South East Tennessee Fly Fishing

[Boondocker]

Since I am currently back in middle TN for the foreseeable future, I have been giving some thought to heading over to the Cherokee National Forest to do some fly fishing and so forth. I am most familiar with the Hiwassee up above Reliance, but I am thinking it might be fun to check out some of the other streams in the area.

So, anyone with ideas for fishing or camping, I would love to hear them. I prefer forest service campgrounds, or boondocking. Also, if anyone wants to join up for a mini-rally let me know. I'm thinking early to mid August. Thanks in advance.

[Jim & Susan]

Perfessor, I just got back from there a few hours ago. It was 51 degrees outside Brevard, NC this morning. Great stuff. I'm not a fisherman, but the Nantahala and the French Broad rivers are great places to visit. Also look at Cades Cove (hope I spelled that right) Beautiful up there along the border.

Jim

[Sugarfoot]

Rodney, have you ever fished Gee Creek? It's east of Reliance off 411. I've only driven through the campground and was amazed at at how nice the sites were. No hookups but a table and fire ring. Small pull thru types but big enough for a Tradewind.

[Boondocker]

Originally Posted by Jim & Susan

Perfessor, I just got back from there a few hours ago. It was 51 degrees outside Brevard, NC this morning. Great stuff. I'm not a fisherman, but the Nantahala and the French Broad rivers are great places to visit. Also look at Cades Cove (hope I spelled that right) Beautiful up there along the border.
Jim

Sounds like you had a nice trip. You are right about those places being great places to visit. I think I will confine myself to TN south of the National Park this trip.

Originally Posted by Sugarfoot

Rodney, have you ever fished Gee Creek? It's east of Reliance off 411. I've only driven through the campground and was amazed at at how nice the sites were. No hookups but a table and fire ring. Small pull thru types but big enough for a Tradewind.

I haven't fished any over there, all my fly fishing to date has been in the Rockies. I used to camp at Gee Creek quite a bit when I was leading river trips on the Hiwassee. Truth be told, my interest in fly fishing stems from watching the fishermen on the river when I used to canoe it.

For what its worth, if you want cheap camping during the week with out full hookups, you can stay at Hiwassee Outfitters for something like $7 a night right by the river. A few sites have 110 hookups availble.

[happycamper2]

We just returned from a week of fishing and canoeing on the Hiwassee River this week. We stay at Black Bear Cove Campground which is located on the river just off 411 near Reliance. They have full hookups plus cable. They also have a new lodge which serves really good food at their Cherokee Dining Room. Check out their menu on the website www.blackbearcove.com.

If you are in the area and looking for the freshest and best vegetables, check out the Delano Farmers Market just off 411. The Menonites grow and sell local produce and fruit there and it's always very fresh. Definitely worth a visit.

We also love camping at Indian Boundary Campground near Tellico Plains, TN. It's a forest svc. campground located on the Cherohala Skyway. The sites are great with lots of privacy. The Tellico River also has great trout fishing.

[flyfishsim]

I would recommend Tellico, not sure about camp sites. I did tent camp at Indian Boundary about 40 years ago and remember it being very nice. For the best fly fishing fish North River, a tributary of the Tellico. Mostly native fish. I also recommend basing your camp in the Townsend area, a great jumping off place for fishing the Great Smokies. Little River Outfitters is in Townsend, my opinion the best fly shop east of the Mississippi. I am originally from Cleveland Tn, I try to get back to east Tenn. to fish as often as I can.