Trout streams in the Smoky Mountains are much different from those found in the western United States. Here is a winter time photo of one of hundreds of beautiful, but, small streams located throughout the Appalachian Mountain range. Don't underestimate these trout streams. They are very productive and full of rainbow, brown and brook trout.
Fish coming from Smoky Mountain rivers are generally much smaller than you see from the big western streams of California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington State and Wyoming. While Appalachian trout are generally smaller, the challenges of catching them exceed those you encounter out west. First, the terrain in the Smokies can be extremely challenging. You must content with heavy vegetation and trees that grow right down to the waters edge. This combines for some extremely challenging hikes and overnight camping trips. In addition, fly casting is at it's most challenging given the amout of vegetation you generally must contend with.
Check out this beautiful Appalachian Mountains trout. There are areas with much larger fish, but, generally those are private sections that require daily fees and guides.
