Bobby Bennett (left) and Dale Collins, co-owners of Tuckaseegee Fly Shop, opened their first location in 2014, and now sell rods, reels, nets, and more in two additional spots in the Smokies. photograph by Brian Gomsak
With a larger-than-life brown trout displayed outside of its downtown Bryson City location, Tuckaseegee Fly Shop lures passersby ready for an adventure. Anglers on staff across Tuckaseegee’s three shops — located in Sylva, Bryson City, and Waynesville — have more than two decades of combined experience. Join them for a full day of guided trout fishing, or — if you’re not quite ready to set out on the water — check out their informative YouTube videos and listen to their podcast, The Tuck Cast … with a Splash of Bourbon. Learn about fishing strategies, changes in the industry, and conservation from the guides at “Tuck” — all with some whiskey-induced humor.
For more information, including locations, visit tuckflyshop.com.
A mannequin dressed from head to toe in fishing gear greets visitors at the front door of this shop. Fish Tales Outfitters offers everything from an easy, two-hour wading introduction in the headwaters of the Nantahala River to a three-day adventure in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you’re looking for a place to stay while you fish, the shop also has a partnership with Creel Lodge, 15 minutes from downtown Franklin. Beyond their in-store and riverside instruction, guides regularly hold classes for local students in an effort to spark curiosity about fly-fishing and careers in the outdoors industry.
29 East Main Street
Franklin, NC 28734
(828) 421-0732
fishtaleswnc.com
AJ Allison and a team of guides at Rivers Edge Outfitters can help you reel in rainbow trout and other species on excursions around the Smokies. photograph by DESTINY MILLS, COURTESY OF AJ ALLISON, RIVERS EDGE OUTFITTERS
The anglers at Rivers Edge Outfitters know that there’s no bad day to fish — that’s the shop’s motto, after all. In addition to guided catch-and-release tours and the gear sold at its storefront on the Qualla Boundary, Rivers Edge gives novices an opportunity to do some homework before putting on their waders: If you’re having a hard time figuring out how to tie a “squirmy,” or you’ve always wanted to know about Euro-nymphing — a method that uses weights differently than traditional fly-fishing — the store’s YouTube channel has a collection of explanatory videos created by its staff.
61 Big Cove Road
Cherokee, NC 28719
(828) 497-9300
wncfishing.com
Not only is Maggie Valley Fly Shop well-stocked with nets, fly lines, vests, and packs, but it also takes part in organizing North Carolina’s biggest fly-fishing celebration. The two-day Maggie Valley Fly Fishing Festival in June features a derby for kids, vendors, lessons, and demonstrations, all against a backdrop of lush mountain scenery and waterways packed with trout. The festival helps educate those who aren’t familiar with western North Carolina as a fly-fishing haven, and offers resources for those already hooked on the sport. If you leave the festival yearning for a fishing trip, the fly shop also offers a variety of guided excursions.
3073 Soco Road
Maggie Valley, NC 28751
(828) 593-2519
maggievalleyflyshop.com
A short walk from the Tuckasegee River in downtown Bryson City, Fly Fishing the Smokies is the largest family-owned fly shop in the Smoky Mountains. Whether you’re an angler eager to spend hours wading and casting in serene waters like the Tuckasegee River, a Scout looking to earn a merit badge, or a family excited to introduce fly-fishing to a new generation over the course of a two-hour trip in Cherokee, this shop offers an array of excursions.
157 Everett Street
Bryson City, NC 28713
(828) 488-7665
flyfishingthesmokies.net
Every September, Gorges State Park celebrates the monarch butterfly — and the awe and wonder of its annual migration — with a festival fit for a king.
From sweeping vistas to secluded coves, North Carolina’s four national forests conserve our untamed lands for wildlife and human explorers alike.
Abloom year-round, the Elizabethan Gardens feel fit for a queen. Beyond their beauty, they’re also a living memorial to one of our state’s enduring mysteries.
On his namesake show, the Mount Airy native shared the spotlight with a fictional version of his hometown.
