Swain County's streams and lakes
are a fisherman's paradise

Whether you are fly fishing for native brook trout in a cold mountain stream, smallmouth or largemouth bass in beautiful Fontana Lake or rainbow or brown trout in one of the many stocked streams, Swain County hosts one of the most diverse fishing habitats in the world.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Nantahala National Forest offer hundreds of miles of spectacularly clear streams. Just a few minutes from Bryson City, the sparkling waters of Deep Creek are ripe for fly fishing, and many anglers enjoy the Nantahala River just west of town.

The Cherokee Indian Reservation also offers a variety of fishing opportunities for the trout fisherman with regularly stocked streams and three trout ponds. There are several other trout ponds in the area (see below).

If you prefer stillwater fishing, Fontana Lake boasts one of the most diverse fish populations anywhere in the country. With depths of over 400 feet, many northern fish such as walleye, muskie and smallmouth bass are among favorites of local fishermen. For boating information, including public boating access and marinas with boat rentals, visit the Fontana page of this web site.

For a printed brochure of the information on this page, click here to download a PDF.

 

Nantahala Outdoor Center
13077 Hwy 19 W, Bryson City, NC 28713
828-488-6900 or 800-232-7238
Fax: 828-488-0301
 
Named "One of the Best Outfitters on Earth" by National Geographic Adventure, NOC has led the rafting industry since 1972. Along with family rafting options on the Nantahala, our campus features dining options, lodging, our world-class Paddling School, mountain/road bike rentals, fishing guide service on three rivers, lake kayaking, our Outfitter's Store and more! Come see for yourself why NOC is a legend in the outdoors.
Fontana Marina
Fontana Village Resort, Fontana Dam
800-849-2258
Contact: Ext. 288
 
 
Fontana Marina offers guided fishing trips on Fontana Lake, Hazel Creek, Eagle Creek, Twenty-Mile Creek or wherever the fisherman wants to go. Call 800-849-2258 and ask for extension 288.
Cooper Creek Trout Farm & Catch-out Pond
3365 Cooper Creek Rd.
Bryson City, NC 28713
866-245-4500 or 828-488-2500
 
 
This full service trout farm offers all the amenities in a beautiful mountain setting that includes hiking trails, waterfalls, and picnic tables. No license required, no limit, and all fishing equipment is provided. Guided fishing tours are also available. Stay an hour or the entire day!
The 'Reel' McCoy Fishing Guide Service
655 Mt. Noble Road
Cherokee, NC 28719
828-788-3144 or 828-497-4194
Contact: Steve McCoy
 
Fontana Lake and Fly Fishing Guide Service for the Smokey Mountains, Bryson City & Cherokee NC. Full day, half day and back country trips. Sightseeing tours of Fontana Lake on our 21-foot pontoon boat or 20-foot Triton Bass Boat.
Almond Boat & RV Park
1165 Almond Boat Park Road, Bryson City, NC 28713
828-488-6423
Fax: 828-488-8175
Contact: Jim & Jo Mathis
 
Lakeside cottages, one & two bedroom. Each with complete kitchen with cooking utensils and table service for six. Sofa bed in the living quarters will sleep one adult or two small children. Electric heat, air conditioning, private front porch facing the lake. Bedding and linens are furnished. Towels are changed daily and clean linens offered every fourth day. Fishing boat and pontoon rentals available.
Smoky Mountain Adventures, Inc.
828-736-7501
Contact: Steve Claxton
 
Each weekend April-November, Steve Claxton takes a small group of 5-12 campers across Fontana Lake by pontoon to the remote North Shore area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for a two-day guided outing. Everything is provided for hiking, fly fishing or just camping. Twenty years experience as a guide; fully insured, licensed and permitted by the GSMNP. Occasionally, day hikes are available.
Granger Outdoors
P.O. Box 488, Bryson City, NC 28713
828-488-4170
Contact: Granger Outdoors
 
Mountain stream trout fishing with outings tailored for you. Backcountry or vehicle accessible. Half day or full day. Authorized by: Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Smoky Mountain Flyfishing
626 Tsali Boulevard
Cherokee, NC 28719
828-497-1555
 
Full service fly shop and outfitters located right on the banks of the beautiful Oconaluftee River in Cherokee, NC. First rate guide service offering trips to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Western North Carolina's most popular fishing destinations.No other outfitter offers more trips or has better guides.Let us custom tailor a trip that is right for you. We offer everything from half day to all day wade trips, float trips in our drift boat, and the ultimate in flyfishing adventures, overnight back country destinations.
Tumbling Waters Trout Pond
1612 Panther Creek Road
Almond, NC 28702
828-479-3814
 
Located on Panther Creek, 1-1/2 miles off NC 28, between Bryson City and Fontana Dam. Trout farm. Free pole, bait and cleaning! Trout $3.00 per pound. Open March 16th to November 30th. Also a campground.
Fontana Guide Service
3336 Balltown Road
Bryson City,NC 28713
828-736-2318 or 828-488-9793
Contact: Kyle Fronrath
 
Be our guest for lake fishing and sight-seeing on the beautiful waters of Lake Fontana in the Great Smoky Mountains. Day and night trips available with all tackle and equipment provided. Sit back in comfort on our spacious pontoon boat for a full or half day trip. Lodging packages available.
Endless River Adventures
PO Box 246, 14157 Hwy 19 W Bryson City, NC 28713
828-488-6199 or 800-224-RAFT
Fax: 828-488-2259
 
Offers whitewater rafting on the Nantahala and Ocoee Rivers. Ocoee rafting package includes transportation from our Nantahala Outpost, saving you the extra driving. Kayak instruction from the beginner to advanced level and kayak/mountain trips to Costa Rica and Ecuador. Lake touring offered for half-and full-day trips. Also, fly fishing instruction & guide service with drift boat option.
Simonds Bait & Tackle Shop
1085 Main Street, Bryson City, NC 28713
828-488-6854
 
Located on the Tuckaseigee River. Live bait: shinners, trout fingerlings (seasonally), nightcrawlers, wax worms, meal worms, and crickets. Complete line of tackle for lake, river, and fly fishing. Locally hand tied flies. Single hook lures for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.Fishing license. On site taxidermy (fish only). Open year round.
Smoky Mountain Outdoors Unlimited
1012 E. Alarka Rd.
Bryson City, NC
828-488-9711 or 828-736-9471
Contact: Ronnie Parris
 
Guided fishing & camping trips. We offer fly fishing, spin fishing, lake fishing, camping and boathouse camping trips. All bait and equipment is furnished. A shore lunch is provided for full-day trips. Half day trips are also available. Open year round.
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Current Fly Fishing Report
By J.E.B. Hall, NOC Fishing Guide  email

Fall fishing is in full swing in Western North Carolina and anglers are finding great trout fishing in almost all of our waters. Delayed Harvest streams are offering up consistent action with stocked fish and two flashy nymphs fished under a strike indicator should produce in most situations. The tailwater stretch of the Nantahala remains at low flows due to power house repairs and the easier wading has made for increased fishing pressure. Despite the crowds, the Blue Wing Olive and October Caddis hatches have been excellent and most days the river comes alive with rising fish. Cream midges are also hatching with some regularity and midge patterns in sizes 24 through 28 can produce numerous strikes for those willing to tie them on. Park streams are also fishing well with the catch being making a drift without hooking one of the millions of leaves tumbling in the current.

Suggested Fly Patterns: Parachute Adams 14-18, BWOs 18-22, Elk Hair Caddis (Tan, Gray, Orange, Black) 14-18, Pheasant Tails 14-18, Hare’s Ears (Natural, Olive) 16-18, Thorax Duns (Gray, Rust, Olive) 16-20, Copper Johns 12-14, Prince Nymphs 12-14, Radical Caddis Larva 14-16, Z-Wing Caddis Larva 16-18, Cream Midges 22-28

 
Fishing regulations

To fish in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you must have either a valid North Carolina or Tennessee fishing license. No license is required to fish in Cherokee Reservation waters, however a tribal permit is required. The cost is $7 per day with a creel limit of ten.

You can purchase a basic North Carolina license for a period of one day, three days or one year. The one-day cost for a resident is $5 (one year is $15); for a non-resident is $10, two days $15, one year $30. If you plan to fish for trout outside the National Park, an additional "trout stamp" is required at a cost of $10. Some of the trout streams are strictly catch-and-release.

For more information about North Carolina fishing, go to Online Fishing Regulations.
 

Need a Fishing License?

Fishing licenses can be purchased at the following Bryson City area businesses —

Almond Boat & RV Park
828-488-6423

Clampitt Hardware
828-488-2782

Simonds Bait and Tackle
828-488-6854

Fontana Village Resort
828-498-2211

You may also purchase your fishing license online.

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North Carolina Smokies

 
 
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Bryson City - Swain County
Chamber of Commerce
& Visitor Center
210 Main Street
P.O. Box 509
Bryson City, NC 28713

Karen Wilmot, Director

800-867-9246 toll-free
828-488-3681 local
828-488-6858 fax
       
 


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