~ Fish of The Smokies ~ The Great Smoky Mountains National Park protect one of the last wild trout habitats in the South Eastern U.S. and also is a designated International Biosphere. This unique ecosystem supports a large variety of aquatic insects and invertebrates, as well as 40 species of fish with a vast majority of them being unique to the area. Rosy sides, dace, suckers, darters, shiners, chubs (the knotty head), sculpins, small mouth bass and non native species such as the rainbow and brown trout to name a few, inhabit the park. BROOK TROUT are the only true native trout, actually a char, that still inhabit the park. The brook trout is a left over relic from a long ago ice age which when it receded, the brookies remained in our mountain streams and are actually a distinct strain of brook trout. The brookie is commonly referred to as the spec or speckled trout by locals. The brook trout inhabits mainly high elevation mountain streams as it cannot tolerate high temperature, nor can it compete with non native species such as the rainbow or brown trout. There have been many restoration projects to preserve the brook trout and restore them to some of their native range as at present they only inhabit a small fraction of the streams they once were abundant in. Other problems the brook trout face are acid rain which raises the ph in mountain streams and in turn kills the insect life which they need to survive. Also they cannot handle heavy angling pressure as the population is too small to sustain any kind of harvest or creeling. It should be noted they are prohibited to creel in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. BROWN TROUT reach the largest size of any of the trout species in the National Park. The brown trout has a reputation for adaptability being a non native species brought over from England and planted in the Smokies as a means to provide recreational enjoyment when the logging era devastated the local fishery of the brook trout. Brown trout have flourished in some of the lower elevation streams and offer good angling opportunities for fisherman. RAINBOW TROUT are a hardy and adaptable species as well when they were introduced during the logging era to provide recreational fishing due to the devastation the logging had on the native brook trout. The rainbows found the streams of the Smokies much to their liking as the swift water and freestone streams provided them the ideal environment for them to take hold, which in turn forced the remaining brook trout to recede to head waters. However the rainbow trout provides excellent angling opportunities for the angler, as when they are hooked they normally provide the angler with heart pounding jumps and leaps. Rainbow trout inhabit better than 90% of the streams in the Smokies. SMALL MOUTH BASS AND ROCK BASS can be found in lower elevation streams of the Park. Notably lower Nolands Creek and Deep Creek as well a majority of streams draining out of the park on the north shore of Fontana Lake. Both species put up vigorous fights when hooked. The rock bass is commonly referred to as a red eye. Rules for Anglers Tennessee Anglers: 13 years and older need a fishing license to fish in the Park and Tennessee state waters. North Carolina Anglers: 16 and older need a valid North Carolina fishing license to fish in the Park. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park does not sell licenses. You should be able to obtain fishing license information from local area chambers of commerce. No trout stamp is required to fish in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Fishing is permitted year-round in open waters, from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. You can stop by the Sugarlands or Cherokee Visitor Centers to get a full copy of the regulations. North Carolina fishing licenses can be purchased over the phone.   Click here to get N.C Fishing License over the phone   Daily possession limits: Any combination of rainbow trout, brown trout, small mouth bass totaling five. 20 rock bass It is illegal to possess brook trout A person must stop fishing once reaching the limit. Size limits: Rainbow and Brown trout: 7 inches minimum length Small mouth bass: 7 inches minimum length Rock bass: no minimum Brook trout are prohibited to posses and any fish below the minimum length limit must be released immediately. Lures, bait, and equipment: Only one handheld rod may be used whether spin or fly rod. Only single hook artificial (treble hooks are not permitted) Bait must be fully artificial Liquid scents are not permitted. All equipment (rods, vest, baits) are subject to inspection by authorized Park staff. Park regulations are also posted at pull offs and other areas on streams and can be obtained at any park ranger station or visitor center.     Fish of the Smokies

Smoky Mountains On The Fly Guide Service & Instruction William R. Cope II 828•586•4787 All Content is Copyright © of Smoky Mountains On The Fly and may not be reproduced without permission.