Fly Fishing the Smoky Mountains

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Smoky Mountains offer some of the best fly fishing in North Carolina and Tennessee. Take a guided fly fishing trip with Fly Fishing the Smokies, the #1 Fly Fishing Outfitter in the Smoky Mountains near Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Cherokee, and Bryson City.

It’s now May and the fly fishing action is really heating up! We are seeing massive Rainbows, Browns and Brook Trout being caught by our anglers each day on the Tuckasegee River on the North Carolina side of the Smoky Mountains! This slow moving river is arguably the crown jewel of Western North Carolina and offers some of the best fly fishing opportunities in the south. The Tuckasegee is home to Rainbow, Brown and Brook Trout, but also Smallmouth, Largemouth, Kentucky Spotted Bass, Walleye, Muskie, Carp, Crappie and Bluegill. All are great fish to catch on a fly rod, and Fly Fishing the Smokies is there with more years on the river than any other outfitter in the area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is warming up from a very long winters grip and the fishing is outstanding! We are now seeing some great hatches of insects which have the trout looking up and taking dry flies off the surface! The most colorful fish of the Smokies is in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Smokies offer hundreds of miles of streams that are chocked full of wild Rainbow, Brown and Brook Trout just waiting to be caught! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn to fly fish with the best guides in the Smoky Mountains! Contact Fly Fishing the Smokies at (828)-488-7665 and reserve your date

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fly Fishing the Smokies offer Half Day and Full Day Wade Trips which are perfect for learning to fly fish, plus Half Day, 3/4 Day, and Full Day Float Trips.  We provide all the necessary equipment, plus all flies at no extra charges. All of our trips are private with just you and your guide.

Be sure to check out our 3/4 Day Float Trip Special for two anglers for just $225.00

Contact Fly Fishing the Smokies at (828)-488-7665  and book your trip today!

Your Smoky Mountain adventure starts here!

 

 

 


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Fly Fishing the Great Smoky Mountains

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Want to catch trout in Smoky Mountains this year? Now is the time for your best chance. This fishing is near peak, and the action couldn’t be hotter all across Swain County!

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the hottest destination at the moment. The water levels are great and stream temperatures are near perfect for trout. We are seeing plenty of insect activity from early morning until dark which are keeping trout feeding all day long. Look for trout to be in the fast broken sections of water called riffles, which carry oxygenated water and contain the best concentration of aquatic insects that trout are eating. Throwing bushy dry flies with small flashy nymphs underneath will catch trout for you all day long.

The Nantahala River is on fire. The upper Delayed Harvest stretch, and the lower White Water section are all fishing great. Trout are feeding in the faster riffle sections and are taking Caddis flies with line snapping aggression. Try running Elk hair Caddis dries with a Caddis Pupae underneath for best results. If your after a big Rainbow or Brown, rig up a Stonefly nymph and run it through the deepest sections of water and hold on. Rafting traffic on the lower Nantahala River is just starting to pick up on weekends, so be careful when wading out into some sections of river as you may end up as a hood ornament for a raft.

The Oconaluftee River and Raven Fork in Cherokee are fishing hot too. The tribe continues to stock the rivers heavily with Rainbow, Brown, and Brook Trout twice each week. No other streams in the south have as many fish stocked as the waters in Cherokee. The Fly Fishing Only “Trophy Trout” section is fishing very well. Best time of day for these river monsters is early morning or late afternoon into the evening. Those big fish didn’t get that size by being easy to catch! Work your flies slowly here for best results, these big guys know the difference between a bad presentation and a good one.

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Best flies for trout are;

Green Drakes #8-10, Mahogany Duns in #12-14, Little Yellow Sallies, #14-16, Light Hendricksons #12-16, Dark Hendricksons #12-16, Sulpher dries #12-14, March Browns #10-14, Red Quill dries #14-16, Quill Gordon dries #12-14, Olive Elk Hair Caddis #12-16, Cinnamon Elk Hair Caddis in #12-16, Little Black Caddis in #14-16, Blue Winged Olives in #18-22, Quill Gordon nymphs #12-14, Pheasant Tail Nymphs #12-18, Hares Ear nymphs #12-16, egg patterns in #10-12, Rainbow Warriors in #14-20, Caddis Pupae #14-18, and cream midges in #22-26. For Streamer patterns, black and olive Woolly Buggers in sizes #6-8, dark brown and Olive Sculpins in #6-8, white, black, and olive Zonkers #6-10, Game Changers in #4-8, yellow Zoo Coungars #4-8, and yellow Kiwi Muddlers #6-10.

The best lake this week is Cheoah Lake located below Fontana Dam. Cheoah is stocked with Rainbow, Brown, and Brook trout by the state several times per year. Last year the state stocked Muskie into Cheoah Lake to see how well these toothy critters would fair. With a steady diet of trout and bluegill, they seem to be doing just fine! Muskie have to be 42 inches to keep per state laws. They do not make for good table fare, and skin mounts are a thing of the past, so it’s best to photograph and release. Lewellyn Branch Boat Ramp which is just downstream from Fontana Dam, offers plenty of parking, a concrete ramp, floating dock, and Handicap accessible Bank Side Fishing Pier. Lewellyn Branch offers public access to some of the best under-fished trout water in the county. If Fontana seems a bit crowded lately, take a look at other options in Swain County. You just might be surprised at what you will find!

See you on the water!

 

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Fly Fishing the Smoky Mountains

The fishing here in the Smoky Mountains is amazing right now! The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is busting with Spring colors and plenty of hungry trout. Dry Fly action right now is hard to beat, and we’re seeing plenty of good sized Rainbows and Browns in the park! Early morning and late afternoon are epic in the park!

 

The Tuckasegee River is fishing the best it has all year! Monster sized Rainbow, Brown, and Brook trout are being caught all over the river with a mixture of dry flies and nymphs. We’ve been floating and wading the Tuck with great success. Every angler we have had out this month has caught a Grand Slam! Most anglers are catching several nice wild trout too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The lower Tuckasegee River is now seeing the White Bass and Walleye starting to run up river to spawn. Night time and early morning fishing is the best, and will offer you the best shot at a Walleye!

 

The Nantahala River is on fire! Both the upper Delayed Harvest section and the lower white water section is fishing fantastic! There are plenty of insect hatches that are keeping the trout feeding on the surface all day long! And at night…..well, let’s just say that big Browns dine at dusk!!!

 

Call us to book your next adventure in the Smoky Mountains!

828-488-7665

 

See you on the water!

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Fly Fishing Smoky Mountains

Enjoy guided Fly Fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains with the guides of Fly Fishing the Smokies. A professional outfitters and guide service operating guided fly fishing trips daily out of Gatlinburg, Cherokee, and Bryson City. Since 1999 we have guided anglers to some of the most beautiful trout streams in all of North Carolina and Tenessee. We offer guided fly fishing trips in the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Gatlinburg, Cherokee, and Bryson City, the Tuckasegee River, Nantahala River, WNC Fly Fishing Trail and the Cherokee Fly Fishing Only Trophy section. Discover the majestic streams and mountains while enjoying a day of guided fly fishing with some of the Smokey Mountain’s best fly fishing guides. We also serve the surrounding Smoky Mountain towns of Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, Asheville, Sylva, Franklin, Highlands, and Dillsboro.

We offer guided fly fishing trips for anglers of all skill levels and ages. With Wade Trips, Float Trips, our Signature Beginner Classes, and the option of Half Day and Full Day Trips, we offer something for everyone and for every budget. For the adventurous soul, we also offer Back Country Camping, and Multi Day Float Fishing. We offer a great day of fly fishing and instruction, along with all necessary gear and equipment, without the price gouge. We offer better prices than any of our competitors, if you don’t believe us, check them out!

There are so many opportunites for Fly Fishing in the Smoky Mountains that it’s hard to list them all. We guide the following areas, plus a few special ones we don’t advertise;

  • The Great Smoky Mountains National Park
  • The Nantahala River
  • The Little Tennessee River
  • The Tuckasegee River
  • The Tuckasegee River Delayed Harvest
  • WNC Fly Fishing Trail
  • Cherokee Fly Fishing Only Trophy waters, Raven Fork, Oconoluftee River
  • The Cullasaja River
  • Guided Fly Fishing in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
  • Guided Fly Fishing in Bryson City and Cherokee, North Carolina
  • Guided Fly Fishing in Highlands and Cashiers, North Carolina
  • Guided Fly Fishing in Sylva and Dillsboro, North Carolina

Be sure to check out our Float Trip Special on the Tuckasegee River which will run throughout Winter 2012! Stay warm and fly fish comfortably from our Catarafts and Drift boats. Best Deal on the water anywhere!

Also check out our Spring 2012 Hazel Creek Group Camping Trip May 17th-20th. Don’t wait to book, this fills up fast!!

Call us at (828)488-7665 or send us an email to [email protected] and we’ll be happy to help custom tailor a fly fishing trip that is right for you. Come Fly Fishing the Smoky Mountains with us, we’re sure you’ll create memories that will last a lifetime!

 

Fly Fishing the Smokies is fully insured, licensed, and operates under a special Commercial Use Authorization from the National Park Service.

All content and photos copyrighted to Fly Fishing the Smokies P.O. Box 291 Bryson City NC, 28713

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Tuckasgee River Float Trip, Trout Tuesday!

Fat Tuesday with Fly Fishing the Smokies

What would be Fat Tuesday in most parts of the country that celebrates Mardi Gras , we have coined “Trout Tuesday”.

So on Trout Tuesday we guided a father and son, Jason and Jay, from Louisiana. We Floated the Tuckasegee River Delayed Harvest Section which is part of the WNC Fly Fishing Trail near Dillsboro and Sylva NC. Jason took advantage of the great deal with our Float Trip Special. What a great day we had! These  guys were easily some of the nicest folks we’ve had the pleasure of fishing with!

Fat Tuesday Rainbow Trout with Fly Fishing the Smokies

The morning started off cold, with a light dusting of what the old timers used to call Hominy Snow, which covered our fishing rig and cataraft. You never know what your are going to get with a Winter in the Smoky Mountains.  The day remained cloudy but warmed up to around 50 degrees. The water levels in the Tuckasegee River were low to start the morning off, with the generation flows from the upstream powerhouse reaching us around noon. The fishing was good and we had already boated several nice trout by the time the warmer water from the powerhouses reached us. Once the higher and warmer flows hit us, the fishing really turned on and we finished out the day cataching and releasing many Brook, Brown, and Rainbow Trout.  8 yr old Jay managed to capture a Grand Slam which is a Rainbow, Brown and Brook Trout. While a Brook Trout eluded his dad Jason the entire day, Jason was on fire catching rainbow trout. He caught several nice fish some of which pushed 16 inches. On two occasions Jason caught wild Rainbow Trout who were born in the Tuckasegee River. This just goes to show that the health of the Tuckasegee River is alive and well, and with the recent removal of the old crumbling Dillsboro Dam has opened passageway to many spawning wild trout who might have otherwise never have been able to travel upstream and complete their spawning runs.

In all, Trout Tuesday was a great day, and in non traditional Mardis Gras fashion, our gluttenous day of catching many trout on Fat Tuesday will NOT be follow by giving up any Fly Fishing vises that we may, or may not have. Bring on the flies and fish, its the Carnival Season!

Tight Lines!

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Tuckasegee River in North Carolina

The Tuckasegee River starts high in mountains above Cashiers NC. As it flows off the mountains to valley below, it picks up many smaller streams and gains in size and flow until finally emptying into Fontana Lake just below Bryson City. The Tuckasegee River is similar in size to many larger rivers found in the Rocky Mountain west.

The river’s name comes from that of a Cherokee village, Tsiksitsi (meaning “Crawling Terrapin,” for the sluggish movement of the waters). The Tuck is roughly 50 miles long and is a beautiful river. With it’s relatively slow moving current, emerald green waters, and many rock ledges, the fish here have a great place to live. Anglers can expect to catch a variety of fish in the Tuck. In the upper stretches of the river near the small town of Dillsboro, we have a Delayed Harvest Section of the Tuckasegee River which contains over 9,000 trout per mile. Action here is nothing short of incredible. As you move downstream towards the settlement of Whittier the river widens a bit and you begin to see Smallmouth Bass and some really big Brown and Rainbow Trout. Further downstream near Bryson City, we catch anything from Rainbow and Brown Trout, to Smallmouth, Walleye, and Muskie. Wading the Tuck is a great option, but the real fun is floating the river from a raft and cataraft.

We have floated the Tuckasegee River for over 12 years. in that time we have guided more float trips down the tuckasegee river than any other outfitter in the area. To say we have a good grasp on the Tuckasegee River might just be an understatement.

To fish this legandary river;

Call us at (828)488-7665 or send us an email to [email protected] and we’ll be happy to help get your trip booked and get you on the water.

Come and Fly Fish the Smokies with us, we’re sure you’ll create memories that will last a lifetime!

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Tuckasegee River Fly Fishing Float Trip

Great weather the end of the week has really truned the fish on. The Tuckasegee River was on fire today! We floated the Delayed Harvest section in our new Aire cataraft today and had a great time. Both anglers caught a Tuckasgee River Grand Slam,( which is a Rainbow, Brook, Brown Trout plus a Smallmouth Bass), which made the day even more special.

The warm weather today brought the trout to the surface feeding on a variety of dry flies and nymphs fished in the waters surface. Hatches of Caddis, Stoneflies, Blue winged Olives and midges kept us in constant action all morning long.

Hopefully this spring like weather is here to stick around for a while, we are getting spoiled!

Tight Lines

 

To book a trip with Fly Fishing the Smokies you can either click the Book Online! button

or call us at 828-488-7665 or shoot us an email at [email protected]

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WNC Fly Fishing Trail

Take one of our guided fly fishing trips on the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail, situated in Jackson County, which features some of the best trout waters in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina.

The Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail takes you to 15 excellent spots for catching Brook, Brown and Rainbow trout. Whether you seek quantity or size, open waters or small streams, the WNC Fly Fishing Trail has it all.

The WNC Fly Fishing Trail includes the following rivers and streams;

  • Tuckasegee River
  • Scotts Creek
  • Small streams, Moses Creek, Mull Creek, Rough Butt Creek, Chastine Creek, and Piney Mountain Creek
  • Tanasee Creek
  • Caney Fork
  • Panther Town Creek
  • Raven Fork
  • Whitewater River
  • Scotsman Creek
  • Fowler Creek
  • Chattooga River
  • Savannah Creek
  • Greens Creek

Don’t miss out on fly fishing the WNC Fly Fishing Trail with the guides at Fly Fishing the Smokies.!

We have a few options of booking your trip, you can choose to click the Book Online! link to the right of the screen or call us at 828-488-7665 or send an email to [email protected] and book your trip to one of the many great streams on the WNC Fly Fishing Trail today.

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Fly Fishing Highlands

Fly Fishing Highlands, Highlands North Carolina Fly Fishing, Fly Fishing Highlands, Fly Fishing the Smokies

Fly Fishing Highlands NC

Fly Fishing Highlands North Carolina is an awesome experience. Highlands offers some of the most incredible views and waterfalls of anywhere in the Southern Highlands. As such, Highlands has equally impressive and unique fly fishing opportunities.

Fly Fishing the Smokies offers guided fly fishing in Highlands North Carolina as both Wade Trips and Float Trips. Many of the trips we offer in Highalnds are unique just to the Highlands Cashiers area.

 

Highlands Fly Fishing Guides, Tuckasegee River Fishing Report May 17th, Fly Fishing the Smokies

We guide anglers on Wade Trips in the Cullasaja River Gorge and it’s tributaries. The Cullasaja River Gorge is chocked full of spectacular waterfalls and plunges. Here you will find mostly wild Rainbow and Brown Trout, and the occasional Brook trout. The Cullasaja River offers a great place to challenge even the most skilled anglers. If your looking for some refreshing fun while vacationing in Highlands give us a call. A Wade Trip on the Cullasaja River will fit the bill nicely.

We offer special Float Trips tailored just for the water in Highlands. Lake Sequoyah is a beautiful small lake that is full of fish. Lake Sequoyah is home to Rainbow, and Brown Trout, plus Smallmouth bass, Largemouth bass, Perch, Crappie, many varieties of sunfish and the occasional catfish. We catch them all, and we do it fly fishing! The peacefulness on Lake Sequoyah is protected by a motor size limit and a no wake zone for most of the lake. What you don’t see is jet skis and the annoying pontoons cruising the lake. What you will see is eager fish on the end of you flies!

 

Fly Fishing Guides Highlands NC, Highlands North Carolina Fly Fishing Guides,

Highlands North Carolina offers many stream options including the Chattooga River, made famous in the movie Deliverance. Long gone are the sounds of banjos and the wild hillbillies, but left are the many trout and complete solitude found on the upper Chattooga River and its many fine tributaries. Nearby we also guide anglers to Big Creek just across the Georgia state line. Big Creek is known for its many Brown Trout some reaching trophy sizes.

 

Fly Fishing Guides Highlands NC, Tuckasegee River Fly Fishing Report May 5th

Give Fly Fishing the Smokies a call today and reserve your trip Fly Fishing Highlands North Carolina. Your adventure in the mountains starts here!

Call us at (828)-488-7665 or email us at [email protected]

 

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Fly Fish Cherokee NC

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Fly Fishing in Cherokee NC is incredible! With hundreds of miles of water to explore between Cherokee North Carolina and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, there is an adventure at every turn. Cherokee has a Trophy Trout Fly Fishing Only section that rivals streams all across the nation. In terms of big fish you want find anywhere better int eh Smoky Mountains and surrounding area to catch a Trophy Trout. Most anglers we guide here catch the fish of a lifetime!

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is an excellent area to fly fish. With over 2,000 miles of available water to explore, there is no shortage for trout or solitude. Fly Fishing the Smokies is the best outfitter you can find to explore the Smoky Mountains with. We are in the Great Smoky Mountains back country all year long and know ever stream in the region. We are known as your Smoky Mountain Fly Fishing experts.

Fly Fishing the Smokies is the best choice for guided fly fishing in the Cherokee, and Great Smoky Mountains area. We have a staff of 11 professional, enthusiastic guides who are more than happy to show you a great time on the water! Whether you are new to the fly fishing, or an old pro, Fly Fishing the Smokies can deliver a day for you that will fit your desire. We include all the gear you would need plus any flies at NO additional charges. We also have gear to fit smaller hands and feet, so bring your children too, and have a great experience for the entire family!

Call us at (828)-488-7665 or email at [email protected]

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