I guess its only fitting I start my first blog post off with a story about a fish I do not guide for but I do hold pretty dear to my heart. The Southern Appalachian Brook Trout is a worthy opponent in the game of Fly Fishing, especially in the Southern half of the Cherokee National Forest. I hope this article will give you more insight into this little gem of a fish, like where they once thrived and where you can still find them today.
The Southern Strain of Brook Trout are found throughout the mountains of the Southern Appalachians. There are known populations in the headwaters and small, mountainous upper stream sections of Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia and Western North Carolina. The general rule of thumb is that you need to be above 2500 feet in elevation to find them, however, I can’t sit and tell you that this statement is one hundred percent accurate based on some of the locations I have caught them. I can for sure say that they are one of the most beautiful fish I have had the pleasure of touching. The Purples and vivid oranges of the Pectoral, Pelvic and Anal Fins make this one of the most photogenic fish species we have to pursue in the great state of Tennessee.