One of the only things I do not provide on guided trips is a fishing license and you’re going to need one anyplace I take you unless you’re under the age of thirteen. You can get a fishing license at a number of places in our area including specialty outdoor stores like Little River Outfitters in Townsend or any Walmart. They can also be purchased online. For your convenience, you can click the accompanying image and go directly to the online license purchasing center. Continue reading to find out what type of license you might need.
Fishing for trout most places in the state of Tennessee, requires a basic Tennessee fishing license plus an additional trout permit. This is typically referred to as an All Species License. For my guide destinations, this would include any of the Delayed Harvest water. The exception to this is Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As long as you are fishing within the park boundaries, you only need the basic license. You DO NOT need an additional trout permit. Essentially the trout permit funds the state’s trout stocking programs. Since there is no stocking in the national park, you don’t need the extra permit.
Another interesting licensing tidbit regarding the national park is that a Tennessee or North Carolina license is acceptable. Since Great Smoky Mountains National Park is in both states, they formed a reciprocal agreement. Your Tennessee license permits you to also fish the North Carolina side and your North Carolina license permits you to fish the Tennessee side, as long as you are within the park boundary.