If you're looking for a way to take in the natural beauty of the Smokies while staying socially distant, then you should give fishing a try! The Smokies contain roughly 2900 miles of streams and one of the last wild trout habitats in the eastern part of the United States. Fishing is permitted in all streams year-round; however, a valid fishing license or permit from Tennessee or North Carolina is required in order to fish legally. Not sure where to start? Here are some of the best places to fish in the Smokies!
If you're looking to take your kids fishing, then you should check out Mynatt Park! Mynatt Park is a children-only fishing park. Kids can fish along the stream or can cast their line off of a bridge.
LeConte Creek is a smaller stream located less than a mile from Gatlinburg. It is good for all ages, and is brimming with rainbow and brook trout.
Abrams Creek is one of the most famous creeks in the Smokies. It is a larger creek that serves as a tributary to the Little Tennessee River. It is a popular spot for trout fishing, and it is a limestone spring creek, so the fish within it tend to get fairly large.
Douglas Lake sits at the foothills of the Smokies and is ranked as one of the top ten places in the U.S. for largemouth bass and crappie fishing. It is a spacious and scenic lake with multiple boat rental agencies, such as Douglas Lake Marina, which offers free ice cream with every rental.
For safety information on fishing in Great Smoky Mountain National Park, see: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/fishing.htm