Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and the Great Smoky Mountain National Park are an angler’s paradise. With miles and miles of rushing, crystal-clear streams teeming with trout, the Smokies offer some of the finest freshwater fishing in the country. Whether you're wading through quiet, shaded backcountry creeks or casting a line into wide, rushing rivers, every fishing trip here is wrapped in breathtaking wilderness and deep-rooted mountain tradition.
Where to Fish in Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge
Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and the Great Smoky Mountain National Park provide excellent fishing opportunities for anglers of all skill levels. Choose to stay within city limits or seek out a fun adventure in the national park. Add these fishing spots to your list on your next Smoky Mountain vacation:
The Little Pigeon River, which flows through Gatlinburg, is a popular choice because of its accessibility. The river is split into two sections - the West Prong and the Middle Prong. The West Prong is calmer, while the Middle Prong offers more of a challenge, so choose your adventure! The city stocks Gatlinburg streams (West Prong, Dudley Creek, and LeConte Creek) on Thursdays, so no fishing is allowed on Thursdays. This applies year-round.
Mynatt Park is another great choice, especially if the kids are tagging along. LeConte Creek runs alongside the park and is consistently stocked with trout each week. The dedicated “children’s-only” fishing section begins at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Boundary, at the beginning of the Historic Motor Nature Trail and extends downstream for about a quarter mile from Mynatt Park.
If you want to fully immerse yourself in the mountains of Tennessee, fishing in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park is a must. With over 2,900 streams just in the park, with about 20% of the streams being fishable, it is one of the few remaining wild trout habitats in the US. You’ll find a range of angling experiences, including remote trout streams to large, coolwater smallmouth bass streams. Many anglers prefer to fish along the trail on Abrams Creek, the Little River, and Big Creek (most known for its native brook trout).
What You’ll Catch
The most common fish in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are rainbow and brown trout, but brook trout is the only native species to the area.
- Rainbow Trout: Stocked abundantly and known for their acrobatic leaps.
- Brown Trout: Clever fighters that typically grow larger and thrive in deeper pools of water.
- Brook Trout: Identifiable by their blue halos and marbled markings. Protecting these species is a major part of park management.
- Other Species: While trout are abundant, you may also hook largemouth and smallmouth bass, rock bass, and black crappie.
Things to Know
Licensing Requirements: License requirements are dependent on a variety of factors. For Great Smoky Mountain National Park requirements, visit here. For City of Gatlinburg requirements, visit here.
Gear Restrictions: To protect the ecosystem, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and local managed waters strictly enforce regulations: you may only use artificial flies or lures with a single hook. Natural live bait is prohibited.
Catch Limits: The general daily bag limit in the national park is 5 fish total (trout or smallmouth bass) with a strict 7-inch minimum size limit. Always check current local regulations before heading out, as rules can vary between city waters and national park boundaries.
Season & Hours: Fishing in open park waters is permitted year-round, from 30 minutes before official sunrise to 30 minutes after official sunset.
Smoky Mountain Cabin Rentals
Find your home base with Bear Tracts for your Gatlinburg fishing adventures. Several of our Smoky Mountain cabin rentals let you step right out onto the bank of a rushing river from a secluded cabin porch, or enjoy a cozy mountain retreat just minutes from the legendary waters of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. After a rewarding day of wading through crystal-clear creeks or reeling in a big catch, our properties offer the perfect place to kick back, share stories by the fire, and rest up for tomorrow's adventure on the water.