Recommendations welcomed

[Phil Baxter]

Hi all. Planning a camping/fishing trip for my dad's birthday in mid-May for southwest VA, western NC, and/or eastern TN. Looking for river suggestions for that time frame and guide services. Would prefer to wade than float. I thought try for Mossy Creek or Stauton River on way down 81. But after that, I am out of ideas. 

Thanks, 

phil

[Yambag Nelson]

Smoky mountain national park has a lot of great fishing. More streams than you could fish all summer.

[Andrew LaVigne]

If you're heading that far down, do the Jackson River on the way down or back. Spend a day on the tailwater section, then spend the night at Meadow Lane Cottages, and fish their private stretch of the river upstream from the dam the next day. The cabins were super nice, and the sulphur hatch was a ton of fun 2 years ago around that time of year. 

http://www.meadowlanecottages.com/index.html

[ALarge]

Whitetop Laurel in very SW VA has my vote. Easy access, lots of pocket water. Beautiful river. 

[Dalton Terrell]

The Smokies, Jackson and Whitetop Laurel are good options, but here are a couple more:
- Rent a house near Shenandoah National Park and drive/hike to Brook Trout streams in the area (a bunch of places to search for house: Syria, Crozet, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, etc.--reference books or online maps to find local streams)
- South Holston/Watauga Rivers near Bristol, TN: I'd hire a guide to float, it can be a lot more productive than wading (I've used Teo Whitlock and one of the guys from Southern Drifters Outfitters)
- Savage River/North Branch Potomac: Not in your desired area (Western Maryland) but good rivers to wade
- New River near Galax, VA: Good smallmouth fishing but may be early in the year to wade

Hope this helps.

Dalton