Handicappe d Accessible in the Smokies

All New Gatlinburg Event & Summer Festival

Some of the best angling in the country can be found in the Great Smoky Mountains. The wide variety of fresh mountain stream game fish makes your fishing excursion as memorable as your favorite fishing hole back home. Many types of guided trips can be arranged by contacting the links on this page.

You don't have to be a veteran angler to enjoy fishing in the Smokies.  Bring your cane pole and a line, dig a few worms and relax by the banks or out on your rock of choice and watch to clouds roll by.  It's fun for the entire family.

There are approximately 53 species of the fishes that occupy the waters of the park. These 53 species consist of primarily forage fishes (minnows, darters, sculpins.) But game fishes such as the rainbow trout, brown trout, smallmouth bass, and rock bass are also present.

The brook trout is the only species of trout native to the Smokies.  It was originally present in most streams above 2,000 feet in elevation. Today brook trout only occupy 25-30% of their original range.  Fishing in pure brook trout habitat waters is not permitted. The possession of Brook Trout in the park is strictly prohibited.

General License Information (Lake and Stream)

The fishing and hunting license year matches the fishing and hunting seasons.  Licenses go on sale on March 1, at the beginning of prime fishing, and will be valid until the last day of February. All licenses, except Sportsman's license, are available from most county clerks, sporting goods stores, hardware stores, boat docks and other interested merchants and from TWRA offices.

Special Permits: If your license is lost, contact the agent where purchased for duplicate license application.

Resident License: Can be purchased by those who are residents of Tennessee.  Military personnel on active duty in Tennessee and their immediate families may purchase a resident license regardless of resident status. You need a license if you take fish or attempt to by any method or assist anyone in doing so.

RESIDENT LICENSES

Annual Trout (type 22) $12.00

Annual Fishing and Hunting Combo (type 01) $21.00

(Both required to Fish for Trout) Total: 33.00

NON-RESIDENT LICENSES

Annual All Fish (type 81) $51.00

10 Day All Fish (type 80) $30.50

3 Day All Fish (type 78) $20.50

1 Day Trout (type 97) $10.50

Gatlinburg Tout Daily (type99) $2.50 (This charge in addition to the above stated fees.)

No fishing license needed if:

-you are under 13 years of age (resident or non-resident)

-you are a landowner or a tenant or a dependent child fishing on land that you own or tend to.

-you are on military leave, carrying a copy of your leave orders.  A pass does not meet this requirement

-you are a resident who was 65 years of age before March 1, 1991.  (to qualify for this

exemption, you must carry proof of your age to show to a wildlife officer, if requested)

NATIONAL PARK INFO
Park Headquarters & General Information  865-436-1200
Emergencies  865-436-1230
Backcountry Reservations 865-436-1231
Road Conditions  865-436-1200
In-Park Lodging  865-429-5704
Lost and Found 865-436-1230
Oconaluftee Visitor Center 828-497-1900
Sugarlands Welcome Center 865-436-1291