Great Smoky Mountains National Park
One of the most popular and scenic parks in the National Park System, Great Smoky Mountains encompasses more than 500,000 acres of majestic forested mountains along the Tennessee-North Carolina border. The park gets its name from the seemingly ever present smokelike haze enveloping the mountains. Rich soil and abundant rainfall contribute to the existence of a world-renowned variety of flora in the park.
Great Smoky Mountains is popular because it is within a day's drive of most of the major population centers in the East and because it provides a variety of recreational opportunities in a beautiful natural setting. For hikers, the Appalachian Trail threads the crest of the Smokies for approximately 70 miles.
Access:
The park is in southeastern Tennessee (Blount, Sevier, and Cocke counties) and southwestern North Carolina (Swain and Haywood counties). U.S. 441 bisects the park and connects Gatlinburg, Tennessee, with Cherokee, North Carolina.
Fishing:
There are 330 trout streams totaling over 700 miles in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Most of these streams are rarely fished, even though the park receives such heavy use. Reaching most of the park streams requires a hike, which discourages all but the avid angler. The majority of tourists rarely venture into the park interior and are content to view the park from their cars, occasionally stopping at the overlooks, visitor centers, and restored historic structures.
Excellent fishing is available in the roadless back country. Some of the streams are only a short hike from a campsite or roadside, whereas others may take hours to reach. Typically, the more remote the stream, the better the fishing. However, even the streams along roadsides may provide good action.
Reproducing populations of brook, brown, and rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, and rock bass (redeye) are found in park streams. Trout average 9 to 14 inches with fish up to 20 inches in the lower reaches. Rainbow trout are now the most abundant species in the park.
Brook trout, the only trout native to the area, are found in the higher elevation streams (above 3,000 feet). Formerly more widespread, the brook trout has seen its range shrink drastically as a result of changes in stream quality from logging, fires, the introduction of rainbow trout, and overfishing. Today, brook trout are protected in the park and fishing for, or possession of, a brook trout is prohibited. If a brook trout is caught, it must be released. Several streams, including most of the higher elevation streams, are closed to fishing in an effort to protect the species.
Smallmouth bass and rock bass are found in a few of the streams at the lower elevations. Brown trout inhabit the same streams as the rainbows but are not as widespread.
Some of the better park streams are: Abrams Creek, Little River, Cataloochee River, West Prong of the Little Pigeon River, Oconaluftee River, Raven Fork, and Eagle, Hazel, and Forney Creeks. Most park streams average 10 to 30 feet in width. They are clear and swift, and canopied by trees and brush. In the higher elevations, the streams are steep and boulder strewn, tumbling downhill in stair-step arrangements. As the streams flow downhill, the gradient lessens and they are characterized by large pools and deep water runs.
Because of a lack of nutrients in the water, most park streams are poor producers of aquatic insects. Abrams Creek in the Cades Cove area is an exception. It flows over a limestone bedrock and produces amazing quantities of mayflies, caddis flies, and stoneflies.
Standard fly patterns produce consistently on park streams despite the paucity of aquatic insects. Dry flies (size 10 to 18) such as the Adams, Quill Gordon, Light and Dark Cahill, Elk-hair Caddis, and Royal Wulff, take fish all year. Most fly hatches occur during late spring and early summer. As the summer progresses, switch to such terrestrial patterns as ants, beetles, grasshoppers, and bees. Nymphs (sizes 8 to 14) worth trying are the Gold-Ribbed Hares Ear and Tellico, along with mayfly, caddis, and stonefly patterns. Wet-fly patterns with yellow in the body are effective, and the Leadwing Coachman is a favorite.
Park streams demand a quiet approach; the fish are extremely skittish in the clear waters. Fishing is best in the spring and early summer, when water levels and fly hatches are optimum. As summer progresses and water levels drop, fishing becomes more demanding and more work is required for each fish. Then, stealth, light leaders, and accurate fly presentation are in order. Fall fishing is still difficult but can be rewarding as the brown trout begin to spawn.
On the park's southern boundary, in North Carolina, is Fontana Lake. The lake was created and is managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority. Fontana is a well-known producer of good-sized smallmouth bass, walleye, crappie, and rainbow trout. Beginning in 1973, North Carolina began to develop a winter steelhead fishery in Fontana. Now, strong winter runs of steelhead in the 5-to-10 pound range are caught in Fontana's tributaries starting in December. The mouths of Eagle, Hazel, and Forney Creeks are good areas to try for steelhead.
Outside the park along the southeast boundary is the Cherokee Indian Reservation. Many of the park streams flow into the reservation. The Cherokees have opened up approximately 30 miles of stream to public fishing, for a fee. Trout are regularly stocked in these tribal waters and catching fish isn't difficult, even for beginners. Permits are available in the town of Cherokee.
As a precautionary note, be sure to make the proper preparations when venturing into the back-country. The park is home to black bears, wild boars, and poisonous snakes. Some of the hikes can be very steep and taxing. Summer thunderstorms are a regular occurrence, so be properly equipped whether you plan a day trip or an extended overnight stay.
License:
A Tennessee or a North Carolina license is required. Either license allows you to fish anywhere in the park. Be sure to check the special park fishing regulations. Currently only flies or single-hook artificials are allowed (no bait). Remember, all brook trout must be released.
Camping:
There are nine campgrounds in the park with a total of 920 spaces and seven group campgrounds. In addition there are 14 trail shelters along the Appalachian Trail, plus 116 back-country campsites (permit required). Due to heavy visitation, the campgrounds fill up quickly. Elkmont, Cades Cove, and Smokemont campgrounds are on the Destinet reservation system (phone: 1-800-365-2267) while the others are first come-first served.
Both Gatlinburg and Cherokee have private campgrounds and lodging. Additional public campgrounds are available in nearby Cherokee, Nantahala, and Pisgah National Forests.
Maps:
A park trail map is available from park headquarters. The well-developed and well-marked park trail system can take you wherever in the park you wish to fish. There is also a special USGS map of the park, "Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Vicinity."
The Smoky Mountains Fly Fishing Guide, by Dave Teffeteller, is a combination map and guide. It is a fold-out map of the park's streams and includes stream descriptions, travel directions, fly recommendations, and regulations. This guide is available for $4.95. Call toll free: 1-800-959-4843.
Park
Address:
Great Smoky Mountains NP, 107 Park Headquarters Rd., Gatlinburg, TN 37738-4102; phone: (423) 436-1200
Chambers of
Commerce:
Gatlinburg C.C., P.O. Box 527, Gatlinburg, TN 37738; phone: (423) 436-4178; toll free: 1-800-568-4748
Cherokee C.C., P.O. Box 460, Cherokee, NC 28719-0460; phone: (704) 497-9195; toll free: 1-800-438-1601
Additional
Information:
The park is bounded on the northeast by the Cherokee National Forest, on the south by the Nantahala National Forest, and on the southeast by the Pisgah National Forest. Good fishing is available in each. For fishing information and maps about the Cherokee National Forest, contact: Forest Supervisor, Cherokee National Forest, Box 2010, Cleveland, TN, 37320; phone: (423) 476-9700.
Both Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests are managed by the North Carolina Forests Office in Asheville. Contact: U.S. Forest Service, Box 2750, Asheville, NC, 28802; phone: (704) 257-4200.
Fontana Lake along the southern park boundary is managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority. It is not part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Contour and navigation maps of the lake are available from: TVA Mapping Services Branch, Room 101, Haney Bldg., Chattanooga, TN, 37401; phone: (423) 751-6277.
A fishing information brochure and map for the Cherokee Indian waters is available from the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce.
Smoky Mountains Trout Fishing Guide, by Don Kirk, provides additional detail on the park streams. The book is available from: Menasha Ridge Press, 700 S. 28th St., Suite 206, Birmingham, AL, 35233; phone: (205) 967-0566.
Complete fly hatch information appears in A Smoky Mountains & Southern Appalachians Fly Hatch Schedule, by Ken Snelling, a 16-page, laminated, pocketbook that lists significant hatches for the year, times of month and day along with effective fly patterns. The Schedule is available for $7.50 postpaid (check or money order - add $3.00 outside US) from: Graphic Spirit, P.O. Box 22726, Knoxville, TN, 37933-0726.