You climb out of your sleeping bag, fix a hearty breakfast on a camp stove, grab your fishing tackle, and minutes later, you’re in the water, doing what you like best — trout fishing.
No packing, no driving, just fishing.
That evening, for dinner, you have trout that only a few hours before were swimming in the creek. Let any restaurant try to match that for freshness.
Camping and fishing.
They go together like Laurel and Hardy, like bacon and eggs, like gin and tonic, like … . well, you get the picture. It’s a natural pairing.
Throughout the mountains in our national parks and national forests are public campgrounds, many of them with trout streams or lakes. With few exceptions, they’re well maintained, clean, convenient and accessible.
Standard amenities include modern toilets, fresh-water outlets, pads for tents, picnic tables, fire rings (some with grills), and posts to hang lanterns. Some of the larger campgrounds even have hot-water showers.
You can camp in a tent, a camper or an RV. Don’t expect to find sites with hook-ups for water, electricity, or cable though. After all, it is camping.
Most camp sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Sites at some of the larger campgrounds — such as Davidson and North Mills River or Cades Cove in Tennessee can (and should) be reserved.
Best time to find a camp site is Sunday afternoon or Monday during summer’s peak season. Campgrounds usually start filling up by Thursday.
Campgrounds aren’t as busy in the spring or fall.
The general information number for all Forest Service campgrounds is (828) 877-3350.
For more years than I care to count, I’ve camped at the banks of trout streams or shorelines of lakes. There’s something naturally appealing about going to sleep with the sound of running water filling your ears.
I’ve had many trout suppers fixed on a camp stove or open fire. After all these years, I still look forward to a weekend of fishing and camping. It’s deep-soul satisfying.
Following are some of my favorite places. There are many others. You also can find campgrounds in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, along the Blue Ridge Parkway, or in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests Prices are nominal; the experience priceless:
Davidson River
The campground is 4 miles east of Brevard in the Pisgah National Forest.
One of the largest public campgrounds in western North Carolina with 161 sites, Davidson is spread out along the banks of the Davidson River, the state’s premier trout stream.
Open year-round, the campground has hot-water showers and spaces for RVs and campers. Camping fees are $18 to $20 per night, depending upon the site.
The section of the Davidson River by the campground is hatchery-supported waters. From Avery Creek to the headwaters, the stream is catch-and-release, artificial flies only.
From Brevard, take U.S. 64 east to U.S. 276, through the Pisgah National Forest. The campground is about 1.5 miles from the entrance of the forest. For information, call (828) 862-5960. To reserve a site, call (877) 444-6777.
Standing Indian
This campground in the Nantahala National Forest near Franklin has 84 sites.
At 3,880 feet above sea level, Standing Indian is one of the state’s highest campgrounds and is open March 31-Dec. 1.
Camping fee is $14 per night, and the campground has hot-water showers.
Accessible streams are the headwaters of the Nantahala River, which is wild trout waters, and Kimsey Creek and Park Creek, which are wild-trout, natural-bait streams.
From Franklin, take U.S. 64 west for nine miles, turn left at old U.S. 64 and follow the signs. For information, call (828) 524-6441.
Black Mountain
This campground in the Nantahala National Forest near Burnsville is on the banks of the South Toe River near Mount Mitchell.
Open April 14-Oct. 31, the campground has 48 sites with daily camping fee of $15. No showers are available.
The only accessible stream is the South Toe River, but that’s a benefit. The section running beside the campground is catch-and-release, artificial flies only. Above the campground, the stream is wild-trout waters.
Below Clear Creek to the lower boundary line of the Yancey County recreation park, the stream is hatchery-supported.
From Burnsville, take U.S. 19 east for 5 miles, turn right on N.C. 80, go 12 miles, and turn right at Forest Road 472. For information, call (828) 675-5616.
North Mills River
This campground in the Pisgah National Forest in Henderson County between Hendersonville and Asheville also is open year-round and features 28 sites, but no showers.
From Asheville, take I-26 east to Exit 40. Turn right at N.C. 280 west, go 4 miles and turn right on SR 1345. The entrance to the campground is 5 miles.
Camping fees are $11-$14, depending upon the site.
Water spigots are turned off in the winter, and camping fees are half-price when the water is off.
Accessible trout waters include the North Fork Mills River and South Fork Mills River.
The South Fork is wild trout waters, and the game lands portion of the stream below the Hendersonville watershed dam is delayed-harvest waters.
For information, call (828) 890-3284. Some sites may be reserved by calling (877) 444-6777.
Horse Cove
This campground in the Nantahala National Forest near Robbinsville is open April 15-Oct. 31 and has 18 sites, five of which are open year-round.
The daily camping fee is $10, and when no water is available during the winter, no fees are charged. The campground doesn’t have showers.
Accessible streams are Santeetlah Creek (hatchery-supported) and Little Santeetlah Creek (wild trout). Big Snowbird Creek is also close by. Lake Santeetlah is only a few miles from the campground.
From Robbinsville, take U.S. 129 north for 1 mile, turn left at N.C. 143 west, then right at SR 1127 to FR 416.
Entrance to the campground is to the right of the entrance to Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. For information, call (828) 479-6431.
Sunburst
This campground in the Pisgah National Forest near Waynesville is small but provides access to the West Fork Pigeon River (delayed-harvest), Middle Prong (wild-trout waters), and the Little East Fork Pigeon River (wild-trout waters).
The campground has 14 sites and is open April 1-Oct. 31 with a $10 daily camping fee (it has no showers).
From Waynesville, take U.S. 276 south for 7 miles, turn right at N.C. 215 south and go 8 miles. The campground is at the right side of the West Fork. For information, call (828) 648-7841.
All this may sound like a lot of time and effort, but campgrounds are much cheaper than motels. Best of all, to go fishing all you have to do is open your tent flap and step outside.
Be the first to comment