Our Streams: Deep Creek

The headwaters for Deep Creek are in the Great Smokies near Newfound Gap Road, South, about 11 miles as the crow flies north of Bryson City.  The creek flows southward through the Smokies then to its mouth at the Tuckasegee River in Bryson City.  The creek is beautiful and there is good access to the length of it from the Deep Creek Trail, which runs a total of about 14miles along the creek. Deep Creek includes a number of beautiful waterfalls and great fly fishing for trout along the length of the creek.  The most common place to access the creek is at the Deep Creek Trail head about 3 miles north of Bryson City.   The vast majority of the creek is in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park (GSMNP), minus the tailwaters running through Bryson City and into the Tuckasegee River. Please see this article for more info on the Great Smoky Mountain National Park in general.

There is so much to do around Deep Creek!   The fishing, which we focus on here, but also camping and  great trails for biking and hiking.  A big draw for hikers along Deep Creek is the Waterfall Loop Trail which offers close-up views of 3 beautful waterfalls.   It's a great place to bring a group, some of whom want to fish the creek and others who want to hike, bike or tube.

Deep Creek is known for large brown trout.  We also have good luck catching Brook Trout and Rainbow Trout in the creek.  It's not unheard of for our clients to catch all three species in a single day !

Deep Creek is a year- round fishery.  Even in the heat of summer the creek stays cool so it’s a great spot to Walk and Wade in the heat of summer. 

We fish wet and dry flies in the creek and occasionally small streamers.  Larger streamers are an option in larger waters as you approach the mouth of the creek.

Like most streams in the Smokies, casting space can be tight upstream, so roll casting and bow and arrow casting are common techniques.

Euro nymphing is also a great fly fishing technique on Deep Creek and other streams in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

Deep Creek lends itself to Walk and Wade trips only.

Within the Smokies portion of Deep Creek you need a valid fishing license from either TN or NC.

Once outside the park, in the lower stretches of deep creek, you need a  valide NC fishing license.. 

Bryson City

Cherokee

From downtown Bryson City, take Depot Street eastbound to Deep Creek Road,. Turn left and drive 2.3 miles to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrance.  Then drive 0.5 mile to the parking area for the Deep Creek Loop trail