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Post by BTLowry on Jan 12, 2020 12:39:07 GMT -6
Thinking about taking a trip early June to this area with the wife.
Anyone with experience in that area care to share pointers or any useful knowledge?
I searched but did not see much other than people planning or considering a trip there
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Post by jonbo on Jan 12, 2020 19:48:05 GMT -6
I perused it closely a few years ago when I went to Gatlinburg and the Great Smokies. It helped. I fished several of the mountain streams. Did alright. I had a guide the first day. He had me fishing a caddis dry with something like a Frenchy dropper in about a 16-18. I used the same setup the rest of the time I was there. One of the main things he had me do was be very stealthy. The streams were fairly tiny and the fish spooky. This was all in the park. I didn't fish outside the park where the streams were deeper with less gradient. I caught mostly rainbows, a couple of brookies, nothing over 10-11 inches.
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Post by BTLowry on Jan 12, 2020 20:07:15 GMT -6
Thanks for the link
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Post by jonbo on Jan 13, 2020 18:09:03 GMT -6
Contact the Little River Outfitters. They're in Townsend which is the park entrance to where you'd get to Cades Cove, I think. They'll set you up with a guide if you like. Also in that area is the Middle Prong of the Little River. Whatever stream is in Cades Cove may be a tributary. You can research it. I did 4 or 5 years ago, but forget. Anyway, up the Middle Prong is Lynn Camp Prong (or something like that). You drive to the trailhead and start hiking. The lower Middle Prong isn't supposed to be good fishing in summer, too hot, but way up, Lynn Camp Prong is. That other link I sent you might be a little out of date. At one point LCP was closed for fishing, for restoration. They may be finished now. You'd have to research it. I will next winter when we go to Gatlinburg.
Also, out of Gatlinburg, headed up into the Smokies is some more restored native brook trout area. I'm not sure which "prong" of which river that is. Maybe the Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon River?
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Post by BTLowry on Jan 13, 2020 20:49:24 GMT -6
I will look into those leads too jonbo
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Post by sulross on Jan 14, 2020 11:44:28 GMT -6
You're in some prime country for brook trout on small streams as noted above. Little River Outfitters hooked us up, too. We hit a lot of small water and caught them on dries and soft hackles. Another great thing we did was go over to Cherokee for a few days of fishing. There are some great runs and if you're willing to get back in the brush and explore, there are some big rainbows. We had a ball hooking into those. We used Curtis Wright Fly Shop up in the Blue Ridge and had a fantastic day on private water catching browns and bows. I believe CW has moved their store towards Asheville, now, but they are still a great outfit. Lots of areas to just explore up there if you ask the fly shops. They can direct you to lesser fished waters.
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Post by FlyAndStream on Jan 22, 2020 0:30:33 GMT -6
Which watershed? There are quite a few in that area. I personally like the upper Davidson in NC above Avery Creek, wild fish in pristine water! Fly fishing only, catch and release, not too pressured.
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Post by jonbo on Jan 22, 2020 6:54:22 GMT -6
Guys, I'll probably fish somewhere close to Gatlinburg. My folks will be around there and I won't be straying to far as I'll only get a few hours here and there. Chances are, I'll go to a campground area called "Elkmont" which is the Little River. The Little Pigeon River (confusing) runs right along the highway through the middle of the Park. I'll probably give it a shot, too. I really wanted to fish for brookies because they're the native species, but have been told that they live in the high country and I shouldn't even be trying to go up there in January. Stalking brookies in the Great Smokies is kind of a similar deal to stalking cutties in Colorado. It's extremely cool to do, but not at all practical in the wintertime. However, I do know one spot I can try. A guide showed me. I've been asked not to publicize it or other "secret spots". I am determined to fish up in the Park for wild fish and will be doing that, weather permitting.
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Post by frreed on Jan 22, 2020 10:49:59 GMT -6
A few years ago we were there for a family vacation and I took a fly rod, boots and a box of flies. I knew I wouldn't have time to really fish, but got a couple hours on afternoon. I found a convenient access on the Little Pigeon right in the middle of the park. Wading into crystal clear and cool water with beautiful white stone on the bottom was amazing. I swung soft hackles and RS2s and caught around ten small, but pretty rainbows in an hour and a half.
A year later I returned to Gatlinburg, following a 400 mile (week long) bike ride. I had a bad crash and an open wound on my leg so I had to wear waders in July. I was hot, hurting and tired. I manage about 4 hours of fishing over a couple days and only managed a few trout. I did try to get higher in the park to look for some brookies, but the water was low and getting to the streams was way more work than I was willing to do.
It is a wonderful place and the fishing is so different that LMF. I'll be going back
Enjoy
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