backpacking & flyfishing in the Smoky Mo untains

“Looking for advise, & information, & hiking partners to backpack/flyfish the high mountain streams of the Great Smoky Mountains. In search of Wild Brook Trout, (previously closed streams have just been opened for fishing!!). Backpacking and fly-fishing were ment to be combined, as far as I am conserned!! Anyone interested ???? or am I alone in this quest???”

“You are not alone.
I'd love to do that only I've got two things stopping me right now.

First I need to learn how to flyfish
Second my first child is due in four weeks.

Ain't gonna happen anytime soon for me.

How familiar are you with the Smokies? I have a book that says that Hazel creek is the hot backcountry fishing spot for trout.”

“Welcome to the forum.
FlyFishSouth.com
General discussion on the art/science of fly fishing. ”

“Oh, I read that heading and it almost made me weep for wanting to do it. Trouble is, I live in England and have a 12 week old baby girl and a business as a commercial artist. But it made the heart swell just thinking about it. I fish a couple of place called Ladybower and Errwood in Derbyshire. They're great places, in the hills,and the connifers often put people, not just me, in mind of the New world. But I imagine that put in the Rockies I would be agog with wonder at the bredth scope and wilderness of the place.

But here I am stuck in dingy Manchester witht eh clouds rolling in saying oh rain oh rain oh rain.

Life's not fair.”

“Did I say Rockie Mountains? I meant Smokie.”

“thanks for the websites!!!
very cool!!! Just what I was looking for,,, now if I can just get those guy's to give up their best fishing spots!!! hehe”

“Congrats on the upcoming new little lady!!, I have 3 "little ladies" .. the youngest are twins, will be 16 y/0 in a few days!!! you will live up to your name "pack mule" when you start packing that little bundle on the trail with you !!!!
As for fly-fishing, it is as rewarding as packing for me,,, I'm planning a trip next fall to combine the two!! ( I have a lot of research to do !!).. I've only visited the Smokies as a tourist, drooled over the streams, and trails from my van,,, but that's all going to change!!!!”

“Hmmm... you seem a bit too emotional about my post!! hehe
don't dispare!! I find myself at least 200 miles from any trout fishing, the goal of most flyfishers in these parts! You are right! life is Not Fair!!
What do you fish for there???”

“Thanks, I'm looking forward to it.

I've been planning to do a fishing/packing trip through the Smokies but just haven't made the time. The park does have a pamplet that describes all the streams but it's very general and is more of a "don't fish here" and "you can't catch these" kind of thing. I also have a book describing the streams in the park but I can't recall the name. I'll dig it up and post it here.”

“If you lived in Manchester, you'd be emotional about the thought.
In England there is preciousl little sense of freedom, everything is very small and controlled and unwild. My friend and I seem to spend most of out time trying to find places that give yo the illusion at least that you are away from it all. Take my word for it, it is very difficult.
We fish for rainbow and brown trout. the still water reservoirs are large, for here, but all manmade. River fishing is somewhat languorous here, a bit flat and always too near civilisation. Take it from me, almost anywhere, you can always hear the traffic.”

“My grandfather died before we ever got to use that 7' cane flyrod he had in his garage. I only got up to bass fishing - which I enjoy. My passion for it has subsided in recent years - don't know why - maybe fished out - been doing it all my life. It's what my family did for recreation.

Gotte reminds me to be thankful that - in the U.S. we are still blessed with quite a few "wide open spaces". Let's be thankful while we have them - and protect them - but then I would imagine I'm preachin' to the chior here.

HPM - glad to hear treebait and Laurel are doing great.”

“About 4 weeks and everything is going perfect.”

“If you ever get the chance to come to over to the States I'm sure any number of the TT regulars that fly fish would be more than willing to show you some of our "home waters".
I fish the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina and it's good but has its own civilization problems (too many people who love the outdoors). If you want really isolated and wild, go to the Western U.S.”

“One day, If I have my way...”

“Hang on to that "cane flyrod"!!
if it's an old bamboo rod in good condition you might just be suprised at the market value!!!
You sound like me,, born and raised on conventional bass fishing!, but after buying a fly tying kit for a hobby, then deciding to buy a cheap flyrod, to try my luck, (the results were unbeliveable!),,, I haven't picked up a spinning, or bait casting rod since!!!
Part of the "magic" of stream/fly-fishing is it gets me out in the woods, many times out onto trails to get to fishing spots! The best of both worlds! for me!!!”

“Have you spent any time fishing in the Smoky Mountains ? I'm just dying to find someone that can steer me in the right direction to a spot to backpack/fly-fish there !! And, of course this "dumb Ohioian" has no clue how to deal with the Bears!!!! Thus far my only occurance was with a "moma" skunk, she took her babies one way, and I was more than happy to go the other way !!!!”

“flypacker - You're off your rocker, if you think any of us in the know are going to steer you to our favorite "holes." Some of the fishermen, who I have met there, can catch fish almost anywhere. Others consistently catch only a couple or less.

You need to get there and try. Some people learn by experience, others do not.

Good luck.”

“I hear they've opened some of the upper parts of Bradley Fork in the Smokies. I've always seen good-sized fish there. In the lower reaches as well.”

“You are not the first person to accuse me of "being off my rocker"!! heheh...... I've gotten used to it now !!!
Not asking you to give up your "honey holes" , just need advise for a nice campground to use for a base camp, and a stream that won't be all dried up in the fall,,,,,( we will be traveling 6 hours to get there!)
Will only be a yearly trip for 3 to 5 men, no threat to your local waters !!!!
I assume us "Ohioans" don't need a passport to travel into your waters???? We are strickly catch and release, will protect the trails, and by the way,,,just how much of a concern are the black bears???? should we refrain from cooking in the mountains ?????
FYI, two of us have caught fish in mud puddles !!!! (hehe)...”

“Thanks for the tip!! is there a campground near that stream that we can use for a basecamp, and trails we can hike up the stream??
We are totally new to that area. I've drooled over the streams and trails from my van as a tourist, but never set foot into the woods, or a stream yet!!”

“Campgrounds:Deep Creek, Cataloochee, Big Creek

Camp Sites: 54, 64, 73, 71, 83, 24,37, 39

Keep backpacks out of sight or hung high.
Keep food and food packs hung high.
Don't stray more than 15 feet from backpacks or foodpack that are not protected as above. Even at 15 feet you could turn around and see a bear departing with your things.

Yes, you can cook there.

You will need a fishing permit or license from either TN or NC for fishing anywhere in GSMNP.”

“There are adequate cable hangers at each camp site.”

“Hey, another fly guy!
(whats this world coming to?)”

“That's just what I need to get started!! You seem to be very familiar with the area! Have you fished there for a long time??
I'm thinking fall would be a better time for us to come down as opposed to the spring, (get away from the spring rains)!,, Make sense?? Any of the campsites you mentioned get below 40 degrees at night in late Sept, or early Oct? (when you get bored with my questions, just ignore me!!) ....
Thanks again,,,,, Flypacker”

“hmm... I guess there are at least two of us that enjoy both backpacking, and flyfishing,,, do you ever combine the two???
Are you in east, or west Penn ???”

“I have never fished in GSMNP. I have met, camped, and eaten fish with sucessful flyfishermen. Most of them have been from the local area.

I have been backpacking there for many years. Sometimes I am there for a total of 3 or 4 months of the year. (I still work, too.) Click on my name to see my profile. In the profile click on "more" for additional information as AdakHIker. Then, click here to see me in action.

Yes, there is less rain in fall and there are fewer violent storms. Yes, it can drop below 40 degrees in Sept. and Oct. Temperatures usually are 4 or 5 degrees lower at each 1,000 feet elevation gain. Snow can fall. But it does not happen often. Also, autumn brings the fall colors. The colors usually peak about the third weekend in Oct.

Boredom will not prevent me from answering any more questions. But after another day or two, the answers may have to wait until I return from GSMNP. I'll going there bp-ing and will not return for about 84 days.

Here are two links for information:
GSMNP
Weather and Climate

Upon arrival, visit the park's Sugarland Visitor Center near Gatlinburg, TN. It will be interesting, you will find plenty of information, and you can make your site reservations.

Please send me an e-mail and let me know how you enjoyed your trip. I can read it sometime in Nov. after my return.”

“Have a good trip!!! and good luck!! (doesn't seem to me you need much luck!),,,, you seem to have things well under control....
Thanks for all your info!!!!!!!!!!”