Native Appalachian Brook
Trout: We think these are
the symbol of the park's fish.
They are the only native fish
called a trout in the park.
Trout: We think these are
the symbol of the park's fish.
They are the only native fish
called a trout in the park.
Wild Brown Trout:
Brown trout can grow much
larger than the rainbow or
brook trout. They have been
known to get over 25 inches.
Brown trout can grow much
larger than the rainbow or
brook trout. They have been
known to get over 25 inches.
Wild Trout (Stream-bred trout) Stocked trout & Native Trout:
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| Fly Fishing the Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
Native Trout:
Wild Rainbow Trout:
Rainbow are the most plentiful
trout in the park. They prefer
the fast, pocket water that
makes up most of the streams.
Rainbow are the most plentiful
trout in the park. They prefer
the fast, pocket water that
makes up most of the streams.
The brook trout is the real jewel of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Of the
three species, the brook trout is the only native fish. The brook trout is technically not a
trout. It is a member of the char family of fish but it is called a trout and considered a
trout by fly anglers. The rainbow was at one time stocked in the park. The brown trout
were stocked outside the park in some streams that flow from the park. These brown
trout made their way into the park where they are now plentiful especially in the lower
elevations.
Stocked Trout:
We should point out to those of you who that may not know there is a huge difference in
a stocked trout and a wild trout. Stocked trout are feed in a hatchery prior to being
stocked. They are much easier to catch than wild trout that were born in the stream and
have spent their entire life capturing food only from what Mother Nature has provided.
The stocked trout will usually fall for just about anything that remotely resembles food,
especially if it is similar to what they were used to eating at the hatchery. They are
much less afraid of danger than wild trout. Wild trout have to survive the treats of
predators such as otters, birds and other fish their entire life.
We should mention that trout are stocked in some of the streams outside of the park
and a few of these fish may swim upstream and occasionally be caught inside the
park’s boundaries but by far and large the trout are wild trout that were born in the
stream.
Wild (Stream-Bred) Trout:
Like native trout, wild, stream-bred trout are trout that are born and raised in the
stream, not in a hatchery. They are different from native trout in that their ancestors
were at one time stocked. After being stocked, they were able to survive and reproduce
on their own well enough that stocking was discontinued. It is common to find stream-
bred trout in streams and rivers where trout are still stocked, but in the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park, stocking was discontinued years ago and the streams are
managed as wild trout streams.
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
three species, the brook trout is the only native fish. The brook trout is technically not a
trout. It is a member of the char family of fish but it is called a trout and considered a
trout by fly anglers. The rainbow was at one time stocked in the park. The brown trout
were stocked outside the park in some streams that flow from the park. These brown
trout made their way into the park where they are now plentiful especially in the lower
elevations.
Stocked Trout:
We should point out to those of you who that may not know there is a huge difference in
a stocked trout and a wild trout. Stocked trout are feed in a hatchery prior to being
stocked. They are much easier to catch than wild trout that were born in the stream and
have spent their entire life capturing food only from what Mother Nature has provided.
The stocked trout will usually fall for just about anything that remotely resembles food,
especially if it is similar to what they were used to eating at the hatchery. They are
much less afraid of danger than wild trout. Wild trout have to survive the treats of
predators such as otters, birds and other fish their entire life.
We should mention that trout are stocked in some of the streams outside of the park
and a few of these fish may swim upstream and occasionally be caught inside the
park’s boundaries but by far and large the trout are wild trout that were born in the
stream.
Wild (Stream-Bred) Trout:
Like native trout, wild, stream-bred trout are trout that are born and raised in the
stream, not in a hatchery. They are different from native trout in that their ancestors
were at one time stocked. After being stocked, they were able to survive and reproduce
on their own well enough that stocking was discontinued. It is common to find stream-
bred trout in streams and rivers where trout are still stocked, but in the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park, stocking was discontinued years ago and the streams are
managed as wild trout streams.
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
