Fortunately, there is one section of the Cataloochee where you can get away from the elk watchers, enjoy peace and quiet, and sample first-rate fishing. This is, oddly enough, the lowermost reaches of the stream. Here it leaves the peaceful valley setting, with old homes, churches, graveyards, and a schoolhouse standing as silent reminders of a bygone era, and enters a gorge-like area that carries the stream to its confluence with Waterville Lake.

The Cataloochee Valley is accessible by road. Take the Waterville exit off I-40, cross the Pigeon River, and turn left at the end of the bridge. Then follow a paved road for two miles to an intersection where you will turn left onto a gravel road, old N.C. 284, which leads into the Cataloochee Valley. Or take Highway 276 out of Maggie Valley to Cove Creek Road, follow it for just under six miles, and you enter the park and soon drop down into the valley. However, there is no road access to the lower reaches of the stream. In fact, there is not even a maintained trail into the area.

The best approach is to park in the area where Little Cataloochee Creek enters the main creek, then work your way downstream. This flies in the face of all standard wisdom, which dictates fishing upstream when dealing with trout, but the logistics of access are the key factor here.

The best answers, in my view, are to take one of two available approaches. One involves scrambling downstream for the distance you think you can cover in a day of fishing, then working your way back to where you began your hike. Alternatively, you can fish a pool or a short stretch, climb out and rock hop downstream, and then repeat the process. Either way, this is rugged territory best fished with a partner, although the fact that you can drive to your starting point makes it quite a reasonable venue for a single day's outing, in contrast to some of the above scenarios where overnight stays are almost mandatory.

There you have it, five destinations I consider real dandies. All have brought me tight lines and fine times over the years, all promise solitude and a comparative dearth of other anglers, and all carry you to trout-filled waters. The rest, getting there and catching fish, is strictly up to you.

A FEW NOTES ON REGULATIONS
When fishing park streams, make sure you adhere to all the regulations. If you plan to camp, and several of the suggested venues lend themselves best to overnight stays, do so only in designated campsites. Be sure to get your free camping permit as well. The fishing regulations throughout the park are quite straightforward. You need either a North Carolina or a Tennessee fishing license (one from either state is good for both sides of the park). The daily creel limit is five fish of at least 7 inches in length, and with the exception of just a handful of streams, you cannot keep speckled trout. Only single-hook artificials are allowed.

(Editor's Note: Jim Casada, who grew up within walking distance of the park in Bryson City, N.C., has fished its streams all his life. He is the author or editor of more than 40 books, including the just published Beginner's Guide to Fly Fishing. To order any of his books or subscribe to his free monthly newsletter, visit his Web site at www.jimcasadaoutdoors.com.)