Smoky Mountain Fly Fishing

Smoky Mountain Fly Fishing is an ideal way to spend an afternoon with over 2100 miles of rivers and streams running through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and year-round open waters. We welcome everyone to come and enjoy the solitude and peace of a little fishing on the river.

What You Need to Know

• Permits – Obtain a fishing license to fly fish in the Smokies. Anyone over the age of 13 can find a license that can be purchased in nearby towns or purchased online. The park allows fishing on all streams from thirty minutes before official sunrise until thirty minutes after official sunset.
• Quantity Limits – Five (5) brook, rainbow or brown trout, smallmouth bass, or a combination of these in possession, whether fresh, stored in ice, or otherwise preserved.
• Size Limits – Brook, rainbow, and brown trout must be a 7-inch minimum. Smallmouth bass must be a 7-inch minimum.
• Safety – Because of changing water levels and currents, slippery rocks, and water temperature, standing and wading in streams can be dangerous. Pay attention to the changing water conditions to avoid hypothermia and slick footing.
• Water Temperature – The water temperature is the single most defining condition to determine the level of fish and aquatic insect activity. Because most insect activity decreases during colder months, few fish are feeding. Most experienced anglers agree when the perfect conditions for great fishing are once the water temperatures reach 58 degrees.
• Manners – Be a clean fisherman by taking everything you brought into the park back out with you. Moving rocks to form channels and dams is illegal and harmful to both fish and aquatic insects living in our streams.

Equipment Needed

• The best rods to use in the Smokies are 3wt, 4wt, 5wt, or 6wt rods in 7′ to 8.5′ in length. A longer length rod will make controlling your line less difficult.
• Only permitted to use artificial flies with a single hook, either nymphs or dry flies. You can use dropper flies and can only have up to two flies on a leader.
• Most anglers choose not to use waders but instead use felt-soled wading boots, or sandals because of slick and uneven stream beds.
• Dress in colors like green and brown to blend in with your environment and prevent skittish trout from avoiding your fishing spot. We also recommend a light rain jacket due to the wet nature of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, regardless of the forecast.
• Wearing polarized sunglasses (in amber, copper, or brown) will help cut the water glare and improve your chances of catching a fish.

Where to Fish

You can find miles of quality fishing readily available, from remote, headwater trout streams to large, cool-water smallmouth bass streams. The Little River is one of the largest streams in the Smokies and is right off of Little River Road, connecting Townsend and Gatlinburg. Little River splits into five distinct sections: Little River above the Elkmont Campground, Little River above Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area, Little River below the Sinks, Little River through Townsend, and Little River below Townsend. Once the river leaves the boundaries of the park, it takes on a different nature, and fishing regulations change.
Middle Prong, along Tremont Road, is an active stream to fish and is easily accessible. West Prong is a smaller stream but offers lots of eager rainbow trout. It is usually one of the first streams available after a heavy storm. Abrams Falls is also a popular stream for fly fishing and can be found just inside Cades Cove. Another popular section is the “Horseshoe” but takes a full day to fish, so you will need to prepare for at least 8 hours and will not be able to bail out midway through.
Extensive maps and guidebooks can be found in most local outfitters in the area, or you can look online. Check out the following guide for more ideas: Fly-Fishing Guide to the Great Smoky Mountains by Don Kirk.

Just Learning

Smoky Mountain fly fishing isn’t just an adventure for experienced anglers. Several local businesses offer lessons and guided tours, but because of the ongoing pandemic, limited times and attendance vary among businesses. A great place to start your search for local guidance is through our friends Little River Outfitters.