Fishing

The City of Gatlinburg operates a trout farm in order to stock City streams with trout year-round.  The City stocks the streams every Thursday, so that is the only day there is no fishing inside the City Limits.  There are some rules and regulations and different license requirements which are listed below. 

TROUT FISHING LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

 Licenses can be purchased by:
  • Persons who possess a valid Tennessee drivers license.
  • Persons who have lived in Tennessee for 90 consecutive days with the intent of making Tennessee their home.
  • Military personnel on active duty in Tennessee and their immediate family.
  • Students enrolled in a Tennessee college or university for at least six months.  NOTE:  Tennessee residents with a sportsman License (Type 40) or a Lifetime Sportsman License do not need any other license or permit.
  • Ages 12 and under - No license or permit required.
  • Military personnel on leave carrying a copy of leave orders - No license required.
  • Ages 13-15 years - Gatlinburg permit, One-day (Type 99) or Three-day (Type 96) PLUS Junior Hunt, Fish and Trap License (Type 02).
  • Ages 16 to 64 years - Gatlinburg Permit, One-day (Type 99) or Three-day (Type 96) PLUS Annual Trout Stamp (Type 22) and ONE Of the following :  Annual Hunt and Fish Combination (Type 01), County of Residence (Type 20), and One-Day Fishing (Type 21). 
  • Age 65 years or older - Permanent Senior Citizen Hunt/Fish/Trap (Type 166) or Annual Senior Citizen Permit (Type 167).

NOTE:  If born before March 1, 1926, no license or permit required.

PERMIT
In addition to state licensing requirements, a local permit is required fro residents between 13 and 64 years of age.  Permits are available at City Hall,  Spur Welcome Center.

GENERAL REGULATIONS (apply year-round)

  • Fishing is allowed during daylight hours only, which is defined as one half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
  • Fishing is permitted with one hand-held rod and a single hook only.
  • All multiple hooks are prohibited.
  • No one over 12 years old is allowed to fish in any Children's Stream.
  • Gatlinburg streams are closed to fishing every Thursday due to stocking.

Seasonal Regulations

  1. Open Season: April 1 through November 30
  • Daily creel limit is five trout per person for general streams and two trout per child on children's streams.
  • Possession of more than the daily creel limit is prohibited, regardless of whether trout are fresh, stored in an ice chest in a vehicle or otherwise preserved. 
  • There is no size limit and any type of bait may be used.