jeff wrote:

Conan The Librarian wrote:

[Abrams Creek]

I fished the
"spring creek" section (above the footbridge in the Abram Falls parking
lot) earlier this year, and it was tough fishing (very wary fish and not
much in the way of cover compared to other Smokies streams I've fished).
But, Abrams further along the Falls trail is supposed to be some of the
best fishing in the park.

...supposed to be? hmmm.... well, were i a truly selfish person, i'd
direct every person to the tennessee side of the smokies and tell them
to fish abrams. esp. if i knew i'd probably never meet or share a stream
with them. if in fact the best fishing in the eastern u.s. was along the
cades cove loop, i'd not seek it out or direct a friend there. there are
prettier, less frustrating places to go. the traffic just isn't worth it
to me. and it is reported to always have a surfeit of traffic. my
suggestion would be...find a flyshop in townsend, buy some flies (tan
ehc, parachute adams, stimulators) and tippet, tell them your plight and
the kind of fishing you'd like to find. ...

My final suggestion was that if he only had two days he should hit
the Little River and then explore other areas towards the NC side of
the park. I was just acknowledging that there are plenty of folks who
think Abrams is some of the best around. (See Kirk and Lawrence's
books for example, and a bunch of folks on the Southeast Flyfshing
forum for examples.)

Hell, Jeff ... I defer to you on just about anything related to
fishing that area. (Heck, you gave me some of the best advice I got
before my trip to NC last year.) I was just trying to offer some
alternatives within short driving distances from the TN side, and I
don't see how Abrams can be totally ignored. And the hike to the falls
*is* gorgeous, traffic notwithstanding.


Chuck Vance (though I wouldn't plan to go there during tourist
season myself, and I tried to warn him about that)