Guided Fly Fishing in Franklin, NC

Make fly fishing part of your visit to Franklin and the mountains of Western North Carolina. Fly Fishing the Smokies offers private guided fly fishing trips near Franklin, NC, with options for trout, smallmouth bass, mountain stream fishing, and guided float trips.

Whether you’re picking up a fly rod for the first time or you’re an experienced angler looking to explore new water, we’ll match your trip to the season, conditions, and the kind of fishing you want to experience. Fish mountain trout streams, explore the Nantahala and Cullasaja Rivers, or spend a summer day chasing smallmouth bass on the Little Tennessee River.

No experience needed. Kids are welcome. We provide the rods, flies, and fishing gear—you just show up ready to fish.

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Call or Text (828)-421-6378

Be sure to check out our Seasonal Specials!

Franklin NC Fly Fishing Guides

Franklin sits in the middle of some incredibly diverse fishing, giving anglers access to everything from small mountain trout streams to larger rivers holding trout and smallmouth bass. That variety allows us to choose the best fishing based on the season, water conditions, and your experience level.

Our guided trips are private, so you’ll have your guide’s full attention throughout the trip. We offer short introductory trips along with half-day and full-day adventures, with both wade fishing and float fishing options available.

Whether fly fishing is the main reason for your trip to Franklin or you’re simply looking for something fun to do while you’re here, we’ll help you choose the trip that fits your time and what you want to experience.

Choose Your Franklin Fly Fishing Trip

We offer several guided trip options for anglers visiting Franklin, so you can choose the experience that works best with your vacation plans.

Our 2-Hour Fly Fishing Fun Trip is a great introduction for families, kids, and first-time anglers. Half-Day and Full-Day Wade Trips give you more time to explore the area’s trout streams and rivers, while our Float Trips allow you to cover miles of water from a drift boat or raft.

During the warmer months, Franklin also puts you close to excellent smallmouth bass fishing on the Little Tennessee River, giving anglers another exciting option when summer temperatures rise.

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Trout Fishing Near Franklin, NC

Franklin is surrounded by cold mountain water and offers plenty of opportunities for anglers looking to catch trout. Depending on the time of year and current conditions, we can fish everything from smaller mountain streams to larger rivers with rainbow, brown, and brook trout.

The Nantahala River, Cullasaja River, and streams around Standing Indian give us several different options close to Franklin. Each offers a different type of fishing, allowing our guides to choose water that fits your experience and the conditions during your trip.

For anglers wanting to explore even more water, Franklin is also within reach of the Tuckasegee River, where we offer guided trout float trips from drift boats and rafts.

Little Tennessee River Smallmouth Bass Fishing

When summer arrives, the Little Tennessee River becomes one of the most exciting fisheries near Franklin. Warm weather brings excellent opportunities for smallmouth bass, with miles of river that are ideally suited for fishing from a drift boat or raft.

Smallmouth are aggressive, hard-fighting fish that readily take flies on the surface as well as streamers and subsurface patterns. It’s a completely different experience from trout fishing and a great way to spend a summer day on the water.

Our guided smallmouth float trips let us cover miles of the Little Tennessee, fishing productive banks, current seams, ledges, and deeper runs. For anglers visiting Franklin during the warmer months, this is one of the area’s signature fly fishing experiences.

Explore Our Summer Smallmouth Float Trips →

Nantahala River & Standing Indian Fly Fishing

The Nantahala River and the mountain streams around Standing Indian offer some of the best trout fishing options near Franklin. Cold, clear water and beautiful mountain surroundings make this area an excellent choice for anglers who want a classic Southern Appalachian fly fishing experience.

The Nantahala provides opportunities for rainbow and brown trout, while the smaller streams around Standing Indian offer more intimate water and the chance to pursue wild trout. These waters are especially well suited to wade fishing and allow us to tailor the day to both new and experienced anglers.

With several different streams and sections of river to choose from, our guides can adjust the trip according to water levels, weather, season, and current fishing conditions.

Cullasaja River Fly Fishing

The Cullasaja River flows through the mountains near Franklin and offers another excellent option for trout anglers. Its cool mountain water, rocky runs, pools, and pocket water provide good habitat for rainbow and brown trout and plenty of water to explore with a fly rod.

The Cullasaja is particularly well suited for anglers who enjoy wade fishing and working through different types of water throughout the trip. Depending on conditions, fishing can range from dry flies and nymphs to streamers when trout are looking for a larger meal.

Its proximity to Franklin makes the Cullasaja a natural choice for visitors who want to spend part of their vacation fly fishing without traveling far from town.

Tuckasegee River Float Trips Near Franklin

For anglers who want to fish bigger water, the Tuckasegee River offers one of the best guided trout float trip experiences within reach of Franklin. Fishing from a drift boat or raft allows us to cover miles of river and reach productive water that would be difficult to access on foot.

The Tuckasegee is home to rainbow, brown, and brook trout and offers excellent fishing during the cooler months. Float fishing is also a great option for anglers who would rather spend their trip fishing from the boat instead of wading.

We offer Half-Day, 5-Hour, and Full-Day Float Trips, with all fishing equipment provided. For Franklin visitors looking for a full river experience, the Tuckasegee is well worth the short drive.

Explore Our Guided Float Trips

Fly Fishing for Beginners & Families

You don’t need any previous fly fishing experience to enjoy a guided trip while visiting Franklin. We spend a lot of time teaching new anglers, and our guides will show you everything you need to get started.

You’ll learn the basics of casting, presenting the fly, reading the water, setting the hook, and landing fish. Trips can be tailored for adults, kids, families, and groups with different experience levels, so everyone can enjoy their time on the water.

We provide the fly rods, flies, and fishing equipment, making it easy to add a day of fly fishing to your Franklin vacation without bringing your own gear.

Seasonal Fly Fishing Near Franklin, NC

Franklin offers good fishing opportunities throughout much of the year, but the type of fishing changes with the seasons. Spring brings excellent trout fishing as water temperatures warm and insect activity increases on the area’s rivers and mountain streams.

During summer, we can move into cooler mountain water for trout or switch gears completely and target smallmouth bass on the Little Tennessee River. Fall brings cooler temperatures, changing leaves, and another strong period for trout fishing throughout the mountains.

Winter shifts much of our attention toward larger trout waters, including the Tuckasegee River, where guided float trips can provide excellent fishing through the colder months.

See Our Current Fly Fishing Specials

Why Fish With Fly Fishing the Smokies?

Fly Fishing the Smokies has been guiding anglers in the mountains of Western North Carolina since 1999. Our years on these rivers and streams give us the experience to choose the right water for the season, conditions, and the anglers we’re fishing with.

With a large staff of professional guides, we can accommodate individual anglers, couples, families, and larger groups while keeping our trips private. Whether you’re learning to fly fish, chasing trout in a mountain stream, or spending the day floating for smallmouth bass, we’ll build the trip around your group.

Private guided trips. Professional instruction. All fishing gear provided. No experience needed. Kids welcome.

Book Your Franklin NC Fly Fishing Trip

Make fly fishing part of your next visit to Franklin and the mountains of Western North Carolina. Whether you’re looking for a couple of hours on a trout stream, a full day exploring mountain water, or a float trip for trout or smallmouth bass, we’ll help you choose the right trip for your visit.

Bring the family, bring a friend, or come fish with us on your own. We’ll provide the guide, the gear, and the local knowledge—you just come ready to fish.

Book your Franklin fly fishing trip today.

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Guided Fly Fishing in Franklin, NC