Tennessee has earned a reputation as one of the South's premier fly fishing destinations. Cold tailwaters, freestone mountain streams, and scenic rivers provide outstanding fishing throughout the year, while the Great Smoky Mountains offer one of the most iconic trout fisheries in the eastern United States. Whether casting dry flies in the mountains or drifting a tailwater, Tennessee delivers exceptional opportunities for fly anglers of every skill level.

The state's trout fishing centers around famous rivers like the South Holston, Watauga, Clinch, Hiwassee, and Caney Fork, along with hundreds of miles of streams flowing through Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Rainbow, brown, and brook trout all thrive in Tennessee's cold waters, with several rivers producing trophy-sized fish and some of the best sulphur and blue-winged olive hatches in the Southeast.

When trout aren't rising, Tennessee's warmwater fisheries take center stage. The state's rivers and reservoirs support excellent populations of smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, carp, musky, and striped bass. From hiking into a mountain stream for native brook trout to throwing big streamers for river smallmouth, Tennessee offers fly anglers an incredible variety of fishing across every season.