Summer is an ideal time to plan a fishing/camping trip to the mountains. The weather is ideal, with warm days and cool evenings, making sleeping out a true pleasure. Trout fishing, too, is good. The water is cool enough in most mountain streams to keep trout feisty, yet warm enough to wade without bulky, hot waders. Evening hatches are prime, especially golden stones, yellow mayflies and light cahills. Terrestrials such as inchworms, beetles and ants are very productive.The U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation operate numerous campgrounds in the mountains. Fees are nominal, usually between $10 and $20 depending on the services provided. Unless the campground is designated as a primitive site, campsites have sturdy picnic tables, tent pads, fire grills, lantern hangers, flush toilets, drinking water, and parking spaces for RVs. Some forest service and state park campgrounds even have hot-water showers.
While the campgrounds listed here were selected to represent a wide geographical area, the primary emphasis was on their access to excellent trout fishing.
Here are six of the best of the best:
• Black Mountain, Pisgah National Forest, Yancey County.
Located adjacent to the famed Toe River, Black Mountain Campground has 46 sites for tents and RVs.
The South Toe River is one of the top wild-trout streams in the mountains, and it usually produces some trophy browns and rainbows. From the concrete bridge at the campground downstream to the game-land boundary, the South Toe is catch-and-release, artificial flies-only fishing. From the game land boundary to Clear Creek, the stream is wild-trout water, and from Clear Creek to Yancey County Recreation Park, it is hatchery-supported water. Other nearby streams worth visiting are Upper Creek and Lower Creek (catch-and-release/artificial flies), Big Lost Cove Creek and Camp Creek (both wild-trout waters).
Directions: From Burnsville, take US 19 east five miles, turn right on NC 80, go 12 miles, turn right on FR 472 and go three miles to the campground. For information, call 828-682-6146.
• Davidson River, Pisgah National Forest, Transylvania County.
Located on the lower section of the Davidson River, this attractive campground has 161 sites for tents and RVs. Restrooms have flush toilets and hot-water showers. A dump-station is available.
The lower section of the Davidson River is hatchery-supported waters. The upper section from the headwaters to Avery Creek is designated as special trout waters (catch-and-release, artificial flies-only). Nearby streams are Avery Creek, Looking Glass Creek, and Grogan Creek — all small, wild-trout streams. Other streams worth visiting are Whitewater River (wild trout), Gorges State Park (wild trout), French Broad River from the junction of west and north forks to the US 276 bridge (hatchery-supported), the North Fork of the French Broad River (wild trout/natural bait), Thompson River (wild trout/natural bait), and the East Fork French Broad River (delayed-harvest).
Directions: From Brevard, take US 64 east 3½ miles, turn left on US 176, and go 1½ miles. For information, call 828-877-3265.
• Smokemont, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Swain County.
Located near the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Smokemont has 142 sites for tents and RVs. Flush toilets and drinking water are available.
Bradley Fork, one of the most under-rated trout streams in the park, runs through the campground and joins the Oconaluftee River. Other good streams close by are the Oconaluftee River, Chastain Creek (a tributary of Bradley Fork), Raven Fork, and Straight Fork. Cherokee Enterprise Waters are only a short drive from the campground.
Directions: On Newfound Road (US 441) six miles north of Cherokee. The campground is open year-round, and sites may be reserved between May 15 and Oct. 31 by calling 800-365-CAMP. The Park Service information number is 423-436-1200.
• South Mountains State Park, Burke County.
Camping here is primitive, with pit toilets and no drinking- water source.
Within the park are approximately 12 miles of excellent wild- trout waters, including Jacob Fork, Shinny Creek, and Henry Fork, which is designated as special trout waters (catch-and-release, artificial lures only). Jacob Fork, from Shinny Creek to the lower park boundary, is delayed-harvest waters. Henry Fork, beginning at the lower park boundary line, is hatchery-supported water.
Directions: From I-40, take NC 18 to SR 1913, turn left onto old NC 18 and go to SR 1901. The park is off SR 1901 on SR 1904. For information, call 828-433-4772.
• Standing Indian, Nantahala National Forest, Macon County.
Located in the Nantahala Basin and surrounded by some spectacular mountains, Standing Indian has 84 sites for tents and RVs.
Kimsey Creek, which flows through the campground, is wild trout/natural bait waters. Other nearby streams are Burningtown Creek, Cullasaja River, Cliffside Lake, and Cartoogechaye Creek (all hatchery-supported waters).
Directions: From Franklin, take US 64 west for nine miles, turn left on old US 64 and follow the Forest Service signs to the campground. For additional information, call 828- 524-6441.
• Stone Mountain State Park, Wilkes and Alleghany counties.
The family campground has 37 sites for tents and trailers on two loop roads, drinking water, flush toilets, and hot-water showers. The campground also has a dump station. Backcountry camping is permitted along Widow’s Creek.
More than 17 miles of the park’s streams are designated as trout waters, with rainbow and brown trout dominating the lower parts and brook trout inhabiting the upper reaches. Garden, Widow’s and Big Sandy Creeks are wild-trout streams. The East Prong of the Roaring River is a delayed-harvest stream. Harris Creek in the western portion of the park is designated as special trout waters (catch-and-release, artificial lures only). Additionally, Stone Mountain has a “trophy” trout fishing program on Bullhead and Rich Mountain creeks. For a fee, anglers are assigned one of eight sections on the streams. Only fly fishing is permitted, hooks cannot have barbs and all trout must be released.
Directions: Heading north from Elkin, turn off US 21 north onto SR 1002 and go to the John P. Frank Parkway. From the west, take NC 18 north from Wilkesboro, turn right on SR 1002 and follow the parkway to the park. For additional information, call 336-957-8185.
Additionally, several campgrounds are on the shores of mountain lakes. These include Jack Rabbit Campground in Clay County on Lake Chatuge, Hanging Dog Campground in Cherokee County on Lake Hiwassee, Cheoah Point in Graham County, on Santeetlah Lake, Cable Cove and Tsali, next to Fontana Lake, and Lake James State Park on Lake James in Burke County.
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