Moderate Flows are more common
in Cataloochee Creek than many
others in the park. This makes the
stream slightly more difficult to fish.
in Cataloochee Creek than many
others in the park. This makes the
stream slightly more difficult to fish.
Cataloochee Creek Watershed:
| Fly Fishing the Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
Description:
The Cataloochee Creek is a very good Great Smoky Mountains National Park
stream. It lies in one of the most beautiful sections of the park. It is located in the
Cataloochee Valley in the very remote Northern portion of the park. This valley
cannot be mentioned without mentioning elk. The park is trying to reestablish elk in
this portion of the park because it is in a remote area. Many may not be aware of
the fact that elk were plentiful in the Great Smoky Mountains at one time. They were
hunted out in the mid eighteen hundreds.
The Cataloochee Creek is as beautiful as a trout stream can get. It has long riffles,
some large pools and pocket water dispersed between the classic pool, riffle, and
run trout stream water. In places, it reminds one of the Beaverkill.
Stream Size:
We would classify the size of this stream as large when compared to other
streams in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is still a small stream as
compared to other trout streams nationwide, however. The stream flows for about 8
miles inside the park's boundaries. It eventually empties into Walters Lake on the
Pigeon River outside the park.
Accessibility:
Accessibility of the Cataloochee Creek is very good once you get there. Getting
there is takes a while. It is located miles from Maggie Valley which is the closest
area of any appreciable population. Cove Creek Road accesses the valley. It can
be accessed from Interstate 40 at Exit 20. It is about 10 miles along Cove Creek
Road to the Cataloochee Valley. There is another way to get there, but it is not worth
it unless you want to visit other areas along the 25 mile plus dirt road route.
Once you are there you will find access to the lower portion of the stream easy.
Much of it is followed closely by a road. The portion of the stream above the
campground is a short distance from the road, but still very easy to access. Not far
above the campground, the stream splits into its main tributaries, Palmer and
Rough Creeks.
Species:
Both brown and rainbow trout make up the population of Cataloochee Creek.
Average Fish Size:
The trout average about as large as they do anywhere in the park with only a few
exceptions. It is a very good place to catch a large brown trout.
Popularity:
The stream gets a little pressure in the early summer and early fall seasons. It is
more from the campers than anglers, however. Most any other time, you will have
access to all the water you want out of sight of other anglers.
Difficulty:
The stream is a pleasure to fish. In many places, it fishes like a picture perfect
Western trout stream. It is fairly easy to cast in most places and fairly easy to get
around in the stream.
Tributary Streams:
Cataloochee Creek has several tributary streams that contain trout.
Palmer Creek:
Palmer Creek is a major tributary stream to Cataloochee Creek. Rainbow trout are
common in Palmer Creek but both browns and rainbows exist in the lower portion
of the stream. Brook trout begin to be a common catch above the Pretty Hollow
Creek confluence.
Pretty Hollow Creek:
Pretty Hollow Creek is a tributary stream of Palmer Creek. Pretty Hollow Gap Trail
provides access to this stream. Campground #39 is a good place to camp if you
are interested in fishing this small stream.
Lost Bottoms Creek:
Lost Bottoms Creek is a tributary stream of Palmer Creek. It flows into Palmer
about 2 miles above its confluence with the Cataloochee Creek. It contains some
rainbow trout in its lower portion but most all of the stream has a very good
population of brook trout. Campground #39 is a good place to camp if you are
interested in fishing Lost Bottoms Creek for brook trout.
Caldwell Fork:
Caldwell Fork is a small tributary stream of Cataloochee Creek. It flows into the
Cataloochee Creek near the campground. The lower part of the stream contains
mostly rainbow trout and a few brown trout. Its uppermost parts contains brook
trout. The stream can be accessed from Caldwell Fork Trail that follows the stream.
Those that want to camp in the backcounty should stay at campsite #41if they
wanted to fish the upper portions of the stream. Den Branch, McKee Branch, and
Double Gap Branch are all very small tributary streams of Caldwell Fork.
Rough Fork:
Rough Fork is the other major tributary stream to Cataloochee Creek. Part of this
stream runs through beautiful meadows and part of it through hardwood forest.
The stream can be accessed from the Rough Fork Trail. Campsite #40 is located
in its upper portion. Most of the trout are rainbows.
Little Cataloochee Creek:
Little Cataloochee Creek is a tributary stream to Cataloochee Creek. This medium
to small size stream has both brown and rainbow trout. Its uppermost portions has
a population of brook trout. The stream has several tributary streams that form it
main portion. Coggins Branch, Conrad Branch, and Andy Branch join the Little
Cataloochee Creek. These streams have mostly small rainbow trout. Correll
Branch and Woody Branch, both tributary streams, have brook trout.
Comments:
This is one of, if not the, best trout streams in the park in all respects. It takes a
short drive to get there, even from Maggie Valley, North Carolina, but it is well worth
it. It is a great place to camp and fish. Not far above the campground it is possible
to catch a grand slam in the same area. Brook, brown and rainbow trout can are
present.
The Cataloochee Creek is a very good Great Smoky Mountains National Park
stream. It lies in one of the most beautiful sections of the park. It is located in the
Cataloochee Valley in the very remote Northern portion of the park. This valley
cannot be mentioned without mentioning elk. The park is trying to reestablish elk in
this portion of the park because it is in a remote area. Many may not be aware of
the fact that elk were plentiful in the Great Smoky Mountains at one time. They were
hunted out in the mid eighteen hundreds.
The Cataloochee Creek is as beautiful as a trout stream can get. It has long riffles,
some large pools and pocket water dispersed between the classic pool, riffle, and
run trout stream water. In places, it reminds one of the Beaverkill.
Stream Size:
We would classify the size of this stream as large when compared to other
streams in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is still a small stream as
compared to other trout streams nationwide, however. The stream flows for about 8
miles inside the park's boundaries. It eventually empties into Walters Lake on the
Pigeon River outside the park.
Accessibility:
Accessibility of the Cataloochee Creek is very good once you get there. Getting
there is takes a while. It is located miles from Maggie Valley which is the closest
area of any appreciable population. Cove Creek Road accesses the valley. It can
be accessed from Interstate 40 at Exit 20. It is about 10 miles along Cove Creek
Road to the Cataloochee Valley. There is another way to get there, but it is not worth
it unless you want to visit other areas along the 25 mile plus dirt road route.
Once you are there you will find access to the lower portion of the stream easy.
Much of it is followed closely by a road. The portion of the stream above the
campground is a short distance from the road, but still very easy to access. Not far
above the campground, the stream splits into its main tributaries, Palmer and
Rough Creeks.
Species:
Both brown and rainbow trout make up the population of Cataloochee Creek.
Average Fish Size:
The trout average about as large as they do anywhere in the park with only a few
exceptions. It is a very good place to catch a large brown trout.
Popularity:
The stream gets a little pressure in the early summer and early fall seasons. It is
more from the campers than anglers, however. Most any other time, you will have
access to all the water you want out of sight of other anglers.
Difficulty:
The stream is a pleasure to fish. In many places, it fishes like a picture perfect
Western trout stream. It is fairly easy to cast in most places and fairly easy to get
around in the stream.
Tributary Streams:
Cataloochee Creek has several tributary streams that contain trout.
Palmer Creek:
Palmer Creek is a major tributary stream to Cataloochee Creek. Rainbow trout are
common in Palmer Creek but both browns and rainbows exist in the lower portion
of the stream. Brook trout begin to be a common catch above the Pretty Hollow
Creek confluence.
Pretty Hollow Creek:
Pretty Hollow Creek is a tributary stream of Palmer Creek. Pretty Hollow Gap Trail
provides access to this stream. Campground #39 is a good place to camp if you
are interested in fishing this small stream.
Lost Bottoms Creek:
Lost Bottoms Creek is a tributary stream of Palmer Creek. It flows into Palmer
about 2 miles above its confluence with the Cataloochee Creek. It contains some
rainbow trout in its lower portion but most all of the stream has a very good
population of brook trout. Campground #39 is a good place to camp if you are
interested in fishing Lost Bottoms Creek for brook trout.
Caldwell Fork:
Caldwell Fork is a small tributary stream of Cataloochee Creek. It flows into the
Cataloochee Creek near the campground. The lower part of the stream contains
mostly rainbow trout and a few brown trout. Its uppermost parts contains brook
trout. The stream can be accessed from Caldwell Fork Trail that follows the stream.
Those that want to camp in the backcounty should stay at campsite #41if they
wanted to fish the upper portions of the stream. Den Branch, McKee Branch, and
Double Gap Branch are all very small tributary streams of Caldwell Fork.
Rough Fork:
Rough Fork is the other major tributary stream to Cataloochee Creek. Part of this
stream runs through beautiful meadows and part of it through hardwood forest.
The stream can be accessed from the Rough Fork Trail. Campsite #40 is located
in its upper portion. Most of the trout are rainbows.
Little Cataloochee Creek:
Little Cataloochee Creek is a tributary stream to Cataloochee Creek. This medium
to small size stream has both brown and rainbow trout. Its uppermost portions has
a population of brook trout. The stream has several tributary streams that form it
main portion. Coggins Branch, Conrad Branch, and Andy Branch join the Little
Cataloochee Creek. These streams have mostly small rainbow trout. Correll
Branch and Woody Branch, both tributary streams, have brook trout.
Comments:
This is one of, if not the, best trout streams in the park in all respects. It takes a
short drive to get there, even from Maggie Valley, North Carolina, but it is well worth
it. It is a great place to camp and fish. Not far above the campground it is possible
to catch a grand slam in the same area. Brook, brown and rainbow trout can are
present.
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Copyright 2007 James Marsh
Palmer Creek is one of the major
tributaries of Cataloochee Creek.
tributaries of Cataloochee Creek.
Bears are fairly common in the
Cataloochee Valley as well as
many other types of wildlife
including elk .
Cataloochee Valley as well as
many other types of wildlife
including elk .
This is a fairly large rainbow trout
that are somewhat common in
Cataloochee Creek. It is also a
great brown trout stream. It flows
through the one of the most
secluded valleys in the park that is
accessible by automobile.
that are somewhat common in
Cataloochee Creek. It is also a
great brown trout stream. It flows
through the one of the most
secluded valleys in the park that is
accessible by automobile.
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
High Water actually makes
catching fish in this stream easier.
Notice the clear water below.
catching fish in this stream easier.
Notice the clear water below.
Cataloochee Creek is a relatively
large stream as you can see. .
large stream as you can see. .