doing the family vacation thing in a few weeks. log cabins and fun.
the guys get 1 day to go fishing.... so i thought i would dust off the fly rod and look for some brook trout or something.

any advice appreciated

Never been there but those Smoky Moutains are supposed to be some fine fishing.

I Googled it up and got these links Gatlinburg TN fishing Best bet might be to just show up at the fly shop, buy some flies and such and ask where to go to fish?

I'm heading up that way myself. Be there around the 15th thru 18th.
Most of the reports say that it's low water conditions with skittish fish. Lighter tippits and smaller flies being the order of the day. Little Goldens #10 & #12 and small Caddis #14 thru #18 are mentioned in most of the reports. Light colored Mayfly patterns Light Cahills, Adams, Thunderheads, TN Wulffs #14 thru #18 with corrosponding nymphs.

yep..... looks like a trip to the outfitter to buy some flys and pray that i get good directions.
LOL

howdy,

My friend Jack up in Decatur IL suggested checking out the Cherokee Reservation

Been there a few years back. Gatlinburg is like a giant amusement park, Otherwise known as a money trap.

Did not do any fishing but the Smokies are awesome.

It's a great trip.

I don't know any of you yet but I figured I'd offer a little help here since I live in Knoxville, just 30 minutes from Gatlinburg and the Townsend entrance to the park.

East Tennessee and Texas have switched fortunes this year. Texas is flooded and Tennessee is in the middle of the worst drought in over 100 years, likely the driest year on record when it's all said and done. The streams in the Smokies are very low and fishing has been tough at best. Having just picked up fly fishing in the past year, I've stayed away from the streams in the Smokies for the past 2 months because of the water levels. The best source for information about those streams is Little River Outfitters in Townsend, TN. http://littleriveroutfitters.com/

If you have any questions that aren't answered on the website, don't hesitate to call the shop and talk with Paula & Byron (the owners) or Daniel.

Your other option if you want to catch fish, is to check out one of the stocked tailwaters. The Clinch River is a great trout fishery downstream of the Norris Lake dam. The Clinch is regularly stocked with rainbows and browns. The state record brown (28lb. 12oz) was caught on the Clinch. There are several good access points for wading. The only limitation to fishing the Clinch is timing your trip up there around the generation schedule at Norris dam. The dam provides power through TVA and generates regularly despite the low water levels.

If you want information about fly patterns and fishing reports for the Clinch, check the LRO message board or call CR Outfitters. http://croutfitters.com/ Like I said above, I'm no pro fly fisherman, but I'd be happy to meet up with y'all if you're heading north to fish the Clinch. I'll be moving back to TX sometime in the next 6 months, so I'm happy to help out and maybe we can swap a trip in your neighborhood in the future.

Reply here or PM me if you have any questions or want to meet up while you're here in beautiful (but extrememly dry) East Tennessee!