Jackson County, North Carolina

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On The Fly Freshwater

June 2026

Article and photos by Jimmy Jacobs

Most anglers would expect a smaller stream that is part of the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail to be in a wilderness, or at least a rural setting. In the case of many of the 15 waters included in the trail that is true. But there is also Scott Creek that breaks the mold.

Scott is a stream that rarely spans more than 30 feet wide and is almost constantly in sight of roads, houses and businesses as it flows down from the vicinity of Balsam Gap and the community of Balsam to its junction with the Tuckasegee River at Dillsboro. Yet it does fit well as part of the Fly Fishing Trail.

The Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail was the first of its kind to be laid out and is designed to highlight the variety of trout fishing option of the area. It includes big tailwaters, medium-sized hatchery supported streams and small creeks harboring wild fish, all within the confines of Jackson County. There is a published, free map detailing what to expect from each of these waters, along with access information.

A hook up on Scott Creek.

Still, most of the smaller streams on the trail are overshadowed by the better-known waters of the Raven Fork in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park or the tailwaters on the Tuckasegee River. On the other hand, when you are in the Dillsboro to Sylva corridor for fishing the Tuck, you are at the mercy of water releases. When those interfere with the angling, Scott Creek can provide a saving option for the fishing. Or, if you simply prefer smaller creek fishing, it is convenient and accessible.

Virtually the entire course of Scott Creek is wadable and according to the regulations can be accessed anywhere that the property along the shore is not posted. Since the stream is almost constantly near roads, pull-offs at stream side are common, and especially along U.S 19/23.You also find some short stretches of Scott that are wooded, providing more natural surroundings.

From its mouth in the Dillsboro Launch Park on the Tuckasegee, Scott runs first through downtown Dillsboro and above that through Sylva, both of which provide an urban feel to the creek. Farther up the shoreline becomes more suburban in nature.

Scott Creek is managed as a Hatchery Support stream, with trout released into its waters in March and May annually. Those stockings consist of equal number of trout in those two months, and are composed of 440 rainbow and brook trout each. Also, 220 browns are added to the planting. In all, Scott receives 2,200 catchable-sized trout. Those are dispersed from the junction with Dark Ridge Creek down to where Scott merges with the Tuckasegee. In all, there are 12 miles of stocked water on Scott Creek.

For targeting those fish, in the spring attractor dry fly patterns like smaller Parachute Adams or Royal Wulffs can work. Or dead drifting Pheasant Tails, Prince or red Copper John nymphs through runs and pools can pay dividends. On into the summer, switch over to terrestrial beetle, ant or inchworm patterns.

Expect most of the trout to be in the 8- to 12-inch stocker sizes. There appears to also be some reproduction, since smaller fish do turn up. There likely are a few larger holdover browns as well.

If you want to sample the fishing on Scott Creek, or any of the other waters of the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail, click here to download the map and information on the trail and its streams.