Mother and Two Cubs:
Bears are a common sight in
Cades Cove. It is an excellent
place to see all type of wildlife.
Bears are a common sight in
Cades Cove. It is an excellent
place to see all type of wildlife.
Abrams Creek Watershed:
| Fly Fishing the Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
Description:
Abrams Creek is considered by many anglers to be one of the best streams in the
park. It has a much better water chemistry than other streams in the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park and consequently, good quality fish.
Abrams Creek receives much of its water from Anthony Creek, which for the most
part, flows underground through the Cove. The streams passage through
limestone raises the PH of the water. The water that stays above ground flows
through the fields and pastures of Cades Cove where it receives nutrients from the
resident horses and other animals. This also raises the PH value of the water. The
higher than normal PH level, means there is more food for the trout and
consequently, larger trout.
Stream Size:
The stream is a medium to large size stream in comparison to other streams in
the park. Pushed to draw a line, we would classify it as a large stream.
Accessibility::
If you plan on fishing Abrams from the Cades Cover area, and you certainly should,
you should be aware of the gate opening and closing times at Cades Cove Road,
not to even mention the possible heavy traffic. If you fish the stream during autumn’
s leaf-looker season, for example, then you would certainly need to allow for a slow
ride through the valley not to mention the probable bear jams.
Abrams can also be accessed from the Abram Creek Campground at the South
end of the park. At this point the stream has more smallmouth bass than trout
during most of the season. From the campground downstream, access is difficult
to say the least. There are no formal trails that border the stream. It is almost
fourteen miles to the Chilhowee Reservoir and fishing downstream wading the
stream can be difficult because of the deep pools. Much better fishing for rainbow
trout is available upstream, starting at an known as Little Bottoms.
If you enter the stream from Cades Cove, you should be familiar with the streams
path relative to the trail. The horseshoe, as it is known, is a circular curve in the
streams course that is a mile long. The stream leaves the trail at one end of the
horseshoe and returns to the trail at the other end. Fishing it takes a full day for
most anglers. Another similar curve in the creek just above the Abrams Falls
Trailhead is about three-fourths of a mile and takes at least a half-day to fish and
negotiate the stream.
Difficulty:
Accessing the stream from Cades Cove can be good or bad depending on several
things. If you get there first you should certainly hope that other anglers that may
appear later are courteous and respectful of the water you choose to fish. If you are
willing to make a day of it and wade either of the horseshoe curves that leave the
trail, here again, make sure you are there first or you may be following those that
beat you there all day.
If you manage to maneuver around these deterrents, you could be in for an
excellent day but here again that may depend heavily as to where you fish the
stream. If you are adapt to fishing Pennsylvania’s spring creeks, then you will be
challenged to fish the upper spring creek portion of Abrams Creek. If not, and your
luck depends heavily on surprising the opportunistically feeding trout, you should
head downstream. The farther you fish downstream, the more the creek looses its
spring creek characteristics and become more like a freestone stream.
Downstream of the confluence of Mill Creek, the stream becomes part high
alkalinity level, spring creek water and part low alkalinity level, acidic water that is
still great for the trout.
Average Fish Size:
The rainbow trout in Abrams Creek are as large or larger as any found in the park
and there is a valid reason for it. The stream has an ample abundance of food for
the trout to eat primarily because of the high PH value of the water.
Tributary Streams;
Rabbit, Panther and Mill Creeks are the main tributary streams of Abrams Creek.
Mill Creek:
Mill Creek enters the stream at the Abrams Falls parking area. As we said, this
stream adds water on the acidic side of the PH scale to the spring creek water. Mill
Creek is about the same size as Abrams Creek is at that point. The different types
of water in these two streams becomes very obviously at this point. The color of the
limestone spring creek type water and the acidic water of Mill Creek mixes in sharp
contrast. Not far upstream from its confluence with Abrams Creek, Mill Creek
receives water from another freestone stream, Forage Creek. Above that point, Mill
Creek is very small and tightly covered stream.
Forage Creek:
Forage Creek is a small stream tributary of Mill Creek that is covered by the
overhanging limbs of trees and brush and slightly difficult to fish. It is usually full of
small, eager rainbows that are fun to catch. Forage Creek is easily accessed.
Rabbit Creek:
Rabbit Creek enters Abrams Creek about three and one-half miles upstream of the
Abrams Creek Campground. It can also be accessed via the Rabbit Creek Trail if
you care to hike almost 5 miles from the trailhead at the Abrams Falls parking area.
This is too far for most anglers to hike when they can fish Abrams Creek and
probably catch more trout. Nevertheless, those anglers that care to camp at the
remote campsite may well choose to fish Rabbit Creek over Abrams Creek at least
for a portion of their camping trip. The uppermost part of the stream can be reached
from Parson’s Branch Road but it is very small at this point.
Rainbows are the main species you will catch in Rabbit Creek.
Panther Creek:
Panther Creek is yet another tributary stream of Abrams Creek. It intersects Abrams
Creek upstream of the Abrams Creek Campground but it is easier to access the
upper portion of the stream from the Parson Branch Road. This small stream
normally has a very good population of rainbows.
Comments:
The upper spring creek portion of the stream can be fished during extremely cold
weather. Its water is usually still warm enough for the trout to be active.
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
Abrams Creek is considered by many anglers to be one of the best streams in the
park. It has a much better water chemistry than other streams in the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park and consequently, good quality fish.
Abrams Creek receives much of its water from Anthony Creek, which for the most
part, flows underground through the Cove. The streams passage through
limestone raises the PH of the water. The water that stays above ground flows
through the fields and pastures of Cades Cove where it receives nutrients from the
resident horses and other animals. This also raises the PH value of the water. The
higher than normal PH level, means there is more food for the trout and
consequently, larger trout.
Stream Size:
The stream is a medium to large size stream in comparison to other streams in
the park. Pushed to draw a line, we would classify it as a large stream.
Accessibility::
If you plan on fishing Abrams from the Cades Cover area, and you certainly should,
you should be aware of the gate opening and closing times at Cades Cove Road,
not to even mention the possible heavy traffic. If you fish the stream during autumn’
s leaf-looker season, for example, then you would certainly need to allow for a slow
ride through the valley not to mention the probable bear jams.
Abrams can also be accessed from the Abram Creek Campground at the South
end of the park. At this point the stream has more smallmouth bass than trout
during most of the season. From the campground downstream, access is difficult
to say the least. There are no formal trails that border the stream. It is almost
fourteen miles to the Chilhowee Reservoir and fishing downstream wading the
stream can be difficult because of the deep pools. Much better fishing for rainbow
trout is available upstream, starting at an known as Little Bottoms.
If you enter the stream from Cades Cove, you should be familiar with the streams
path relative to the trail. The horseshoe, as it is known, is a circular curve in the
streams course that is a mile long. The stream leaves the trail at one end of the
horseshoe and returns to the trail at the other end. Fishing it takes a full day for
most anglers. Another similar curve in the creek just above the Abrams Falls
Trailhead is about three-fourths of a mile and takes at least a half-day to fish and
negotiate the stream.
Difficulty:
Accessing the stream from Cades Cove can be good or bad depending on several
things. If you get there first you should certainly hope that other anglers that may
appear later are courteous and respectful of the water you choose to fish. If you are
willing to make a day of it and wade either of the horseshoe curves that leave the
trail, here again, make sure you are there first or you may be following those that
beat you there all day.
If you manage to maneuver around these deterrents, you could be in for an
excellent day but here again that may depend heavily as to where you fish the
stream. If you are adapt to fishing Pennsylvania’s spring creeks, then you will be
challenged to fish the upper spring creek portion of Abrams Creek. If not, and your
luck depends heavily on surprising the opportunistically feeding trout, you should
head downstream. The farther you fish downstream, the more the creek looses its
spring creek characteristics and become more like a freestone stream.
Downstream of the confluence of Mill Creek, the stream becomes part high
alkalinity level, spring creek water and part low alkalinity level, acidic water that is
still great for the trout.
Average Fish Size:
The rainbow trout in Abrams Creek are as large or larger as any found in the park
and there is a valid reason for it. The stream has an ample abundance of food for
the trout to eat primarily because of the high PH value of the water.
Tributary Streams;
Rabbit, Panther and Mill Creeks are the main tributary streams of Abrams Creek.
Mill Creek:
Mill Creek enters the stream at the Abrams Falls parking area. As we said, this
stream adds water on the acidic side of the PH scale to the spring creek water. Mill
Creek is about the same size as Abrams Creek is at that point. The different types
of water in these two streams becomes very obviously at this point. The color of the
limestone spring creek type water and the acidic water of Mill Creek mixes in sharp
contrast. Not far upstream from its confluence with Abrams Creek, Mill Creek
receives water from another freestone stream, Forage Creek. Above that point, Mill
Creek is very small and tightly covered stream.
Forage Creek:
Forage Creek is a small stream tributary of Mill Creek that is covered by the
overhanging limbs of trees and brush and slightly difficult to fish. It is usually full of
small, eager rainbows that are fun to catch. Forage Creek is easily accessed.
Rabbit Creek:
Rabbit Creek enters Abrams Creek about three and one-half miles upstream of the
Abrams Creek Campground. It can also be accessed via the Rabbit Creek Trail if
you care to hike almost 5 miles from the trailhead at the Abrams Falls parking area.
This is too far for most anglers to hike when they can fish Abrams Creek and
probably catch more trout. Nevertheless, those anglers that care to camp at the
remote campsite may well choose to fish Rabbit Creek over Abrams Creek at least
for a portion of their camping trip. The uppermost part of the stream can be reached
from Parson’s Branch Road but it is very small at this point.
Rainbows are the main species you will catch in Rabbit Creek.
Panther Creek:
Panther Creek is yet another tributary stream of Abrams Creek. It intersects Abrams
Creek upstream of the Abrams Creek Campground but it is easier to access the
upper portion of the stream from the Parson Branch Road. This small stream
normally has a very good population of rainbows.
Comments:
The upper spring creek portion of the stream can be fished during extremely cold
weather. Its water is usually still warm enough for the trout to be active.
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Abrams Creek Rainbow Trout:
Rainbows get almost twice this
size in Abrams. It is not unusual
for angler to catch one over 12
inches long.
Rainbows get almost twice this
size in Abrams. It is not unusual
for angler to catch one over 12
inches long.
High Water at Abrams:
Even though the water is a little high,
it is often clear and very fishable
when other streams are not..
Even though the water is a little high,
it is often clear and very fishable
when other streams are not..
Clear Water:
Since much of the water comes
from underground it is usually
very clear.
Since much of the water comes
from underground it is usually
very clear.
The moderate slope of the
stream slows the flow enough
that the trout often get a good look
at your fly. This makes the pattern
and presentation even more
important than it is on many other
streams in the park.
stream slows the flow enough
that the trout often get a good look
at your fly. This makes the pattern
and presentation even more
important than it is on many other
streams in the park.
Casting space:
Abrams is a large enough stream
to provide decent casting room.
Abrams is a large enough stream
to provide decent casting room.
Site Map (Click on Links)
Abrams Creek Fishing Methods Marine Food Species
Anthony Creek Forney Creek Mayflies Spring
Big Creek Freestone Streams Midges Stoneflies
Beginners Recommended Gear Misc N.C. Streams Straight Creek
Caddisflies Hatches Misc Tenn. Streams Streams
Casting Hazel Creek Middle Prong Little Pigeon River Summer Season
Cataloochee Creek Headwater Stream Middle Prong Little River Terrestrials
Cosby Creek Caddisfly Imitations Noland Creek Twenty Mile Creek
Deep Creek Mayfly Imitations Oconaluftee River Wild Trout
Midge Imitations Other Aquatic Insects Winter Season
Eagle Creek Home PH West Prong Little Pigeon River
East Prong Little River Stonefly Imitations Presentation West Prong Little River
Fall Season Streamers Raven Fork Spring Hatch Chart
About Us Terrestrial Imitations Reading Hatch Charts Summer Hatch Chart
Recommended Flies Links Seasons Winter Hatch Chart
Fall Hatch Chart
Abrams Creek Fishing Methods Marine Food Species
Anthony Creek Forney Creek Mayflies Spring
Big Creek Freestone Streams Midges Stoneflies
Beginners Recommended Gear Misc N.C. Streams Straight Creek
Caddisflies Hatches Misc Tenn. Streams Streams
Casting Hazel Creek Middle Prong Little Pigeon River Summer Season
Cataloochee Creek Headwater Stream Middle Prong Little River Terrestrials
Cosby Creek Caddisfly Imitations Noland Creek Twenty Mile Creek
Deep Creek Mayfly Imitations Oconaluftee River Wild Trout
Midge Imitations Other Aquatic Insects Winter Season
Eagle Creek Home PH West Prong Little Pigeon River
East Prong Little River Stonefly Imitations Presentation West Prong Little River
Fall Season Streamers Raven Fork Spring Hatch Chart
About Us Terrestrial Imitations Reading Hatch Charts Summer Hatch Chart
Recommended Flies Links Seasons Winter Hatch Chart
Fall Hatch Chart