"I'd Rather Be On Hazel Creek" - Backpacking and Fly Fishing GSMNP

In April '21 we went on a 3 night trip into the backcountry of Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the famed Hazel Creek chasing wild NC trout!

[@tomhenry8080]

We have fished Hazel Creek for the last 20+ years. Many locals spin cast rather than fly fish in the upper regions of the creek due to the overgrowth. Day- trippers tend to fish the lower 2-3 miles, but above your Campsite (“Sawdust Pile” BC Campsite #85) is the better water and larger fish. Farther up the creek, above Bone Valley (Campsite #83) and in many of the small feeder streams you will find our native species of trout (they are technically a “Char”) locally called “Specs” or Speckled Trout. Where the pools begin to get smaller they can compete with Rainbows and Brown Trout. I would suggest that if you make it out this way again, you come in late March - Mid April. You will be able to avoid the early fishing pressure the streams get later in the year. We always go in on a Sunday and usually have miles of creek entirely to ourselves. There is a lot of local history you can research on line of the Smokey’s and explore there if you are interested… ruins of sawmills, mines, mountain home places, cemeteries etc. I enjoyed your video, thanks for posting it. If this comment interests you, you may like my video “Ugly Guys On Hazel Creek”. Thanks for visiting us & Good Fishing!

[@JacobFinger]

Thanks for the comment! I will check out the vid for sure!

[@NorwayHikesTrails]

Nice adventure. Thank you for sharing. You have a wonderful week, and I'll be looking forward to seeing you again soon

[@BlueLineAdventures]

That’s an adventure right there. Fly fishing in the GSMNP is on my bucket list. Thanks for sharing. Beautiful scenery and gorgeous fish!

[@JacobFinger]

The adventure is what it's about!

[@Woody.D828]

Every Time we go -- we choose to use the metal fire ring that the park placed there...but we have to clean out the trash and ash first or you can not get air under the "ring" to make a decent burn... -- I am not suggesting it BUT -- not sure why we permit up -- I have never seen a ranger in there. - . The NC Side of the park gets very little supervision. Maybe Park it Forward might change that -- but very unlikely -- the money will go into the salaries of upper management and for popular TN stops.

[@primopete2273]

My great grandma was about 8-9 when her dad moved her and her family moved off of Hazel Creek. I always take my hat off when I pass it.

[@jrcflaus]

Great looking trip. I'm planning to go March 2022. Your video convinced me that the boat trip is not a big deal!

[@JacobFinger]

Yes! Worth the money and super easy to setup! Have an awesome trip!

[@steveyates1136]

I can't believe you guys left the Sierras to come to Hazel creek.

[@rabo99]

“Some kind of hexagonal rod”.

[@chappelloutdoors3795]

I may have to try hazel creek this fall

[@DanielleMarieyt]

Looks like so much fun!!! Awesome video!! New here can’t wait to see more videos!!

[@JacobFinger]

Thank you for the comment, I'm going to start posting regularly!

[@PurpleBlastYT]

What were your expenses for the trip? Boat cost, camp sites, stuff like that

[@tracykimsey7145]

What site were ya'll on

[@Taylor-zp9fc]

Great video Jacob! How far up the creek did you fish and did you camp at the shelters on the creek?

[@JacobFinger]

Camped at one of the designated sites about 3 miles in I believe, fished mainly between 3 and 4.5 miles up!

[@JacobFinger]

Thanks!

[@NCflyfishingguides]

Hazel and Eagle creeks are nice, scenic, but Ive had much better days fly fishing on Abrams creek over on the TN side in Cades Cove. Seems like a lot more fish, larger fish and better biomass.

[@JacobFinger]

I will admit, we did not see many fish, definitely not the waters I had read about, gorgeous area nonetheless, will have to make it to Abrams!

[@dennissmathers898]

Based on experience, the rewards of fishing Hazel creek are no longer matched by the effort and expense required to access it. Lots of better alternatives than this once great creek.