Native Brook Trout
After being closed to fishing for nearly 30 years to restore native brook trout populations, there are many streams that may lay claim to the best brook trout fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is. A top contender has to be the headwaters of Raven Fork. Do you know how to get there? We do.
Native Brook Trout Habitat
At one time, brook trout used to populate just about every stream in the Smoky Mountains National Park. Heavy logging in the 1880's and later the introduction of rainbow trout and brown trout decimated native brook trout populations. After decades of hard work to restore brook trout stocks fisheries biologists of the National Park Service can now proudly say the brookies are back!
Most brook trout in the park now reside in streams above 3,000 feet in elevation, which usually means you'll have to do a little hiking to find them. This is certainly the case if you want to find the best brook trout fishing on Raven Fork.
Raven Fork Map (click to enlarge)
Fly Fishing Raven Fork
Accessible only by foot, the upper waters of the Raven Fork can be accessed from the Enloe Creek Trail (see map) enroute to Campsite #47.
The Brookies in Raven Fork come readily to small dry flies (Blue-Winged Olive, size 18 to 22) and nymphs (Black Stone and Pheasant Tail) in the early Spring. Large dries (Elk-Hair Caddis and Thunderhead, sizes 12 to 16) and nymphs (Golden Stone, Black Stone, and Hare's Ear, sizes 10 to 14) work well in the turbulent water that punctuates the Raven in late Spring and early Summer.
Additional information about fishing Raven Fork, including area fishing reports, detailed stream access information and trip planning tips is available in our Raven Fork fly fishing guide.
If you do go, remember to be kind to our little native brook trout friends and leave no trace behind so that others may also enjoy these iconic symbols of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Enjoy!
p.s. For more information about fly fishing the best trout streams in the Smokies check out our Smoky Mountains National Park Fly Fishing Guide.
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