GATLINBURG, Tenn.— For the fourth consecutive year, a unique fishing tournament has been scheduled by the Gatlinburg Recreation Department. The Spring Trout Tournament and River Cleanup, which replaces an entry fee in lieu of litter collection, is slated for Tuesday, April 1.
The Tournament also marks the opening day for catch and keep fishing in Gatlinburg waters. Tournament weigh in and festivities will be based out of Gatlinburg’s Herbert Holt Park.
“Fishing in Gatlinburg is very important to many people and being able to fish in clean waters and surroundings is imperative, which is why the emphasis has been placed on cleaning up litter, especially in areas along the river and below the tree line,” Gatlinburg Trout Facility Manager Travis Williams said.
In place of the entry fee, all participants will be required to turn in at least a small grocery bag with litter in it at the weigh-in to be eligible for the fishing prizes. Prizes will be awarded for the largest fish, most litter collected, and the most unique litter item collected.
Participants will compete in two age divisions: the Kids' Division for ages 15 and under, and the Adult Division for ages 16 and up, aligning with TWRA adult license regulations. Early registration, which can be done via http://gatlinburgrec.recdesk.com, closes on Friday March 28, 2025 at noon. After that point all registration must be done in person the day of the event prior to fishing, with registration required by 7:30 a.m. on the day of the event.
The tournament format will be a catch-and-keep tournament with a two-fish limit. Winners will be determined based on the total weight of those two fish. Prizes will also be awarded for the single largest fish in each age division. Fishing must take place in Gatlinburg managed waters, which are from Gnatty Branch to the National Park boundary at Traffic Light No. 10 in Gatlinburg and Roaring Fork from its confluence of the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River up to Treetops Resort. All competitors will be expected to follow all local and state regulations, including possessing a valid Tennessee Fishing License for Gatlinburg.
Participants must contribute to the stream cleanup by bringing at least a small grocery bag-sized amount of trash collected from the riverbank or in the river to be eligible for prizes. Please avoid roadside areas to ensure safety. Anyone found littering will be eliminated from the tournament.
For more information, contact Williams at 865-436-7549.
For the latest updates from the City of Gatlinburg, visit GatlinburgTN.gov or visit the City’s Social Media pages on Facebook and X.
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