The water is going to be COLD from snow melt this time of year... which usually means fishing for trout and definitely smallies will be slow. Trout do like cold water but water in the mid-low 40's or below puts them off and sluggish.
There is a delayed harvest that runs thru either March 1 or April not sure. That means everything is catch/release for trout.
If you trout fish in the city limits of Gatlinburg there is a permit required and no fishing allowed on Thursdays (stocking day).
If you fish in the park boundry all you need is valid TN license. It's Federal and gets no money to support the fishery from state license sales so it doesn't require a stamp. Also it is single hook artificial not bait within the boundry.
That is all for trout... Smallies are there in the lower reaches closer to Douglas lake and the tailwater (French Broad) but it's not quite time yet I believe for them. Getting close though.
Last edited by Travis C.; 03-27-2013 at 09:20 AM.
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