Bright blue skies and warm summer sun take the Nashville angler’s mind from his work to the cold clear water of the two best options for fly-fishing in Tennessee: the Smoky Mountains and the Caney Fork River.
The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is a playground for fly-fishermen in search of the rainbow, brook and brown trout that inhabit the hundreds of streams that snake through the lush, green mountains of the park. The best ways to access the park begin in Maryville, a small town south of Knoxville easily reached via I-40 East and Highway 129. From Maryville, two roads offer direct access: Highway 321 goes into Townsend, a pleasant township right outside of the park where an angler can find a motel and easy access to some of the park’s best fishing on the Little River. However, you can also stay on 129, which runs along the southern edge of the park and intersects with Highway 28 near the North Carolina border. (Highway 28 continues along around the park’s perimeter.) It’s the best bet for less traffic and beautiful scenery as it runs by the crystal clear water of Calderwood Lake and Lake Cheoah.
Most streams in the park are accessible by car, and the general rule is that the closer you fish to the parking area, the more people are likely to have fished there. The angler willing to hike a few miles away from the automobile access will experience much better fishing and less angler density.
Stream selection is another way to secure a day or weekend of secluded fly-fishing. Streams on the southern side of the park are the furthest from commercial development and are therefore largely ignored by out-of-town fishermen. Twenty Mile Creek, which empties into Lake Cheoah at Highway 28, may be the most overlooked local stream, with a good population of rainbow trout and a slim population of anglers taking them. Also in the southern portion of the park are three creeks—Eagle, Hazel and Forney—that empty into Fontana Lake and have no automobile access, creating wonderful opportunities for isolated fishing.
For $50, the folks at Fontana Village Marina, (800) 849-2258, ext. 277, will take you and a friend across the lake to the mouths of these creeks and return to pick you up a few hours or a few days later. Fishing quality on a given stream varies throughout the season and insect hatches are determined by elevation and location. The best way to find the action is to visit one of the many fly shops in surrounding towns.
In Knoxville, The Creel is just a few minutes off the interstate at the Papermill exit, 6907 Kingston Pike ((865) 588-6159). In Townsend, Little River Outfitters, 7807 Lamar Alexander Parkway ((877) 448-3474), has a fully stocked fly shop as well as a guide service with a wealth of local knowledge. If you opt to go through Gatlinburg, stop at the Smoky Mountain Angler, 376 East Parkway ((865) 436-8746), to get supplies and advice from Harold and Nancy Thompson, who own and operate the store. Any of these shops can provide you with a Tennessee fishing license, $33 for one year, which is valid for fishing within the park boundaries, including the portion of the park in North Carolina. With a little effort and some trial and error, The Great Smoky Mountains National Park can be a paradise for a fly-fisherman looking for beautiful scenery and secluded water.
For a day trip, the Caney Fork River below Center Hill Lake, approximately 50 miles east of Nashville, provides a good opportunity to catch some big trout. The river is stocked annually and continues to hold large trout from previous seasons. Four-pound rainbows are not uncommon and rainbows and browns over 6 pounds certainly exist. A good day of fishing in the Caney Fork can include double-digit numbers of trout on a fly rod (although the limit of fish you can keep is seven). The Caney does experience heavy fishing pressure, particularly in the spring and early summer months when the bugs begin to emerge to the surface of the water.
The best bet for a fisherman looking to get some quiet fishing on the Caney is to take a day or two off during the week, when fewer people are able to get out. Hitting the water at dawn is another way to beat other anglers to the good spots and find the trout eager to feed.
Access to the river is possible off I-40 East from exits 258-260. From exit 258, Highway 141 runs through Lancaster, over the dam and along the other side of the river. There are numerous pull-offs on this stretch of road where you can park your car and access the river by foot. Private property signs are posted and should of course be respected. Once over the dam, there are two public boat ramps at Betty’s Island and Happy Cove; just follow the signs.
A word of warning about the Caney Fork: It is a tailwater of Center Hill Lake and release of water from the dam can be sporadic. It is imperative that while fishing, you take care to mark an exposed rock in the river and immediately get out of the water should it become submerged. A recording of scheduled water release can be heard by calling (800) 238-2264, but keep in mind it can change at any time, so anglers should always be on alert and exercise caution.
If you’re interested in learning how to fly-fish, go see the guys at Fly South, 1514 Demonbreun Street. They have an experienced staff of guides and instructors for even the most inexperienced angler, as well as a wide selection of books on how and where to fly-fish.
