Visitors to Gatlinburg are literally a few steps away from streams that are full of trout. Photo by Jim Casada.

Fifty years ago, as a teenager, I passed through what was then the tiny hamlet of Gatlinburg three or four times each autumn en route from my hometown of Bryson City, North Carolina to Knoxville. We seldom missed an opportunity to see the University of Tennessee Volunteer football squad, under the tutelage of General Neyland, take to the gridiron. For some reason, I remember far more about Gatlinburg than I do the football. In those days, once leaves had fallen, it became a virtual ghost town. Highway 441, which passed through the heart of town, was as deserted as the streets.

What a change half a century has wrought. Today the dream of an old fisherman, hunter, and all-round mountaineer named Wiley Oakley has become reality. Oakley, who various styled himself the "Ramblin' Man of the Smokies" and the "Roamin' Man of the Smokies" (and wrote books under those titles), was a one-man public relations machine touting to all and sundry who would listen the virtues of his hometown. Well in the forefront of Oakley's spiel was reference to the region's wonderful trout fishing, and one of the many ways this staunch high-country entrepreneur made money was through acting as a guide to visiting anglers.

Oakley, for all his firm belief that tourism would put Gatlinburg on the map, would scarcely recognize the town today. It has grown from basically a one-street group of shop fronts, with a few motels thrown in the mix, to a bustling tourist mecca with year-round activities designed to draw visitors. Local leaders have recognized, as did Oakley, that the proximity of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with its scenic beauty, striking vistas, and unmatched biological diversity, has wide-ranging appeal. Since the park surrounds Gatlinburg on three sides, the linkage is natural, and one aspect, which has been utilized to good advantage, is the fishing opportunities afforded by area trout streams.

GATLINBURG'S FISHERIES PROGRAM
Since 1981, Gatlinburg has had its own trout-fishing program. It is a put-grow-take effort that begins with acquisition of fingerlings from the Buffalo Springs Hatchery. These are grown in Gatlinburg's own rearing facility before being stocked in 12 stream miles controlled by the town. Annual stockings run from 30,000-35,000 keeper-sized fish and, according to Danny Grey, who oversees the town's fisheries program, Gatlinburg recently reached a landmark when the one-millionth trout in the enterprise's history was released.

Streams in the Gatlinburg program include the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River from the park boundary downstream to its intersection with Gnatty Branch Creek, Dudley Creek from the park boundary to where it meets the West Prong, Roaring Fork from the park boundary to the West Prong, and LeConte Creek from Painters Branch downstream to the West Prong. Portions of these waters are set aside exclusively for children under the age of 13.

Basically, there are two seasons on Gatlinburg's waters. One runs from April 1 through the end of November with a daily limit of five fish (two on children's water). The second is a catch-and-release approach (Dec. 1 through March 31) with only single-hook artificials allowed. Streams are closed on Thursdays throughout the year for purposes of restocking.

As anyone who has had experience with Tennessee's licensing system will realize, things are a bit complicated when it comes to having the necessary permit and license. Basically, resident adults under the age of 65 will need an annual trout permit, a fishing license (several variations are available) and a Gatlinburg permit. The latter are available in one-day or three-day forms.