Top Spots for Smoky Mountain Fishing

Fishing is a great way to enjoy the scenery of the Smokies. It doesn’t matter if you’re an avid fisherman or just wanting to try your hand; a day in the cool waters of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be a memorable one. Streams range from easy to difficult, so you can find a fishing spot to meet your skill level. The park boasts almost 3,000 miles of streams, and as of recently, all streams in the park are open for fishing! The park is also home to the Smoky Mountain Trout Tournament, which is open to children and adults (locals and visitors) and features streams stocked with more than 10,000 trout. They have spring and fall tournaments, so check their website before planning your Pigeon Forge trip!

Abrams Creek
A favorite of many Smoky Mountain anglers, Abrams Creek has some of the best quality fish in the Smokies because of the stream’s chemical makeup. A lot of the water in Abrams Creek comes from Anthony Creek, which in part flows below Cades Cove. You can access Abrams Creek from the Cades Cove area or at the Abrams Creek Campground; both offer different fishing opportunities. If you’ll be accessing the creek through Cades Cove, be ready for heavy traffic and stops for bear sightings. At the Abrams Creek Campground access, the creek has a higher population of smallmouth bass than trout for most of the year.

Cosby Creek
Cosby Creek is easily accessible by a paved road that runs through Cosby, Tennessee, but it’s also a bit more remote than many of the other streams. You’ll find a good population of brook trout here, along with small to medium rainbow trout. It’s a good option if you’re wanting to have a more peaceful fishing experience but don’t necessarily care to catch the larger fish.

Dudley Creek
As you drive along Hwy 73 on the perimeter of the national park, you’ll find Dudley Stream following alongside the highway. It doesn’t offer formal access, but it does have some nice fishing opportunities. The lower sections feature rainbow trout, while the upper sections house brook trout.

Little Pigeon River | East Prong
Also referred to as Little River, this section of the Little Pigeon River offers fishing in a range of difficulties – from easy to difficult – depending on which area you fish and when. Here you’ll find brown and rainbow trout in the lower and middle sections and brook trout in the upper sections and tributary streams. Because it’s easily accessible from a paved road and it’s one of the better streams in the area, it is consequently the most heavily fished stream.

Little Pigeon River | Middle Prong/Tremont
Also known as Tremont, this portion of the Little Pigeon River is a small to medium size stream for trout. It’s formed by Thunderhead Prong and Lynn Camp Prong, two small tributary streams. You can access the streams via the trailheads at the end of the road that runs alongside Middle Prong. You’ll find a nice population of brown trout and rainbow trout most of the time, along with brook trout in the upper part of the streams.

Little Pigeon River | West Prong
Considered one of the best fly fishing streams within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River can be easily accessed from several different places, including the main entrance to the national park and the Chimneys Picnic Area. West Prong is also connected to Walkers Camp Prong, Fighting Creek, Alum Cave Creek, and Road Prong.

Tennessee License & Season Information
Fishing season is open year-round in open waters in the Smokies, so you’ll have opportunities to fish no matter what time of year you visit. Fishing is allowed from a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset. Residents and nonresidents 13 years old and older must have a valid fishing license; residents over 65 years old can get a special state license. Anyone under 13 in Tennessee is entitled to the adult daily bag and possession limits.

If you’re coming to Pigeon Forge for a fun fishing getaway, be sure to browse our Pigeon Forge cabins. We have something for everyone, from cozy 1-2 bedroom cabins and comfortable 3-6 bedroom properties to spacious large group cabins and budget-friendly options. Our cabins also offer a ton of different amenities, so you can find something for everyone. Here are just a few of the amenities you’ll find in our Pigeon Forge cabins…