Gatlinburg, Tenn. - Even on the hottest summer day, there is cool comfort to be found by the creek. Walking along the bank in the shade of the overhanging trees, one notices the myriad of ways water runs its course. It spills and splashes, pools and swirls, doubles back and then rushes forward. Somewhere in that water – maybe just to the side of the small waterfall flowing over a stone or perhaps a bit farther downstream where it settles and turns to glass – somewhere is a fish.

Finding and coaxing the creature to rise is at the heart of fishing. And while there are many methods and species in the world, at Norton Creek it’s about fly fishing. It’s about trout. The trout is a finicky fish. It’s particular about its diet and accommodations. If it doesn’t like a place, it keeps on swimming. As Stan Smartt puts it, “trout only live in beautiful places.”

Stan is the “fisherman-in-residence” at Norton Creek and oversees the homeowners’ trout club. The former airline pilot and teacher is an expert on fly fishing. “I love handing folks a fishing pole and sharing the experience with them.”

At Norton Creek the experience revolves around a beautiful, winding stream underlain with limestone, creating a higher-than-normal pH level in the water that appeals to the discriminating sensibilities of trout. For humans, the creek is equally compelling. It brings an unmistakable beauty and character to the property.

When someone chooses to fish the creek’s cool waters, they can’t help but relax. The gentle rhythm of casting, the sounds of nature and the thrill of a snared fish can gently push aside concerns that once seemed so urgent.

“ Fishing here kind of gets people off their regular schedule,” says Stan. “My favorite thing is when it’s time to go and they say, “Not yet. Just one more cast!”

Fishing with a Work of Art

In addition to being Norton Creek’s resident fishing expert, Stan Smartt is also one of the few people in the world still crafting hand-made bamboo fishing rods. Bamboo rods offer a grace and form that’s perfectly suited to fly fishing techniques. Their hand-crafted appeal has endured despite the emergence of contemporary rod materials like fiberglass and graphite.

After selecting the finest bamboo from the Tonkin area of Guangdong Province in China, Stan splits the raw cane and proceeds to cure, flame, plane, file, taper, glue, wrap and finish each rod. “I hope my fishing rods are something that’s handed down from one generation to the next,” says Stan. Indeed, these rods are as much art as they are equipment. Be sure to checkout Stan’s extraordinary bamboo fishing poles next time you visit Norton Creek.