This East Tennessee waterway can be a fly caster’s Nirvana
On The Fly Freshwater
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March 2024
Article and photos by Jimmy Jacobs
The Tellico River is one of the largest natural trout streams in the state of Tennessee. Although this river rises on the slopes of McDaniel Bald in North Carolina, it becomes a medium-sized stream when it is joined by Rough Ridge Creek at the state border. From that crossing, there are 13.7 miles of recognized trout water down to the mouth of Turkey Creek in the Volunteer State.
The Tellico is one of the most popular and heavily fished trout streams in the southern Appalachian region. The main reason for this popularity is the heavy stocking of adult trout in the river, plus the special regulations that the waters are managed under.
The Tellico River is open for fishing year-round, but mostly under special regulations. From March 1 through August 15 special Tellico-Citico trout regulations apply from Turkey Creek to the state boundary. During this period, the Tellico is stocked Thursday of each week, and, as a result, angling is not allowed on Thursdays and Fridays. An exception to this rule is anytime a national or state holiday falls on Thursday or Friday fishing is permitted. The creel limit is seven trout per day. In addition to the applicable state fishing license, a Tellico-Citico daily fishing permit is required.
From August 16 to the end of February the Tellico is open for fishing and the special permit is not required. However, the portion from the mouth of the North River up to the North Carolina border is then open under delayed-harvest regulations starting on October 1. At that time, until the end of February, only artificial lures or flies with single hooks are legal and all fish must be immedately released.
Another key to why the river attracts so much angling pressure is the roughly 150,000 mature trout stocked in the drainage each year. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission notes that these fish are released at 93 locations along the Tellico, so successful fishing conditions are likely all along the stream. To facilitate plantings of this magnitude, the Tellico Fish Hatchery is located on the river at Pheasant Field near the mouth of Sycamore Creek.
Another drawing card for fishing the Tellico is the fact that many of the stocked trout are in the 12- to 14-inch size range. The bulk of the trout are rainbows, but there also are brown trout in the mix. Additionally, a healthy holdover population of the browns survive and grow big.
The brown trout taken over the years on the Tellico have become legendary in eastern Tennessee. A number of fish in the double-digit-pound range have been reported, while 6- to 8-pound catches were even more often claimed on the Tellico. The deep pools in the mid to lower portion of the river are the best areas to encounter these magnum-sized trout.
At a mile and three-quarters upstream of Turkey Creek is Bald River Falls at the mouth of that stream’s junction with the Tellico. This spectacular cascade is mainly of interest to anglers on the Tellico because of the traffic jams of sightseers that occur on the bridge over Bald River below the falls.
Be aware that due to U.S. Forest Service activity in replacing the Bald River bridge, there will be a temporary change in the stocking program on the Tellico. That work, plus lingering damage to roads from the August 2023 flood, have limited the abilility of the stocking trucks to access the river safely.
Due to those problems, the river will only be stocked from the mouth of the North River up to the North Carolina border in 2024. However, the Tellico-Citico daily permit will still be required for fishing the entire river.
A farther quarter of a mile upstream of the Bald River crossing is a large waterfall on the Tellico itself. This cataract has claimed at least seven live from careless visitors who fell in and drowned over the years. Needless to say, care is called for around that falls.
The Tellico Fish Hatchery is located 10.6 miles stream of Turkey Creek and the Forest Service State Line Campground is at the North Carolina border, 13.7 miles from Turkey Creek. The state boundary also marks the upstream limit of practical fly-fishing water.
Below the fish hatchery the Tellico is big water, while from the hatehery up to the state line the flow is of medium width. The whole stretch from Turkey Creek up to State Line Campground offers room tor easy casting.
All of the managed waters on the Tellico River are paralleled by Tellico River Road (Forest Service 210), which is paved all the way from TN 165 near Tellico Plains up to State Line Campground. Other Forest Service campgrounds are located on the TeIlico at Spivey Cove, Davis Branch, and Big Oak. Sites for prirnitive camping are also designated all along the river.
The $3.50 Tellico-Citico daily permits and regular Tennessee fishing licenses can be purchased at Green Cove Store & Lodge. The store is 9.0 miles upstream from Turkey Creek, and is also a place to look at the photos hanging on the wall of the many big trout the Tellico has given up over the years. Additionally, the lodge offers accommodations for headquartering a multi-day venture on the Tellico River.
