Smokies Shot Plan | James Ham

Before you go

before 10/25

Permits & bookings

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NC fishing license, nonresident 10-day inland ($29, gooutdoorsnc.com). Covers Tuck, Deep Creek and Little River (valid anywhere inside the park).Cherokee tribal permit for 10/28, Oconaluftee Island Park (fishcherokee.com, ~$15/day, confirm price)Park parking tag, weekly $15 (needed to park longer than 15 min anywhere in the park)Lodge: check-in code, fire pit and BBQ supplies (ask host)

Check the week before

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NPS alerts: road closures, Kuwohi Road open, Alum Cave and Deep Creek trail statusNC Delayed Harvest stocking schedule for the TuckasegeeExact sunrise and sunset times (approximate times are below)

Camera kit

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Tripod (sunrise and elk timelapses)Lav mic + dead cat (wind at Kuwohi and Newfound Gap)Spare batteries ×3, SD cards, power bank (cold drains batteries fast)Phone mount for dash clips (guide episode)Longest zoom lens you have (bears and elk from 50 yd)Headlamp, warm layers, gloves (near freezing at the summit before dawn)

Rod kit

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Fly rod + nymphs, streamers, a few driesSpinning rod + single-hook lures (swap trebles before the trip, park and DH water are single-hook only)Net, forceps, polarized glasses, wading boots

Rules to follow on camera

NONo drones anywhere in the national park. Outside the park (Tuck, cabin) is OK under FAA rules. On Cherokee land, ask first.
50 YDStay 50 yards from bears and elk (that's the law). Use zoom.
HOOKPark water and Delayed Harvest water: single-hook artificial lures only. DH is catch and release.

10.25 (Sun) Fort Lee → Roanoke

~6.5 h, 420 mi

14:00

Depart Fort Lee

~20:30

Roanoke, VA hotel check-in

Shots

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EP4Car loaded, gear laid out (10 s)EP4Dash talk: "10시간 운전, 목표는 3종" ("10 hours of driving, the goal is 3 species") + mission card introEP4A few highway clips + map overlay later. Keep it short.

10.26 (Mon) Arrival + first fish

Sunrise ~7:53, sunset ~18:44

08:30

Depart Roanoke

4.5-5 h

13:30-14:00

Arrive Bryson City

14:00-14:45

Ingles Markets groceries

15:00

Check in MooseLodge Hideaway

Film the cabin tour before unpacking.

15:30-18:00

Tuckasegee, Delayed Harvest sectionCHANGED

Near Dillsboro, ~20 min. Freshly stocked in October = highest-odds water. Single hook, catch and release. Fish until the light goes.

18:30

Fire pit BBQ at the lodge

Shots

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EP4SIngles: prices, local products, the receiptEP4SCabin tour in one continuous walk (door → kitchen → rooms → hot tub/fire pit → view)EP2Mission card on the river: "스모키 그랜드 슬램, 오늘은 잡는다" ("Smoky Grand Slam, today I catch one")EP2SFirst fish of the trip, full fight, keep rollingEP2Fly vs. spinning: note which one got the first fishEP4Fire pit night wide shot

10.27 (Tue) Waterfalls + wild trout + tunnel

Sunrise ~7:54, sunset ~18:43

07:30

Depart lodge

09:00-11:30

Deep Creek Waterfalls Loop (3.9 km)

Juney Whank → Tom Branch → Indian Creek.

11:30-12:15

Lunch Deep Creek Picnic Area

12:15-15:00

Fish Deep Creek

Wild water. Smaller fish, harder. Water is warmer in the afternoon.

16:00-18:00

Road to Nowhere / Tunnel

Golden hour.

18:30

Dinner Pasqualino's or Mountain Layers Brewing

Shots

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EP1SAll three waterfalls: one wide, one close-up of water, one of you for scaleEP1Leaves on the water, slow panEP2SWild trout close-up (spots, colors) + release in the waterEP2Talking head: "여기 물고기는 방류 안 한 야생" ("The fish here are wild, not stocked")EP1SWalk into the tunnel, one take, from light into dark and outEP130-second story on camera: the road that was promised and never finished

10.28 (Wed) Sunrise + summit + Cherokee + elk

Sunrise ~7:55, sunset ~18:41

The biggest day for footage. The morning order changed so we get sunrise and parking.

06:30

Depart lodgeCHANGED

Was 07:00. Headlamps. Breakfast in the car.

07:30-08:45

Kuwohi sunriseCHANGED

Walk 0.5 mi up to the tower (steep, ~20 min). Sunrise ~7:55. Near freezing, wear layers.

09:00-09:30

Newfound Gap

NC/TN state line.

09:45-11:45

Alum Cave Trail → Arch Rock (+ Inspiration Point if time)CHANGED

Was 11:30. Parking fills by mid-morning. Arch Rock is 1.3 mi in.

12:30-13:15

Lunch

13:30-14:15

Oconaluftee Visitor Center + Mountain Farm Museum

Passport stamp. Old log farm buildings next door. Elk sometimes graze in the fields here.

14:30-17:15

Oconaluftee Island Park fishing

Cherokee permit. Trophy-size stocked fish.

17:15-18:30

Elk at Oconaluftee fields at duskCHANGED

Replaces Morton Overlook. 5 min from Island Park vs. 45. End of the rut, so bugling is possible.

Shots

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EP1SSunrise timelapse on tripod, start 15 min before sunriseEP1Thumbnail frame: you from behind, sea of clouds, sun (shoot 4K, several takes)EP1Hook line: "새벽 5시 반 기상, 이거 보려고" ("Up at 5:30 for this")EP1SOne foot in NC, one in TN at the state line signEP1Walking through Arch Rock, low angleEP4Passport stamp + farm museum walk (B-roll for the guide)EP2SCherokee trophy trout, full fight + sizeEP2Scoreboard update on cameraEP3SElk on zoom + record the audio (bugling)

10.29 (Thu) Cades Cove + last chance

Sunrise ~7:56, sunset ~18:40

06:00-06:30

Depart lodge

~2 h drive. Arrive near the gate opening.

08:00-12:00

Cades Cove Loop (11 mi, one way)

Mission: 곰 한 마리 보기 (see one bear). Deer, turkeys, bears on acorns.

12:00-12:45

Lunch Cades Cove Picnic Area

13:15-15:30

Fish Little River (Metcalf Bottoms / Elkmont)CHANGED

Replaces Abrams Falls (5 mi round trip was too rushed). On the way home. Wild browns = last chance at the slam.

15:30-17:00

Drive back to Bryson City

17:00-18:30

Darnell Farms

Fall farm, pumpkins.

Evening

Last BBQ at the lodge

Shots

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EP3Mission card at the gate at dawnEP3S"Bear jam": the line of stopped cars, then the revealEP3SThumbnail frame: the bear, sharpest zoom shot (stay in or by the car)EP3Fog over the meadows, deer, turkeys, old cabins/churchesEP2SLittle River: cold open material if a species is still missing ("마지막 하루, ○○이 없다", "Last day, still no ○○")EP2Final scoreboard on camera, 성공 (success) or 실패 (fail)EP3Darnell Farms wind-down clips

10.30 (Fri) Home

~10-11 h with 2-3 stops

07:00-07:45

Final check of the lodge (chargers, fridge, trash)

08:00

Depart Bryson City

~19:00

Arrive Fort Lee

Shots

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EP4Trip cost tally on camera (gas, lodge share, licenses, food)EP4"7 things to know" talking head, in the car while it's freshSGrand slam result short

Episodes (4 + Shorts)

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EP110-12 min단풍 절정 스모키, 구름 위 일출Smokies at peak color, sunrise above the cloudsSunrise, Newfound Gap, Alum Cave, waterfalls, tunnel. Upload first while it's fall-color season in Korea.

EP212-14 min스모키 그랜드 슬램: 송어 3종 미션Smoky Grand Slam: the three-trout missionFour waters as four acts. Fly vs. spinning. Final scoreboard.

EP38-10 min곰을 찾아서: Cades Cove + 엘크Looking for bears: Cades Cove + elkBear mission, elk at dusk, Darnell Farms.

EP412-15 min스모키 5박6일 총정리The complete 6-day Smokies guideRoute, costs, cabin, Ingles, 7 tips. Chapters. Evergreen search video.

S= Shorts candidate. Aim for ~15 total; post 1-2 during the trip.