Raven Fork Watershed:
| Fly Fishing the Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
Description:
The Raven Fork, inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is a stream that is
tough to get to and tough to fish if you do get to it. It is rarely fished because of the
access problems and the difficulty of fishing once you do get there. Part of the lower
portion of this stream passes inside the park near its confluence with the
Oconaluftee River. It is a very good trout stream, especially for large brook trout, that
is worth the effort for those willing to undertake fishing such a remote and difficult
stream to maneuver.
Stream Size:
The size of this stream ranges from small to medium when compared to other
streams in the park. It is a steep gradient stream that is full of huge boulders and
turbulent water.
Accessibility:
The best way to access the stream is via the Enloe Creek Trail. From the trail head
located on Straight Fork Road, it requires a hike of about 3 miles mostly uphill. Once
you get to the stream, you will find there is no trail that closely follows the Raven Fork.
Accessing the stream from the trail is difficult in most places.
You can also access the stream where it exits the park into the reservation. It passes
through private property and there is no place to park a vehicle unless you arranged
to do so with the local property owners. This area is also extremely rough country.
The stream passes through a gorge that is tough to negotiate.
Campsite #47 is a good place to stay if you prefer to camp near the stream and not
make the otherwise long day hike.
Tributaries:
There are no substantial size tributary steams. The Right, Middle and Left Forks of
the Raven Fork form the stream.
Species:
The stream has a population of rainbow trout and brook trout in its upper reaches.
Average Fish Size:
The brook trout are usually good size fish. This is a relatively large stream for brook
trout and its size probably accounts for the larger size of some of the brook trout.
Popularity:
The stream is not heavily fished. In fact, it is rarely fished by anyone other than in its
lower section that reenters the park.
Difficulty:
As we have said, access to and getting up and down the stream is difficult. Casting
is relatively easy once you are in the right position. The fish eagerly attack flies and
catching them is not difficult.
Comments:
If you enjoy camping and fishing water that is usually not fished much at all, then this
stream would be a good choice for you.
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
The Raven Fork, inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is a stream that is
tough to get to and tough to fish if you do get to it. It is rarely fished because of the
access problems and the difficulty of fishing once you do get there. Part of the lower
portion of this stream passes inside the park near its confluence with the
Oconaluftee River. It is a very good trout stream, especially for large brook trout, that
is worth the effort for those willing to undertake fishing such a remote and difficult
stream to maneuver.
Stream Size:
The size of this stream ranges from small to medium when compared to other
streams in the park. It is a steep gradient stream that is full of huge boulders and
turbulent water.
Accessibility:
The best way to access the stream is via the Enloe Creek Trail. From the trail head
located on Straight Fork Road, it requires a hike of about 3 miles mostly uphill. Once
you get to the stream, you will find there is no trail that closely follows the Raven Fork.
Accessing the stream from the trail is difficult in most places.
You can also access the stream where it exits the park into the reservation. It passes
through private property and there is no place to park a vehicle unless you arranged
to do so with the local property owners. This area is also extremely rough country.
The stream passes through a gorge that is tough to negotiate.
Campsite #47 is a good place to stay if you prefer to camp near the stream and not
make the otherwise long day hike.
Tributaries:
There are no substantial size tributary steams. The Right, Middle and Left Forks of
the Raven Fork form the stream.
Species:
The stream has a population of rainbow trout and brook trout in its upper reaches.
Average Fish Size:
The brook trout are usually good size fish. This is a relatively large stream for brook
trout and its size probably accounts for the larger size of some of the brook trout.
Popularity:
The stream is not heavily fished. In fact, it is rarely fished by anyone other than in its
lower section that reenters the park.
Difficulty:
As we have said, access to and getting up and down the stream is difficult. Casting
is relatively easy once you are in the right position. The fish eagerly attack flies and
catching them is not difficult.
Comments:
If you enjoy camping and fishing water that is usually not fished much at all, then this
stream would be a good choice for you.
Copyright 2007 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
This will take you to the Enloe
Creek Trail which will take you to
the Raven Fork.
Creek Trail which will take you to
the Raven Fork.
Thumbnail -Click to see the trail