This stretch of the Little Tennessee River between Franklin and Lake Fontana offers anglers some fantastic smallmouth bass action! Enjoy fishing for smallmouth be trying one of these four most productive streams. My dad likes to throw small jerkbaits, but I don't like toting treble hooks around on those slippery rocks. My last resort is the roostertail. In 1993, the Little Tennessee Watershed Association (LTWA) formed in Franklin, NC and proceeded to monitor the rivers biodiversity under the leadership of Dr. William McLarney, an aquatic conservation biologist. Brook Trout: 5 per day, 14-20 inch PLR, only one fish over 20 inches may be harvested. Fallen trees and sloping rocky points are great fish-holding structure. This results in some fantastic catch and release angling in the stretches of river. The Little Tennessee River passes through five impoundments along the range's southwestern boundary, namely Tellico Lake , Chilhowee Lake , Calderwood Lake , Cheoah Lake, and Fontana Lake . Jerkbaits produce some nice smallmouth bass as well as largemouth. All anglers aged 16 or older must have a valid North Carolina state fishing license. Anglers will do well with a 6 foot to 6 1/2 foot light spinning rod and matching real spooled up with 6 pound or 4 pound monofilament line. This is especially true in late summer and early fall as water levels drop. The Franklin area has opportunities to rent floatation devices to enjoy the river on, or buy your own. In this article, I will cover the Little Tennessee River where it flows in and through Franklin, North Carolina. The Little Tennessee River is impounded by several dams on the lower end, most notably the 480 foot high Fontana Dam which creates Fontana Lake. Also a nice 4-mile sidewalk along the river to walk the dogs. Two early American sites are located along the Little Tennessee the Tellico Blockhouse, an outpost at the river's Nine Mile Creek confluence, and Morganton, a river port and ferry town near modern Greenback, which thrived in the early 19th century. The entire stretch from Franklin to Fontana Lake holds excellent smallmouth fishing with little pressure. Return to main pagePrivacy Policy2012 Stay & Play in the Smokies. All Rights Reserved. It is important for anglers to understand that if they keep fish and these hatchery supported waters, they cant then fish closed waters while having fish in their possession. Enjoy free WiFi, onsite parking, and an arcade/game room. There are several nice boat ramps offering good access to Lake Glenville. Along the riverbanks, you might even spot the remains of historic Cherokee settlements. Although some anglers avoid the winter mountain weather, daytime highs sometimes reach agreeable temperatures when a variety of fish might strike a lure or fly. The Nantahala River, a tributary of the Little Tennessee, is a popular destination for whitewater rafting. Top 5 Fishing Spots In The Great Smoky Mountains Rv Lifestyle. Fly Fishing for Largemouth Bass in Florida. FROG played an integral part in the establishment of the trail and continues to provide volunteers to assist with trail upkeep and to raise funds for Greenway-related enhancement projects. Finally, lures are just a lot of fun to fish! The Davidson River is located in Pisgah National Forest, which is near the town of Brevard, NC which is about a 45 minute drive from our shop in Cashiers. If you choose to wade, be sure to wear felt-soled waders due to the slippery rocks in the shallower areas. Bryson City is a short drive away. The Cullasaja River is very technical and best suited to experienced anglers who are physically active. The founders of the Greenway have made a positive impact onlife in Franklin, NC. There are also several spots to launch canoes and kayaks. The river then turns northwest, flowing through the Nantahala National Forest and crossing into Eastern Tennessee to join the Tennessee River at . There are many pull-offs to enjoy the river from, one being an access point just off of N.C. Hwy 28 North on "Sanderstown Rd. What we will do is supply some excellent links to fishing reports, fly selection, and other good resources. The interactive Fishing Areas Map may be used to locate fishing area locations throughout the state sponsored by or provided in partnership with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and non-affiliated areas (NCWRC fishing regulations apply).While every effort is made to provide accurate and up-to-date information, the conditions and accessibility of these areas is subject to change. This is a beautiful lake and is at the highest elevation of any Lake east of the Mississippi River. This is especially true in the Smoky Mountains national Park. There is a park at this bridge with a nice deep pool. Franklin is home to some of the best Smallmouth Bass fishing in the region. It is not stcked but offers good fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, trout, and panfish. Affectionally known as the Little T, the 135-mile river runs through the Blue Ridge Mountains from the Chattahoochee National Forest in northeast Georgia, across western North Carolina and into eastern Tennessee where it joins the Tennessee River at Lenoir City. The stretch of the color sage a river that is most productive for trout fishing is from Goldmine Road to drive falls. There can be no doubt that trout is king in Western North Carolina! Little River Fishing Regulations. Little Tennessee River Greenway. The trails meanders through Franklin, NC and along the way you will see cyclists, rollerbladers, walkers, pets on a leash, canoe's, fishing, picknicking spots, resting benches, Wesley's Playground with slides & swings and much more. Again, anglers need to be mindful of current regulations. We prefer guided float fishing trips on the Little Tennessee River because the rock shelves and deep pools provide challenging wading. ", located at the corner of Iotla Bridge. Try this 6.1-mile out-and-back trail near Franklin, North Carolina. It is, of course, celebrated for the unusual rock formation that is the town's namesake- a huge stone thrust over the Johns River. This is a very picturesque stream, though not easy to fish. - 1000 A.D.) habitation has been uncovered at numerous sites along the Little Tennessee on this side of the mountains, most notably at Icehouse Bottom, Rose Island, Calloway Island (near the river's confluence with Toqua Creek), Thirty Acre Island (near the river's confluence with Nine Mile Creek), and Bacon Bend (between Toqua and Citico Beach). This is a bit of a ways from the route 28 bridge. The fishing on Fontana Lake can be very good. It is stocked by the state. This 1600 acre lake is about an hour west of Franklin. There are really three sections to this River. Boat docks are prime spots, as are underwater points and channel edges. link to Fly Fishing for Largemouth Bass in Florida, Read more about the best trout fishing lures in this article, Anglers can click this link to read more about the best smallmouth bass fishing tackle and lures. 6. There is some evidence that Spanish explorers Hernando De Soto and Juan Pardo passed through the Little Tennessee Valley in 1540 and 1567, respectively. Our 5hr Spring Break Special will have you hitting the top fisheries in the region during the best times of day. Continue for another 1.2 miles (bearing right just over the bridge) to Needmore Road on your Right. 828-587-4665 Fly Fishing the Little Tennessee River Smallmouth Fly Fishing in North Carolina. It is an easy 45 minute drive from Franklin on good, two lane highways. Smallmouth Fly Fishing in North Carolina with Hookers Fly Shop and Guide Service. There is a famous stretch on the Tuckasegee River from Cullowhee to Silva. These plugs will generally dive a couple feet down which makes them a great choice in the deeper pools of rivers. There is also a tube/canoe/raft rental business located near here, that boasts it's own supply store with fishing tackle and guide service, as well as a campground area. D Trips On The Little Tennessee River. Anglers will do best fishing on weekdays and early and late in the day is best. Plugs are an extremely effective smallmouth bass lure. This triggers a spawning run up into the tributay rivers. There is a pull off with plenty of parking and a produce stand. 1/16 ounce spinners are a good all-around size. Anglers can certainly wade the Tuckasegee River as well. The lakes, rivers, and streams of Western North Carolina provide this habitat perfectly. The road is winding and narrow. Cedar Cliff Lakes is a smaller, lower lake that is formed by a dam on the east fork of the Tuckasegee River. Little Tennessee River Fishing Trips | Fly Fishing Tennessee | Katala Spring is the best time to fish the Little Tennessee. These spinners come in a variety of sizes and colors. The gorge and its waterfalls can be accessed along US Highway 64/State Road 28 between Highlands and Franklin, NC, which is part of the Waterfall Byway. [11] These sites were probably semi-permanent base camps, the inhabitants of which may have sought the chert deposits on the bluffs above the river which they used to create tools. The bank is a little steeper here and it is not as easy to launch as it is at the route 28 bridge. This section is deeper, which makes it better for float fishing and not as good for wading. The Cullasaja is in a bit of a ravine and anglers need to take care when climbing down and waiting as water levels can rise rapidly.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'fishinglidokey_com-box-4','ezslot_5',168,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishinglidokey_com-box-4-0'); Both the Little Tennessee River and Tuckaseggee River offer anglers excellent smallmouth bass fishing. The little Tennessee River can be broken into two sections as it flows out of Lake Emory. We are not going to try to cover that here. It has 26 miles of shoreline. Website. Plan an estate gifttoensure the organizationcontinuesactivitiesinto the future. The 27 miles of free flowing river between Lake Emory in Franklin and Lake Fontana near Bryson City supports one of the most diverse ecosystems of plants and animals in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The river is well marked with signs so anglers can differentiate the delayed harvest waters from the hatchery supported waters. These small mountain towns in NC obviously have lots to offer, and in my opinion Blowing Rock (population 1300, altitude 3500+ feet) is truly amongst the finest. Trout, white bass, rock bass, catfish, panfish, and even musky are also available. This is very convenient! Fishing for smallmouth bass is also an excellent option in the heat of summer when trout fishing really slows. These are the friends who identify projects or tasks and work to carry them out. Lures allow anglers to cover a lot of water fairly quickly. Anglers may use single hook lures and flies. waters are exactly as the name implies; fish are stocked but anglers are not allowed to harvest the fish right away. This lake is a couple miles long and not very wide. 5 Reviews. Wading this section of the river when water is running can be very dangerous! Rainbow and brown trout are available as well, especially downriver from Tellico Creek. (See map at bottom of page) Williamson County Recreation Center (Maintained by Williamson County) The Parks Department recently mapped the . Anglers should use the smallest float possible. The Cherokee . Numerous parks were created with surfaced ramps, offering anglers with canoes, kayaks and drift boats access to the tuck a CG River. There are numerous pullouts and access points for anglers to wade as well as put in small canoes and kayaks. 4 fish can be kept with a 7 minimum size limit. During fall and winter, trout can be pursued. Every angler has his or her favorite, with Rooster tails, Mepps, and Blue Fox spinners being the most popular. This conservation effort helped preserve the Little Tennessee River to make it one of the cleanest rivers in the Blue Ridge Mountains. This 7 mile stretch is heavily stocked with fish of all sizes, including some large ones. Jerry Anselmo; 81 Bennett Road; Franklin, NC 28734; Phone: (828) 369-5295; Fishing. The Little Tennessee River (known locally as the Little T) is a 135-mile (217km) tributary of the Tennessee River that flows through the Blue Ridge Mountains from Georgia, into North Carolina, and then into Tennessee, in the southeastern United States. However, by late summer the water is low in clear and light tackle works best. Anglers can rent canoes and kayaks as well as purchase fishing tackle at this location.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'fishinglidokey_com-leader-4','ezslot_13',180,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishinglidokey_com-leader-4-0'); There is another public access a mile or so north along route 28. 1982. Spinners and spinner baits are also very effective smallmouth bass lures. The New has a South Fork and a North Fork. 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