Nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, this quaint southwestern North Carolina town offers a change of pace and a never-ending supply of activities for the entire family. Franklin is the Macon County seat and is surrounded by the Nantahala National Forest.

Being centrally located within the Nantahala National Forest and very near to the Great Smoky Mountain Park, Franklin is easily within reach of some of the best brown trout fisheries in the eastern United States. 

Within the national forest are many rugged streams filled with stocked brown trout as well as rainbow and native brook trout.  Many of the trout waters are far off the beaten path and difficult to get to, whereas other areas are near local roads and are fished more regularly.

If you are interested in fly fishing for trout among hundreds of miles of mountain streams and rivers within only a few miles of the beautiful little mountain town of Franklin, NC, including such favorites as the Cullasaja and Tuckasegee Rivers, then consider utilizing the best fly fishing guides in Franklin at Turning Stone's Fly Fishing.

Best Fly Fishing Guides in Franklin, North Carolina

We are a full-service, independent fly fishing guide operation in the town of Franklin, NC. Turning Stone’s Fly Fishing was started in 2007 by Gordon Vanderpool. Gordon’s goal was to help others with the sport he loved so much. We hope you will look around the website and come visit and fly fish in the beautiful Smoky Mountains of western North Carolina.

It doesn’t matter if you are from just down the road or from across the globe. We want you to see the wonderful fly fishing that western North Carolina has to offer, and we feel like we have the best fly fishing guides in Franklin, North Carolina.

Experienced Guides Offer Guided Fly Fishing Trips in Franklin, NC

Fly fishing is always a favorite for people who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. In Franklin, Turning Stone's Fly Fishing guides are here to help you take your trout fishing experience to the next level. 

Whether you are a complete novice or fly fishing enthusiast, our guides are ready to make sure you have the best experience possible in the beautiful mountains of southwestern North Carolina. For over a decade, we have been providing trout fishing tours for residents and visitors of Franklin, NC. 

Our guides include some of the best in the field:

Gordon Vanderpool: Gordon began fly fishing as a teenager in southwestern Pennsylvania, where he was raised. He has snagged great catches from as far away as Nevada, California, and Belize. 

He and his wife decided to settle in western North Carolina, where they started Turning Stone's Fly Fishing. Gordon is a Certified Casting Instructor for the Federation of Fly Fishers and the  Southeastern Coach of the USA Youth Fly Fishing Team.

Paul Bourcq: Paul began fly fishing with Gordon in 2008. With Gordon’s training, Paul embraced the sport and made his way to Captain of the North Carolina Fly Fishing Team in 2011. He later became the U.S. Youth Fly Fishing Team coach, winning two world championships in Italy and Ireland. 

Paul is an FFF Certified Master Casting Instructor and loves to train new anglers. He believes the waters in western North Carolina are the best in the world for this sport.

Anthony Allen: Anthony grew up in Madison County, NC, where he spent most of his free time hunting and fishing in the mountains of western North Carolina. After a 20-year career in the U.S. Army, he returned home to begin his next career as a guide. He has attended two different guide schools with World Cast Anglers in Victor, ID, and the Mac Brown Fly Fishing guide school in Bryson City, NC.

Utilize Professional Fly Fishing Guides for Your Next Trip to Franklin, NC

To fully appreciate the many wonderful opportunities for fly fishing for brown trout around Franklin, North Carolina, consider utilizing the services of Turning Stone's Fly Fishing.

• Our guides here at Turning Stone’s Fly Fishing have over a decade of experience leading trips in the mountains surrounding Franklin, NC.
• Our guides research the streams in the Franklin, NC, area and know where to go and how to get there to catch brown trout.
• Our guides know the local stream conditions and the best fly patterns to utilize.
• Our guides can work with any fly fishing experience level and pick locations that best suit the experience and physical condition of the angler.
• If you need the right fly fishing gear for the local conditions, our guides can assist you with finding the right equipment to catch trout.

The mountains of western North Carolina surrounding the town of Franklin have some of the most beautiful, rugged, remote streams and rivers available for fly fishing adventures. You can navigate through the remote backcountry in search of brown trout, with your experience made even more desirable through utilizing one of our guides with Turning Stone’s Fly Fishing.

If you wish to experience the excellent trout waters found in the mountains in the search for brown trout, then book a trip with Turning Stone’s Fly Fishing today. For more information, reach out to us!