Smoky Mountain Fly Fishing Expedition.
GSMNP holds nearly 2,900 miles of streams and hasn't stocked a single one since 1975 — every trout you catch here is wild. This week mixes easy, base-camp-accessible water with a legendary backcountry add-on to Hazel Creek, one of the most storied brown trout streams in the East.
The Plan
Day 1 — Arrive & Scout
Tow the teardrop in and set up base camp near Townsend, rig rods, and walk a stretch of the Little River in the evening to watch the hatch and get a feel for the water.
Day 2 — Little River
A full day working the pocket water and pools along the Little River between Elkmont and Townsend — classic dry-fly water for rainbows. Stop by Little River Outfitters ↗ in Townsend for current fly recommendations.
Day 3 — Middle Prong & Tremont
Fish the Middle Prong of the Little River near Tremont — smaller, wading-friendly water that's forgiving for practicing technique between bigger stretches.
Day 4 — Abrams Creek
Head to Cades Cove and fish the lower stretches of Abrams Creek, known for holding some of the biggest brown trout in the park.
Day 5 — Into the Backcountry: Hazel Creek
Break camp and drive to the Fontana Lake area. Arrange a boat shuttle with Fontana Village Marina ↗ across the lake to the Hazel Creek trailhead, then hike in and set up at a backcountry site along the creek.
Day 6 — Hazel Creek
A full day on legendary water — Hazel Creek has produced some of the largest brown and rainbow trout caught in the park. Explore the ruins of Proctor, an old logging town, between fishing stretches.
Day 7 — Last Cast & Home
Fish a final morning stretch, break camp, and catch your boat shuttle back across Fontana Lake before the drive home to Knoxville.
Water Along the Way
Little River
Wide, accessible pools right along Little River Road — the easiest place to start the week.
Middle Prong (Tremont)
Smaller water with a gentler gradient — a good day for dialing in casting before tackling bigger creeks.
Abrams Creek
Larger, slower pools in the lower stretches near Cades Cove hold some of the biggest browns in the park.
Hazel Creek
Accessed only by boat shuttle across Fontana Lake or a long hike — legendary, lightly pressured water.
Meal Plan
Base-camp days give you room to cook properly; the Hazel Creek nights call for lighter, backpacking-style meals.
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Streamside Snacks
- Jerky and trail mix that survive a wet wading jacket pocket
- Energy bars for a quick bite between runs without setting the rod down for long
- Dried fruit and nuts — light enough for the Hazel Creek hike in
- A thermos of coffee or tea for cold early mornings on the water
- Electrolyte packets, especially wet-wading through the warmer months
Around Camp
Fly Tying by the Fire
Pack a compact travel tying kit and tie up a few Tellico Nymphs or Yellow Weenies — both born in these mountains — for the next day.
Local Fly Shop Intel
Little River Outfitters in Townsend is a great stop for current hatch reports and what's working that week.
Evening Hatch Watch
Sit streamside at dusk and watch which bugs are actually on the water — the best fly selection tool there is.
Proctor Ghost Town
The old logging community ruins along Hazel Creek make for a fascinating between-fishing wander.
Gear & Regulations
- A valid TN or NC fishing license is reciprocal park-wide — no separate park permit needed, but check current requirements on the NPS fishing page ↗ before you go.
- Only single-hook artificial flies and lures are permitted — no live bait, no treble hooks.
- A 9-foot, 4 or 5-weight rod covers nearly everything in the park, from small headwater creeks to bigger water like Abrams and Hazel Creek.
- Pack Parachute Adams, Elk Hair Caddis, Tellico Nymph, Yellow and Green Weenies, and a Thunderhead — all proven Smokies patterns.
- Hazel Creek requires a backcountry permit (recreation.gov ↗) and a boat shuttle reservation (Fontana Village Marina ↗) — book both well ahead of the trip.
Haul Rods, Not Regrets.
A KnoxDrops teardrop has the gear storage to keep rod tubes, waders, and boots organized between base camp and the boat launch at Fontana.
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Everything for the campfire, dual-burner stove, and cold/no-cook meal plan above — grab this before you leave Knoxville, since options thin out past Townsend.
Produce
- Potatoes
- Bell peppers (optional, for hash)
- Lemon
- Onion
Meat, Fish & Dairy
- Eggs
- Bacon or breakfast sausage
- Shredded cheese
- Cheese stick(s)
- Hard cheese
- Salami
- Sausage (for rice and beans)
- Butter
Pantry & Dry Goods
- Cornmeal (for pan-frying trout)
- Coffee
- Pancake mix
- Flour tortillas
- Rice
- Canned beans
- Rolled oats
- Crackers
- Tuna packets
- Trail mix
- Dried fruit
- Mixed nuts
- Energy bars
- Tea bags
- Electrolyte packets
Other
- Marshmallows
- Jerky
- Bread (for grilled cheese)