Fishing in the Smokies - With over 900 miles of rivers and clear mountain streams, the Great Smoky Mountains are a true fisherman's paradise. Although best known for trout, the park's streams are home to almost 80 species of fish. Rainbow trout are stocked in the Gatlinburg streams, with over 28,000 trout released into eight miles of freshwater streams and the Little Pigeon River. Where to Fish?

Abrams Creek below Cades Cove
Big Creek near I-40 and the Little River
Fontana Lake, located along the park's southern boundary, the Tennessee/North Carolina state line
In Gatlinburg for smallmouth bass, rock bass, rainbow and brown trout
West Prong of the Little Pigeon River
LeConte Creek
Roaring Fork Creek
Dudley Creek

There are two designated children's fishing areas which are heavily stocked with trout: North Gatlinburg Park, at the northern Parkway entrance to Gatlinburg, and Mynatt Park off Airport Road. Warning: regulations vary. There are different regulations for the park and the waters inside each city limits. Adults must possess various combinations of local and/or state licenses, requirements vary according to age and the state of residence. Children under the age of nine do not require a license or permit For a brochure explaining the regulations in detail, call:

Check each city for its trout stamp requirements for fishing inside the city limits. Only single-hook artificial lures are permitted; and fishing with any kind of bait (worms, corn, or natural bait of any kind), is strictly prohibited. It is illegal to possess brook trout, the only native trout to the Smokies.

Fishing licenses and/or permits can be obtained from:
The Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center, downtown City Hall. Some of the local sporting goods and hardware stores, Fishing guide/supplies stores, and some of the local convenience stores

There is no fishing of any kind allowed in Gatlinburg on Thursdays; as this is the day that the city stocks its waters with trout. Between December 1st and March 31st, all trout caught in Gatlinburg must be immediately released.

Tennessee Fishing Tennessee offers fishermen a wealth of water and a variety of fish. Twenty-eight major reservoirs, l9,000 miles of warm- and cold-water streams plus thousands of smaller lakes and ponds provide unlimited fishing opportunities year-round. And there are all kinds of fish to suit all kinds of fishermen: largemouth, smallmouth, spotted and white bass; striped bass, striped bass/white bass hybrids; walleye, crappie, bluegill, catfish; sauger, saugeye, musky, northern pike; plus rainbow, brook, brown and lake trout. Fishing Regulations Generally fishing is open year-round in the Volunteer State. A few selected areas, however, are closed during part of the year. Specific regulations are described in the annual Tennessee Fishing Regulations, published each March by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Read it carefully for full details. Best Time To Fish Anytime you can! Even though Tennessee's fishing is excellent year-round, it is best in the spring and fall. In fact fall fishing is the most undiscovered bonanza we have. Water and weather conditions are almost always favorable in September, October and early November. Specific Fishing Sites It's a good idea to contact the nearest TWRA regional office, or area dock operator for particular information about the lake you're interested in. For information about fishing in the Smoky Mountains, contact the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Park Information, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. For information about Gatlinburg fishing, contact the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce in Gatlinburg. For information about Kentucky and Reelfoot Lakes, contact the Northwest Tennessee Tourist Council, P. O. Box 63, Martin, TN 38237, (901) 587-4215, or the Department of Tourist Development. Lake Facilities And Conditions The Corps of Engineers and TVA have information about camping, motels, cabins, boat launching, rental of houseboats, etc. on Tennessee lakes. The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development has additional details. For specific information on the 14 family fishing lakes managed by the TWRA, contact the Region I or Region II office. Fish Attractors Fish attractors are man-made structures built to provide cover for fish and in turn concentrate them for the angler. Locations of these attractors can be obtained by writing to the TWRA office in your region. Please specify the lake. Boats All boats equipped with any type of motor (including trolling motors) or sail must be registered. Boat owners, bringing their boats into Tennessee from another state, can use their vessels on Tennessee waters with their state's current registration for 60 days. A booklet on Tennessee's boating laws is available through the regional TWRA offices. Maps Navigational, topographical and contour maps of reservoirs are available through either the TVA or Corps of Engineers. For TVA lakes, write: Tennessee Valley Authority, Map Sales, 200 Haney Bldg., Chattanooga, TN 37401.

TELLICO* Largemouth Bass - Most anytime. Best in April and May. Smallmouth Bass - Most anytime. Best in April and May. Crappie - Late April through May; October. Bluegill (bream) - June through September. Trout - April and May; good at night through the summer. FORT LOUDON* Largemouth Bass - April through June; night in summer. Smallmouth Bass - March through May; October and November; night in the summer. Crappie - Mid-April through May; October. Bluegill (bream) - April through October. Sauger - Below the dam in February. Melton Hill* Crappie - Late April through May. White Bass - Late February through April. Largemouth Bass - May and June. Bluegill (bream) - March through October. Norris* Largemouth Bass - May and June. Use light tackle and fish deep. Smallmouth Bass - April and May; January and February fishing live bait off points. Crappie - Late April through May near fish attractors. Walleye - February and March in the headwaters. Sometimes at night in the summer trolling the lake. Catfish - Spring through summer. Striped Bass (rockfish) - April and May. Can be caught through the summer fishing live bait in open water. Bluegill (bream)- Spring through fall. Cherokee* Largemouth Bass - April through May. Smallmouth Bass - March through May. Crappie - Mid-April through May; October and November. White Bass - Late fall in the headwaters (river). They move out in May and are taken in the lake fishing live bait and jigging near submerged islands. Catfish - June, July, August off rocky banks. Bluegill (bream) - April through October. DOUGLAS* Sauger - February and March in the river from Highway 25 bridge upstream. Largemouth Bass - April and May. Crappie - Usually November through May; excellent fishing. White Bass - February and March, sometimes to mid-April in the headwaters. Bluegill (bream) - April through October.

To visit the many wonders of the Townsend area take a few minutes to browse through the Great Smoky Mountains Vacation Guide and plan a vacation of a lifetime.