Forney Creek Watershed:
| Fly Fishing the Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
Description:
Fortney Creek is located in North Carolina on the park side of Fontana Lake.
Stream Size:
Fortney Creek is a medium size stream in comparison to others in the Great
Smoky Mountain National Park.
Accessibility:
Fortney Creek is very inaccessible. The stream can be reached by crossing
Fontana Lake or by making a 3 and a half mile hike. If you cross the lake, you will
find campsite #74 handy.
Species:
Both brown trout and rainbow trout are found in Fortney Creek. Smallmouth bass
are also present in the lower portion of the creek.
Average Fish Size:
The average size of the fish is about average for the park.
Popularity:
Due to its accessibility, it is not a popular stream for anglers.
Difficulty:
Much of the upper portion of this stream and some of its tributaries are tough to
cast in due to overhanging trees. Most of the lower part is not that difficult.
Tributary Streams:
Forney Creek has several tributary steams.
Bear Branc h(Creek):
Bear Branch or Bear Creek whichever you call it, is located just over a half mile
upstream of Fontana Lake. It is accessible from Jumpup Ridge Trail but it only
provides access at certain points. The stream is currently closed for restoration.
Bee Gum Branch:
Bee Gum Branch is located about 3 miles upstream of Fontana Lake. theThe Bee
Gum Branch Trail provides access to the stream. Rainbow trout are the
predominant species available in this little stream.
Jonas Creek:
Jonas Creek is a small stream tributary of Fortney Creek. Access is provided by the
Jonas Creek Trail. The stream usually has a good population of rainbow trout. It
has two small feeder streams worth mentioning, Scarlett Ridge Creek and Little
Jonas Creek. This stream is located 4 miles upstream of Fontana Lake.
Huggins Creek:
Huggins Creek is another tributary of Fortney Creek. It has no formal trails that
follow it. Huggins has a population of rainbow trout.
Comments:
Forney Creek is certainly a good trout stream, about as good as any other of its
size, but unless someone just wanted to get away from it all or camp in a remote
location, then there would be little reason to fish it in preference to Hazel Creek or
Eagle Creek. We would certainly recommend it for those who want to experience all
the park has to offer in the way of streams.
Copyright 207 James Marsh
Fortney Creek is located in North Carolina on the park side of Fontana Lake.
Stream Size:
Fortney Creek is a medium size stream in comparison to others in the Great
Smoky Mountain National Park.
Accessibility:
Fortney Creek is very inaccessible. The stream can be reached by crossing
Fontana Lake or by making a 3 and a half mile hike. If you cross the lake, you will
find campsite #74 handy.
Species:
Both brown trout and rainbow trout are found in Fortney Creek. Smallmouth bass
are also present in the lower portion of the creek.
Average Fish Size:
The average size of the fish is about average for the park.
Popularity:
Due to its accessibility, it is not a popular stream for anglers.
Difficulty:
Much of the upper portion of this stream and some of its tributaries are tough to
cast in due to overhanging trees. Most of the lower part is not that difficult.
Tributary Streams:
Forney Creek has several tributary steams.
Bear Branc h(Creek):
Bear Branch or Bear Creek whichever you call it, is located just over a half mile
upstream of Fontana Lake. It is accessible from Jumpup Ridge Trail but it only
provides access at certain points. The stream is currently closed for restoration.
Bee Gum Branch:
Bee Gum Branch is located about 3 miles upstream of Fontana Lake. theThe Bee
Gum Branch Trail provides access to the stream. Rainbow trout are the
predominant species available in this little stream.
Jonas Creek:
Jonas Creek is a small stream tributary of Fortney Creek. Access is provided by the
Jonas Creek Trail. The stream usually has a good population of rainbow trout. It
has two small feeder streams worth mentioning, Scarlett Ridge Creek and Little
Jonas Creek. This stream is located 4 miles upstream of Fontana Lake.
Huggins Creek:
Huggins Creek is another tributary of Fortney Creek. It has no formal trails that
follow it. Huggins has a population of rainbow trout.
Comments:
Forney Creek is certainly a good trout stream, about as good as any other of its
size, but unless someone just wanted to get away from it all or camp in a remote
location, then there would be little reason to fish it in preference to Hazel Creek or
Eagle Creek. We would certainly recommend it for those who want to experience all
the park has to offer in the way of streams.
Copyright 207 James Marsh
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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
Eagel 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
Eagel 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
A nice rainbow. These seem
to be very common in Forney.
It may be one of the best
sleeper streams in the park.
You want have much
company.
to be very common in Forney.
It may be one of the best
sleeper streams in the park.
You want have much
company.
A beautiful salamander (we
think that is what it is anyway)
greeted us this early morning.
think that is what it is anyway)
greeted us this early morning.
Most of the water in the lower
end of the stream is typical
Smoky Mountain pocket
water.
end of the stream is typical
Smoky Mountain pocket
water.
You must cross Fontana Lake
to get to Forney Creek but if
you have a small boat it is
worth it.
to get to Forney Creek but if
you have a small boat it is
worth it.
Rainbows are the main species
in Forney Creek.
in Forney Creek.