NC Trout Fishing-Good Streams?

22-rimfire

22-rimfire

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Nov 20, 2005
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Planning some trout fishing in the area around the Great Smoky Mountains NP in a month or so. What streams have you fished for trout and are they any good? I'm looking for two types of streams: Stocked, and Unstocked (aka native trout). Suggestions?
 
I suggest you do a web search of likely streams. The NPS would be a good place to start. License requirements and regulations vary widely across the area. NC wildlife agency would be another good resource. Also websites dedicated to trout fishing in the area of interest.
http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/fishing.htm
http://www.ncwildlife.org/
http://www.flyfishingnc.com/

Once you narrow down some streams of interest, you can check out flow data through this website of the USGS. It provides current flow readings and charts recent changes. They maintain guages on more rivers and streams than you might imagine.

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rt

Here is the current chart for the First Broad River near Casar, NC. as an example.

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nc/nwis/uv?site_no=02152100

And for even more specific info, google local outfitters and sport shops. Many of them post up to date fishing reports.
 
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Thanks Codger_64. I have done all of that already (except for the river gauge data) and was interested in people's personal experiences and opinions. I periodically fish on the Tellico River in TN and almost always check the gauge data. I have made the drive in the past only to find the creek unfishable due to high water. I know about what are comfortable levels based on the gauge info there.

I also talk to guides and so forth as well for general information. I don't expect somebody telling me their "favorite" pool, but they might tell me the stream name and the better portions of that stream.
 
Hey 22rimfire,
I fly fish WNC a lot and I have noticed that a lot of fly fishermen don't like posting their good streams on a public forum. I usually fish closer to Asheville then you will be but I have caught good fish on hazel creek in GSMNP although you need to get a guide to take you there across Fontana lake. There is also a great book called "trout streams of southern Appalachia" by jimmy jacobs that has good water listed. You are smart to check w local guides as well. There is very good stocked fishing on the Cherokee reservation and there are big holdover rainbows there. Good luck!
 
ignatius said:
I have noticed that a lot of fly fishermen don't like posting their good streams on a public forum.
Click to expand...

General rule of thumb ^. You might suggest that people PM you if they would like to share that sort of info.
 
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