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[flycatcher]

I'm thinking about a fishing/camping trip in the Nanahala (sp), Cherokee, Hazel Creek areas in mid-March. I plan to do some primitive camping along Hazel Creek. Any words of wisdom? 

[jdavis22]

Take me with you !  Just kidding.  I wish I could make that trip, I haven't fished in so long I don't know if I remember how.  Good luck and tight lines!

[BhamSage]

Let me know what you think Mike. I am planning a trip up there in April or May.

[lhgann]

Just FYi,

I'm probably telling you what you already know, but just in case.  Hazel creek requires either a boat ferry trip, or a long 15mi. hike to access it.

I have never fished it, but it has always been on my radar of places to go.

If anyone get's serious and would like some company up that way....

Barron Gann

[flycatcher]

I plan to catch a boat at Fontana Lake Marina and ride over to Hazel Creek. The other alternative is to hike from Clingman's Dome, but that is more than I want to tackle. I'm approaching Hazel Creek with  eyes wide open; a local guide tells me it is too early in the spring for Hazel Creek to be productive. Unfortunately, my son's spring break begins March 12 so that is when we go. I want to fish in the mountains because it gives me an excuse to be in the mountains with my sixteen-year-old. We hope to actually catch fish outside the park on this trip.

[lhgann]

Sounds like you have done your research.  Your guide friend no doubt is spot on.  However, if I wanted to go I would not let the timing disuade me (that is if the weather is still favorable.  April and May (again weather not withstanding) imho are great times to be in the Smokies.  But March can be a really good time too, especially if you hit a warm up after a particularly cold winter  (kind of like this year?).

I find the smaller creeks tend to always perform well, especially if you are willing to go the nymph and indicator route. I find a tellico nymph has always been productive during March.  Hazel has many good tributaries that I would bet would be fishing good.  Then late afternoon if you hit a cloudy or warm afternoon I would bet on a few hatches popping off that could get the ball rolling on dry's in the main creek.

If you don't want to take the chance on Hazel that early finding room to camp in the main Park should not be an issue during March, you could then day hike smaller waters until you "hit it".

Wish you guys lots of good fishing if you make it!!

Barron

[flycatcher]

We had a great trip.

Fished the Nantahala on the p.m. of March 13. We each caught 3 rainbows, five on dry flies during an hour-long hatch.

We crossed Fontana Lake to the Great Smokey Mountain National Park, where we backpacked 1.3 miles to the Proctor camp site on Hazel Creek. We didn't fish here much as we had been advised by a local guide that it was too early in the spring to catch on this stream. Still, it was fun to hike and camp in such a remote forest. It drizzled much of the time, turning to snow during the middle of the night. I received a painful reminder of my age during the backpacking, when my 16-year-old son had to stop multiple times to wait for his panting dad to catch up during the steep inclines.

The Ravens Fork on the Cherokee Reservation was a disappointment. This river has been described as a rare trophy section, but we caught only one small rainbow. Other anglers were having bad luck as well. The consensus was that the unexpected cooler temps were affecting fishing.

We fished the Tuckasegee (sp) in Dillsboro the last day. Great trout stream. We caught about 10 rainbows, brown and brook trout, many of which were 11 and 12 inches and fat.

This was rare chance for me to fish so many streams in such scenic environments. The fishing might have been better if we had waited a month, but it would have been more crowded.       

[GMReeves]

It sounds like ya'll hit a lot of good water in a very short time.  Since I don't get to make my way up there very often, that is usually my plan as well.  I think ya'll did pretty good considering the fishing is just about to start heating up. 

Don't beat yourself up over the Raven's Fork.  There are some big fish there but it isn't as fun as going after a wild fish.  From what I have read and experienced, you have to have your fly on the bottom and with the high water, it requires a lot of split shot and short repetetive drifts.

[S Spencer]

That sounds like an excellent trip and a great report on your success and failure.

My wife and I will be in Cherokee May 12-15. We plan to fish the C&R section in Cherokee at least one day, then maybe the Oconaluftee or some other nearby water another day or two, and we then plan to go by Trout Fest (in Townsend) on Saturday on our way home.

[TrouterChris]

Wow that sounds like a fun trip!  I want to try some of those wilder mountain streams one of these days.  Glad you got to spend some quality time with your son.
Chris

[flycatcher]

I haven't fished swift mountain water (I believe that would be "free stone streams") nearly as often as the tailwaters in Arkansas and the Sipsey. These waters present a more difficult challege. First, these streams are not as accessible, what with the trees and bushes crowding the banks. Those same trees and bushes make a long backcast impractable so you have to roll cast or improvise some other way to get the fly onto the water. Adding to that difficulty, the faster water and boulders in the stream also hinder wading more than a few feet from shore in many places.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I assume the fish hold in the pockets and runs. You have to scout out such places and that also limits where you can fish on these streams.
I had to work harder but I still enjoyed fishing mountain streams. Trout fishing is synonymous with such water. It's the image of trout fishing that I envision when I'm sitting around day dreaming.     

[GMReeves]

Tailwaters and free stoners are definately different in how you have to attack them but you have it right.  Tailwaters are usually more technical as far as bugs are concrened and free stoners are more difficult in moving around and getting your fly to the fish.  Both are fun but different.