save that one for another time.
JimBob ~ a place you might consider is the Standing Indian NFS C/G just west of Franklin, NC. This is a Nantahala Natāl Forest C/G, five sections to it, some sites right next to the river and some next to Kimsey Creek which empties into the āNanā right in the heart of the C/G. Thereās a wide variety of camp sites ranging from those favorable to large RV rigs to remote sites the big rigs cannot get to. Water spigots every so many sites, plus flush toilets and hot showers - no electrical hook-ups. Once again, the Nantahala River runs right through the C/G ā¦ thereās rainbow & browns ā¦ further up river above the falls thereās brookies. AND, a section the A.Trail is right next to the C/G - plus other hiking trails galore.
You are a far braver man than me, I drove over Blood Mt a couple of times, no way I could hike it. Of course an average hike for me is a trip from my recliner to the bathroom. I made one trip early one morning, I canāt remember the road number, but if itās foggy, donāt go. I still get scared thinking about it. :shock::shock:
Thanks, Dale. I will check this out. It looks like it is not too far from the Park, so I can sample the parkās fishing, and also hike a TN section of the AT. The hot water & showers sound really good, since I understand that the park camgrounds do not have this luxury. I recently read somewhere that the Nantahala is rated by some as the best trout fishery in the East. Also the proximity looks great since I will be heading that way from the AT in GA. Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it.
GULPā¦Thanks for the warningā¦ 2 years ago in May, I encountered the thickest fog I have ever seen, on the Skyline Drive in SNP, VA. It was so bad that no one was driving anywhere (essentially parked for hours waiting for it to lift). That was very scary, since it is possible to drive over the edge into the Valley below on that winding, curvy roadā¦
JimBob, thanks for the threadā¦ I"m looking out my window here at the puter and can see the top of the SNP. You got my mouth watering for a little bit warmer weatherā¦
SNP is one of my favorite places. Each year I travel there at least once just to hike & fish. Once alone, and later in the summer with my wife & daughter. My fave hike ever is Old Rag Mountain, but it will surely let you know if you are in shape or not. A very challenging hike, but also the most fun. I have fished at least 6 or 7 different streams within SNP but I always make a hike to Jeremyās Run to catch the always hungry brookies. Wish I lived a lot closer though (it is a 5-6 hr drive for me now). Thought I would like to sample GSMNP this year also. I might make that an annual trip also. I am daydreaming and drooling right now.
GSMNP has been one for me too that I would like to fishā¦ because I really enjoy the mountains with native brookies here so much. Please post your trip on here so I can enjoy it too!
SNP Foot Note: A friend of mine told me he caught his first brookie on a dry last weak for this year. Seems the may fly hatch has started about 3 weaks early. 10 inch native on a dry in Febā¦:-()
I will post the trip.
The winter has been extremely mild up here in NJ (weāve only had a few inches of snow so far), and temps averaging way above normal (they got above freezing nearly every day, even in January). I hope the Hendrickson hatch doesnāt happen before Opening Day in April. I wonder if many of the hatches will come off earlier this year, due to higher than normal H2O temps.
I made one trip early one morning, I canāt remember the road number, but if itās foggy, donāt go. I still get scared thinking about it. :shock::shock: