September Fly Fishing Report – Hazel Creek

Hazel Creek Fly Fishing Report, Fly Fishing the Smokies,

Beauty and Peacefulness in Early Fall

Hazel Creek, one of the crown jewels of the Smokies, takes on an especially magical feel in September. The crisp, early fall air sweeps down the valley, and mornings often greet anglers with cool mist rising off the stream. The lush summer foliage is beginning to shift, with hints of gold and amber showing along the banks. Crowds are nearly gone, and this backcountry gem feels even more remote and peaceful. The long hike or boat ride in rewards anglers with solitude and some of the prettiest water in the Park.

Hazel Creek Fly Fishing Report, Fly Fishing the Smokies, Hazel Creek Fly Fishing Guides

Fishing Conditions

As nights cool and days shorten, brown trout are becoming more active in anticipation of their fall spawning season. They feed more aggressively, especially in the early morning and evening hours. Rainbows remain eager in the riffles and pocket water, taking dries and nymphs readily. Hazel Creek’s broad pools, tumbling runs, and shaded banks make for varied fishing where you can try different approaches throughout the day.

Hatch Chart – September on Hazel Creek

Blue Winged Olives (#18–20) – mid-morning through afternoon
Slate Drakes (#12–14) – afternoons, scattered but effective
Caddisflies (#16–20) – dusk into evening
Terrestrials (ants, beetles, hoppers) – all day along grassy and wooded edges
Little Yellow Stoneflies (#16–18) – early September afternoons

Recommended Flies

Dry Flies: Parachute Adams (#16–18), Royal Wulff (#14–16), BWO Parachute (#18–20)
Terrestrials: Beetles (#12–14), Black Ants (#16–18), Dave’s Hopper (#10–12)
Nymphs: Pheasant Tail (#16–20), Prince Nymph (#14–16), Copper John (#16–18)
Streamers: Woolly Buggers (olive, black #8–10), Sculpin patterns for probing deeper pools and tempting browns

Why Hazel Creek in September

Solitude: Few anglers venture in after Labor Day, meaning long stretches of water to yourself.
Scenery: Crisp mornings, changing leaves, and the sounds of tumbling mountain water.
Active Browns: Pre-spawn browns are feeding heavily, offering chances at larger fish.
Cool Water: Hazel Creek stays cold and clear, even as lowland rivers warm

Guided Hazel Creek Day Trip – Fly Fishing the Smokies

For anglers who want the full Hazel Creek experience without the logistics headache, Fly Fishing the Smokies offers a popular guided Hazel Creek Day Trip. Guests enjoy a scenic boat shuttle across Fontana Lake into the remote backcountry, where our professional guides lead you to Hazel Creek’s legendary waters. This trip is perfect for anglers of all skill levels who want to chase wild browns and rainbows in one of the most storied streams in the Great Smoky Mountains.

Full-day guided adventure with all gear included
Boat shuttle across Fontana Lake into Hazel Creek backcountry
Expert instruction for both beginners and seasoned anglers
Target species: wild rainbow and brown trout, with opportunities for larger fall browns

This trip combines Smoky Mountain scenery, history, and some of the best trout fishing in the Southeast, all in one unforgettable day.

Hazel Creek in September is pure Smoky Mountain fly fishing at its best. Solitude, beauty, crisp mountain air, and hungry trout make this a prime time to visit with our guides.

Call or Text (828)-421-6378

Hazel Creek Fly Fishing

Hazel Creek Fly Fishing Great Smoky Mountains

No other stream in the history of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is more treasured or storied than the famous Hazel Creek. Loved by many, and desired by all who have ever cast a fly, these fabled waters are the hallmark of everything fly fishing. Hazel Creek is located in one of the most remote sections of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Hidden away from the modern world is this special place preserved in time. Wild rainbow, brown and brook trout are plentiful, some reaching epic proportions by park standards. Hazel Creek is the bucket list stream for fly fishing the Smokies. We are fortunate to call this region home.

Hazel Creek, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Hazel Creek Fly Fishing Guides, Fly Fishing the Smokies

Hazel Creek Fly Fishing Trips

Fly Fishing the Smokies offers guided fly fishing trips for the experienced angler to Hazel Creek. Day trips that include a shuttle across Fontana Lake, experienced guide, all gear and flies plus streamside lunch. Trips do require copious amounts of walking, mainly on old gravel road beds from decades ago. During the hottest days of summer, we may hike up the road a good piece, (3 miles) or so to suitable cold water where the trout have seen less people and more eager to bite. Terrain is fairly flat with a mild incline on the lower sections. Hazel Creek is wide with a more open canopy offering plenty of room for casting by Smoky Mountain standards. The creek bed is one that is very rocky with sizable plunges and holes which certainly contain some large brown trout. It is not until we pass Bone Valley and up towards the famous Hall Cabin that we find the trail gaining much noticeable elevation gains. Once above the old Hall cabin we start catching the famous Hazel Creek brook trout!

Capt Ryan Laws, Fly Fishing the Smokies, Smoky Mountain Fly Fishing,

One of our guides, Capt. Ryan Laws, is a son of Hazel Creek. He comes from a long line of Smoky Mountain sportsman. His papaw is none other than Jack Laws ” The Old Bear Hunter” founding member of the Inspirations Gospel Quartet. Stories and legends of Jack’s exploits are known world wide. Ryan’s Great Grandfather was Cornelius Laws, a famous guide and bear hunter from long ago, who plied the mountains and waters of Hazel Creek. Known for his exploits in the world of Smokies bear hunting with other famous luminaries of the time, Mark Cathey, Sam Honeycutt and author Horace Kephart, Cornelius and his bear dogs of Hazel Creek were a legend. Capt. Ryan knows Hazel Creek well, and spends most of his days along the north shores of Lake Fontana.

Seth Shuler, Fly Fishing the Smokies, Smoky Mountain Fly Fishing, Hazel Creek Guide

Seth Shuler is a 4th generation fly fishing guide and son of none other than Fly Fishing the Smokies owner, Eugene Shuler. Seth has spent his entire life working in the family business as a shop employee and the last several years as a guide. At 16yrs old, he was the youngest licensed fly fishing guide ever in the state of North Carolina. Seth was the runner-up in the Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine Guide of the Year selections. Seth splits his time guiding on Hazel Creek and Forney Creek, both superb north shore Smoky Mountain Mountain trout streams. When not on a trout stream, Seth attends the University of Pikeville (Upike) in Kentucky where he plays college football and is an elite level punter. He has a cannon for a leg and can pin a receiver anywhere on the field he wants. His undergrad studies are in Healthcare Management and plans to attend medical school at Upike. His energetic spirit and witty sense of humor shine through as a guide. He is passionate about fly fishing and loves to teach.

MJ Lee, Fly Fishing the Smokies, Smoky Mountain Fly Fishing,

MJ Lee is a high octane full of adventure kind of guide. He hails from Arizona and has spent his life chasing fish all across the globe! MJ has been guiding for Fly Fishing the Smokies the past couple of years and spends his time chasing wild fish inside the national park. He loves to fish the north shore streams of the Smokies that are only accessed by boat or super lengthy hikes. His incredible personality combined with his ability to think outside the box along with his sense of adventure separate MJ from most guides you have ever fished with. Rumor has it, you may see him on some upcoming shows of Homesteaders on your TV!

Hazel Creek Fly Fishing Guides, Fly Fishing the Smokies, Smoky Mountain Fly Fishing

Those looking to fish Hazel Creek with our guides should be in good physical condition and able to hike several miles. We recommend anglers to have at least fly fished previously before attempting this trip. The fish here are wild and spooky making them a challenge. This is not a trip we would recommend for first timers to fly fishing or for kids under 16yrs old. This trip is based out of our Bryson City location only. Participants for this excursion will meet at our Fly Shop in downtown Bryson City at 157 Everett Street. You will then follow your guide in your own vehicle to the boat ramps.

Call or Text (828)-421-6378

or book online!

Hazel Creek Fly Fishing Report April 26th

Hazel Creek in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is fishing very good this month. Mild tempratures and plenty of rainfall have the water in great shape. Steady hatches of brown Stoneflies, Caddis, Light Cahills, and Yellow Sallies have the trout feeding aggressively and looking up to take dry flies.

Mother Nature has thrown everything in the books at us, especially in the Smokies back country this month. So far we have seen snow, highs in the upper 70’s and followed by heavy downpours of rain. Snow is not surprising, considering historically there has been snow in every month inside the Smoky Mountains National Park. The crazy part is one day we are near 80 in the valley floors and two days later its below freezing and snowing. Now it seems this wild weather roller coaster ride is on its way out, and Spring is finally here!

Hazel Creek will always be popular among the fly fishing crowd. Each weekend its not uncommon to see a few Gortex clad anglers camping at Proctor, Sawdust, or Bone Valley. These guys are all doing the same thing, chasing wild trout with flies. These folks are just as passionate about fly fishing and preserving the resource just like you. So don’t worry they are for the most part practicing catch and release as well. Spend a minute or two talking with them and see for yourself. We are all on the same team. Hazel Creek is a massive watershed and a long one at the by park standards. So even though you might pass by the occasional angler, its never crowded or looses that feeling of loneliness and solitude that brings you here in the first place. Honestly Id rather see someone as to be there and know its just me in case something were to happen. Just food for thought.

Hazel Creek was running very full yesterday after a few days of steady rainfall if not heavy at times. Water clarity was great and everything was running gin clear. Caddis were popping all over and sporadic hatches of light Cahills and Yellow Sallies were keeping the trout honest.

This time of year Fly Fishing the Smokies has a guide or two on Hazel Creek almost every day. Its a place dear to our hearts and one that stirs the soul like no other. Hazel Creek will always be that place every Smokies angler will want to fish at one point or another. The legends are true, and fishing really can be that good!

For Reservations Call us at (828)-488-7665 or Book Online

Great Smoky Mountains Fishing Report August 27

The Great Smoky Mountains are fishing well this week. Cooler night time lows and some scattered showers across the region have cooled things just a tad and turned the fishing on.

The park streams around Cherokee and Gatlinburg are fishing particularly well. Higher elevations and back country locaions off the beaten path are fishing best of course. Currently we are fishing around 2,800ft in elevation and above. The water temps here are great and the action is much better.

We are seeing good hatches early morning of brown Stoneflies and tan Caddis. By late evening we’re seeing lots of Tricos. As always this time of year terrestrials such as inch worms, crickets and grasshopper patterns are working well. Nothing beats a small hopper dry fly in park streams along the fields of Cade’s Cove and Cataloochee.

The forecast this week is calling for some rain starting Wednesday and continuing through Sunday. Wednesday is supposed to be round 80% chance and tapering off as the week progresses. As always you never know in the Smoky Mountains how the weather will turn out. It could be raining on one side of the mountain and dry on the other. So we tend to pay little attention to the forecast and concentrate more on the fishing. Fish are already wet, so they don’t even know it’s raining!

The photo above is from a recent trip to Hazel Creek. The fishing here has been very good all month long. We’re seeing some fine days on the most storied stream in the Smokies right now. Brown tout seem to be getting more aggressive as summer winds to an end.

Also much needed prayers for our friends down in Texas and Louisiana as hurricane Harvey still hammers down across the region.

Tight Lines y’all!

Great Smoky Mountains Fishing Report August 27

Hazel Creek Fly Fishing Report May 4th

This week’s Hazel Creek Fly Fishing Report for May 4th; Fly Fishing action on Hazel Creek in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is on fire right now! Recent rains and cool tempratures have the hatches popping and the trout looking up on our favorite stream in the Smokies. May is when the streams of the Smoky Mountains hit their peak for the year!

Currently were are seeing great hatches of Little Yellow Sallies and Light Cahills all day long. Yellow Sallies are many a serious Smokies fishermans favorite hatch. These bright yellow Stoneflies hatch steadily all throughout the day and peak just before dark. Their bright yellow color makes an easy fly pattern to see even on the darkest sections of streams.

Hazel Creek Fly Fishing

Hazel Creek flows are perfect right now for fly fishing. Water levels are running full and clear which make stalking up on these wild fish easier. We’re seeing trout feeding at all levels of the water columns right now. Which means fishing anything from dry flies to heavy nymphs will work well.

The weather this weekend looks to be soggy on Friday and Saturday for the Smoky Mountains. Intermittent storms and showers on Friday and tapering off on Saturday. Temps across the region are expected to drop down to the low 50’s for the highs in the back country. The old timers call this Blackberry Winter. Sunday however looks to be very promising as mostly sunny weather and a warming trend to start the week off with.

Hazel Creek Day Trip

Fly Fishing the Smokies is proud to be offering a Guided Fly Fishing Day Trip to Hazel Creek all summmer long! Dates are booking rapidly, so don’t wait around if your considering hitting one of the Smoky Mountains best wild trout streams. May is awesome in the back country!

Tight lines, we’ll see you on Hazel Creek!