East TN trout fishing

[miller1buc]

Are there any streams being stocked that have more than 1 or 2 spots to get access to the water? Seems like a lot of money is being spent to stock streams that don't have much access which seems like a total waste. I am speaking particularly about Stony creek, North/South Indian creeks and Spivey. Each have about one place the average joe can get to the water without having to ask permission to cross someone's yard to get there. Frustrating and doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

 

[Poleaxe]

Haiwassee river in Polk County. Plenty of access.

 

[stik]

tellico/citico. gatlinburg city.

 

[Forvols]

I hear what you are saying -- I have 2 stocked trout streams 15min from my house...and there are only about 3 spots to get access for maybe 50yds of fishing...posted signs everywhere. But here are some suggestions..

Laurel Fork Creek - Cherokee national forest..its over towards Hampton TN. Beaver dam creek..is another one

http://www.flyfishingsmokymountains.com ... lr290.html
http://www.tn.gov/twra/fish/bank/bank_f ... linked.pdf
http://perfectflystore.com/wbeaverdc.html
http://www.vcflyshop.com/tnstreams.htm

TWRA - STOCKING SCHEDULE AND STOCKING LOCATIONS BY REGION.

http://www.tn.gov/twra/fish/StreamRiver ... trout.html

Go to DENNIS COVE in the Cherokee natl forest in HAMPTON TN, here is the address to the campground, there is parking pull off there. Also parking at the AT access point about a 1/2 mile before...lots of water to access..

1606 Dennis Cove Road Hampton, TN 37658

 

[miller1buc]

Thanks all for the suggestions.

Especially you Forvols, Hampton is only about 20 minutes away. I will definitely head over there and check that out.

Why is the TWRA spending all this public money to essentially stock private streams? Seems like a mis-appropriation of funds to me.

 

[turk870]

There is a river about 1/4mi from the house that twra use to stock,that has the exact same issue no public acsess,and they have stopped stocking it.i can only assume for that reason

 

[JN]

The Doe River is another good area if you are looking for a good amount of public access to a stocked river. Also if you fish Laurel Fork in Dennis Cove and fish up stream from the campground at the first cable crossing it becomes a Wild Trout Stream and is single hook artificial only. The same also applies to Beaverdam parts of it are single hook artificial only. I have fished the streams you have mentioned and did not like fishing them because of the reasons you stated. If you don't mind the Urban setting Watauga in Elizabethton has lots of public access. That is where I do probably 75% of my fishing because it is close to home/work and I can put in a quick hour of fishing after work or church.

 

[Setterman]

Maybe you all missed it but there was a huge flap of hatchery funding etc for trout stocking last year, and twra whined about how they don't have any money. That leads me to this....

A better question is why is twra wasting precious dollars stocking marginal or seasonal trout waters?

Why do we even have put and take fisheries?

It would be less wasteful and accomplish the same results if you just filled cattle tanks with stocker trout and let people dip out their limit everyday.

The cold water fisheries management in this state is a travesty at its core, yet despite the mid management we still have some really good fisheries that could be even better with a competent management plan.

 

[7mminatree]

Lots of access in Limestone Cove from Red Fork falls down to I-26. Or Rocky Fork, How about Paint Creek in Greene co. or Holston River from South Holston dam to Bluff City.

 

[miller1buc]

Thanks for the other replies.

JN, that is great info. Thanks!

7mminatree, I must have missed that portion in Limestone Cove or maybe I am just not familiar enough to pinpoint where you are speaking of. I rode around majority of that area Sunday but may have missed a road somewhere as I only saw a couple spots there on 107. My next trip is going to be down below Holston Dam as I have heard decent things about it. Is that a good stretch to kayak fish once it warms up a bit? Or mostly bank fishing?

Setterman, the areas I have experienced so far certainly do seem like a waste. I have to think there are more suitable streams in the area for the stocking program than some that are in the program. I am not originally from here so maybe there isnt, I may just be wishful thinking.