Anyone on here from Smoky Mountains area?
- Thread starter D. Hinton
- Start date
jode hillman
Well-known member
I'm not from the Smokies, but I spent a bunch of time there.
I like the North Carolina side in the town of Whittier. Bryson city also but that's a little bit more commercialized. But it does have some great restaurants and a good vibe.
North side of the park by big Creek is one of my favorite areas. Big creep Campground is good also Cataloochee.
I'll definitely worth checking out. I try to stay away from the Tenn. side. It's gotten way too commercialized for me.
Michael McCord1
Active member
I spent a couple years in the foothills in grad school. Can be there in 2 hours or so but generally avoid Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg if I can. Check out Little River Outfitters in Townsend. Great fly shop on the quieter side of the Smokies. You can find smallmouth, stockers, and native brookies depending on how high up you go.
Cataloochee valley on the NC side of the park has elk and trout fishing.
Blackberry Farm on the Tennessee side sounds like it might be what you’re looking for. Never stayed there but it’s highly thought of.
Cataloochee valley on the NC side of the park has elk and trout fishing.
Blackberry Farm on the Tennessee side sounds like it might be what you’re looking for. Never stayed there but it’s highly thought of.
We love Bryson City and normally go around there when we visit the smoky mountains. If wanting a lesser used creek to explore then I recommend Noland creek and visiting the road of broken promises, there is a cool tunnel you can walk through at the end. If you go to the creek you can go left and go to Fontana lake for smallmouth or go right towards clingmans dome in search of brookies, browns, and rainbows. Nothing of crazy size though.
For more info on all the fishing in the smoky mountains visit this site. He also has another site called perfect fly store with very nice flies and info to match the hatch.
www.flyfishingsmokymountains.com
I have had better luck with fish going to the Nantahala National Forest than in the smoky mountains. I think there is less pressure there.
There is a nice sandwich and ice cream shop downtown Bryson we like to visit called The High Test Deli and Sweet Shop.
Clingmans dome (Side note, I just found out it's not called clingmans dome anymore and is now going by its Cherokee name Kuwohi) is nice as a tourist attraction but not something I plan to go back to. Deep creek was good for a lazy river tubing but also touristy. If wanting to do some hiking then we have had better luck in the Nantahala for less crowds. We did do a hike at the graveyard fields and that was fun.
Seeing the elk is something I'd recommend, if going in late September or early October then you might see some sparing and hear some bugling.
For more info on all the fishing in the smoky mountains visit this site. He also has another site called perfect fly store with very nice flies and info to match the hatch.
Home - Fly Fishing Smoky Mountains
www.flyfishingsmokymountains.com
I have had better luck with fish going to the Nantahala National Forest than in the smoky mountains. I think there is less pressure there.
There is a nice sandwich and ice cream shop downtown Bryson we like to visit called The High Test Deli and Sweet Shop.
Clingmans dome (Side note, I just found out it's not called clingmans dome anymore and is now going by its Cherokee name Kuwohi) is nice as a tourist attraction but not something I plan to go back to. Deep creek was good for a lazy river tubing but also touristy. If wanting to do some hiking then we have had better luck in the Nantahala for less crowds. We did do a hike at the graveyard fields and that was fun.
Seeing the elk is something I'd recommend, if going in late September or early October then you might see some sparing and hear some bugling.
jode hillman
Well-known member
Sounds like we see things quite a bit alike! BenWe love Bryson City and normally go around there when we visit the smoky mountains. If wanting a lesser used creek to explore then I recommend Noland creek and visiting the road of broken promises, there is a cool tunnel you can walk through at the end. If you go to the creek you can go left and go to Fontana lake for smallmouth or go right towards clingmans dome in search of brookies, browns, and rainbows. Nothing of crazy size though.
For more info on all the fishing in the smoky mountains visit this site. He also has another site called perfect fly store with very nice flies and info to match the hatch.
Home - Fly Fishing Smoky Mountains
I have had better luck with fish going to the Nantahala National Forest than in the smoky mountains. I think there is less pressure there.
There is a nice sandwich and ice cream shop downtown Bryson we like to visit called The High Test Deli and Sweet Shop.
Clingmans dome (Side note, I just found out it's not called clingmans dome anymore and is now going by its Cherokee name Kuwohi) is nice as a tourist attraction but not something I plan to go back to. Deep creek was good for a lazy river tubing but also touristy. If wanting to do some hiking then we have had better luck in the Nantahala for less crowds. We did do a hike at the graveyard fields and that was fun.
Seeing the elk is something I'd recommend, if going in late September or early October then you might see some sparing and hear some bugling.
My neighbor of 25 years here in New Jersey was raised in the Smokies in the 30s and 40s. His 's families farm got bought out by eminent domain when they made the Park.
He was one of the best men I ever met. He passed in 2019. But he filled me in on the true heart of the Smoky Mountains.
Bryson is a great place.
Nolands is a nice hike, as is the north side of the lake.
I was fortunate last trip to catch a beautiful steelhead where an natahala Creek exit the lake. I believe there are some private cabins on the northern section of Natahala above the lake.
Welcome
We are thrilled to provide our guests with the most beautiful surroundings in western North Carolina.. We are located directly on the Nantahala River in Franklin, and offer a variety of amenities to our guests.
www.buckcreekcabinrentals.com
It's a great stretch of water from there down to the rafting section of the gorge.
It's been two years since I've been there and I definitely feel the need to go back.
I'd definitely recommend at least a day trip to Cataloochee.
This is what greeted us on the side of the road on the trip in to fish
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Jode, it has been a few years since we have been. The last mountain trip was to Shenandoah since it's half the distance but not the same, I prefer my home mountains as far as the Appalachians go.
We are ready to go back but alas we keep having babies and it's not fun driving 8 hours with a nursing child that does not like riding. Hopefully next year will be the year.
From the last trip, oh I miss it.
We are ready to go back but alas we keep having babies and it's not fun driving 8 hours with a nursing child that does not like riding. Hopefully next year will be the year.
From the last trip, oh I miss it.
For a honeymoon, The Homestead would be my recommendation, if you want something upscale that also has access to excellent trout streams. A spectacular old place with excellent food, but not inexpensive. The Greenbrier in WVa is similarly outstanding (and expensive). We split our honeymoon between the two places, almost 35 years ago.
jode hillman
Well-known member
Awesome pictures, my neighbor grew up on mt Sterling ridge, I often travel to Catalochee from that direction. However last year when I went the access road from Waterville was still out from Helene. Hopefully they get it fixed up soon. The brook trout shot is amazing !
Michael McCord1
Active member
Helene took a much greater toll on the NC side as I understand it.
jode hillman
Well-known member
It sure did.
Yeah it was a rough situation for all those people, I hope they can get back to a type of normalcy.
And thank you that was in the Nantahala, I saw him in the creek and stuck my phone in the water to get that picture.
Michael McCord1
Active member
And even then, we had multiple water rescues in the foothills on the TN side
jode hillman
Well-known member
Man, I'd be afraid to shove my phone in the water even though I know they are waterproof! You had some guts
Michael McCord1
Active member
@jode hillman
Body cam clip from our wildlife officers. Crazy to think they were boating on whitewater in neighborhoods.
Body cam clip from our wildlife officers. Crazy to think they were boating on whitewater in neighborhoods.