This is an average stream flow
for Big Creek. Navigating its
rough waters can be a chore. In
some places it is almost
impossible to wade upstream.
for Big Creek. Navigating its
rough waters can be a chore. In
some places it is almost
impossible to wade upstream.
Big Creek Watershed:
| Fly Fishing the Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
Description:
Big Creek is a steep, high gradient stream with lots of rough and tumble pocket
water. It is about as difficult to negotiate as any stream in the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park that is fairly easy to access. Big Creek is located in the
North section of the park. The stream flows into the Pigeon River just outside the
park.
Stream Size:
The size of this stream ranges from medium to large as compared to other
streams in the park. We would class it as a large size Great Smoky Mountains
National Park stream.
Accessibility:
The lower portion of Big Creek runs through a campground and is easy to access.
Above the campground it is mostly difficult to access the stream from the main trail.
The trail lies far above the stream and traveling upstream in the stream bed is
tough to impossible in places. Large deep pools, huge boulders and fast water
makes it difficult to follow the stream bed. The stream can be followed from angler
made trails made from the campground leading upstream.
Species:
Rainbow trout make up the trout species list for most of Big Creek. Brook trout are
found in the uppermost portions of the stream.
Average Fish Size:
The average size of the stream's rainbow trout is probably slightly less than the
average size for the park. They seem to range from 5 to 8 inches. An occasional
larger rainbow trout may be found.
Popularity:
The best part of this stream may be its low popularity as a trout stream. It is not
because fishing is not good. It is because the stream is located in a remote area of
the park although access to Interstate #40 is only a reasonable distance away.
Difficulty:
As we said, getting around in the stream is very difficult. Catching trout is no more
difficult than it is anywhere else in the park and may even be easier because the
stream sees little pressure from anglers.
Tributary Streams:
Big Creek is made up of several tributary streams. Since they begin at high
elevations, some of them are very good brook trout streams.
Gunter Creek:
Gunter Creek is a small tributary stream of Big Creek. Rainbows and brook trout
can be found in the lower section of the stream. Brook trout will be the only species
found in the uppermost parts of the stream. It flows into Big Creek about 6 miles
upstream of the campground. Gunter Fork Trail follows the stream.
Mouse Creek:
Mouse Creek is a very small tributary steam. Only a mile or so of this stream is
fishable. The portion above Mouse Falls is not worth fishing. There is no formal trail
to follow.
Swallow Fork:
Swallow Fork is one of the major tributary streams to Big Creek. It can be accessed
from the Swallow Fork Trail that intersects the Big Creek Trail about 5 miles
upstream of the campground. The trail follows the stream for about 2 miles.
Swallow Fork has both rainbow and brook trout.
McGinty Creek:
McGinty Creek is a very small stream that flows into Swallow Fork. It has a
population of brook trout.
John Mack Creek:
John Mack Creek is another very small tributary stream of the Swallow Fork.
Yellow Creek:
Yellow Creek is a very small stream that enter Big Creek about 9 miles upstream of
the Big Creek Campground. It can be accessed from the Yellow Creek Trail. Brook
trout is the main attraction of this small stream.
Deer Creek:
Deer Creek is another very small tributary stream of Big Creek that has a
population of brook trout. It enters Big Creek about a half mile above the Yellow
Creek junction. It has no formal trail that follows it.
Comments:
This stream is a good one to fish if you just want to say that you have fished all of
the major streams in the park or if you just want to get away from it all and fish
some of the small brook trout tributaries. .
Big Creek is a steep, high gradient stream with lots of rough and tumble pocket
water. It is about as difficult to negotiate as any stream in the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park that is fairly easy to access. Big Creek is located in the
North section of the park. The stream flows into the Pigeon River just outside the
park.
Stream Size:
The size of this stream ranges from medium to large as compared to other
streams in the park. We would class it as a large size Great Smoky Mountains
National Park stream.
Accessibility:
The lower portion of Big Creek runs through a campground and is easy to access.
Above the campground it is mostly difficult to access the stream from the main trail.
The trail lies far above the stream and traveling upstream in the stream bed is
tough to impossible in places. Large deep pools, huge boulders and fast water
makes it difficult to follow the stream bed. The stream can be followed from angler
made trails made from the campground leading upstream.
Species:
Rainbow trout make up the trout species list for most of Big Creek. Brook trout are
found in the uppermost portions of the stream.
Average Fish Size:
The average size of the stream's rainbow trout is probably slightly less than the
average size for the park. They seem to range from 5 to 8 inches. An occasional
larger rainbow trout may be found.
Popularity:
The best part of this stream may be its low popularity as a trout stream. It is not
because fishing is not good. It is because the stream is located in a remote area of
the park although access to Interstate #40 is only a reasonable distance away.
Difficulty:
As we said, getting around in the stream is very difficult. Catching trout is no more
difficult than it is anywhere else in the park and may even be easier because the
stream sees little pressure from anglers.
Tributary Streams:
Big Creek is made up of several tributary streams. Since they begin at high
elevations, some of them are very good brook trout streams.
Gunter Creek:
Gunter Creek is a small tributary stream of Big Creek. Rainbows and brook trout
can be found in the lower section of the stream. Brook trout will be the only species
found in the uppermost parts of the stream. It flows into Big Creek about 6 miles
upstream of the campground. Gunter Fork Trail follows the stream.
Mouse Creek:
Mouse Creek is a very small tributary steam. Only a mile or so of this stream is
fishable. The portion above Mouse Falls is not worth fishing. There is no formal trail
to follow.
Swallow Fork:
Swallow Fork is one of the major tributary streams to Big Creek. It can be accessed
from the Swallow Fork Trail that intersects the Big Creek Trail about 5 miles
upstream of the campground. The trail follows the stream for about 2 miles.
Swallow Fork has both rainbow and brook trout.
McGinty Creek:
McGinty Creek is a very small stream that flows into Swallow Fork. It has a
population of brook trout.
John Mack Creek:
John Mack Creek is another very small tributary stream of the Swallow Fork.
Yellow Creek:
Yellow Creek is a very small stream that enter Big Creek about 9 miles upstream of
the Big Creek Campground. It can be accessed from the Yellow Creek Trail. Brook
trout is the main attraction of this small stream.
Deer Creek:
Deer Creek is another very small tributary stream of Big Creek that has a
population of brook trout. It enters Big Creek about a half mile above the Yellow
Creek junction. It has no formal trail that follows it.
Comments:
This stream is a good one to fish if you just want to say that you have fished all of
the major streams in the park or if you just want to get away from it all and fish
some of the small brook trout tributaries. .
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Copyright 2007 James Marsh
Big Creek has Pocket Water
and lots of it. Anglers have a
lot of challenges to overcome
with the conflicting currents
as well as moving around in
the stream.
and lots of it. Anglers have a
lot of challenges to overcome
with the conflicting currents
as well as moving around in
the stream.
Big Creek has some nice
rainbow trout in its waters as
you can see. This one put up
a very good fight for Angie. It is
a very healthy rainbow.
rainbow trout in its waters as
you can see. This one put up
a very good fight for Angie. It is
a very healthy rainbow.
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
Rainbow Trout are the main
species found in Big Creek.
species found in Big Creek.
This angler made trail get
you along the stream above
the campground for a few
miles.
you along the stream above
the campground for a few
miles.
Big Creek has More Water in
this scene but I doubt it could
hold any more boulders.
this scene but I doubt it could
hold any more boulders.
