The SO and I will be in Asheville in late July and would like to spend 8 hours or so doing a 5-10 mile hike. I would also prefer if the hike brought us by some streams or rivers/etc so I could bust out the fly rod for a little bit while she eats lunch or something.

Any ideas on which trails will accomplish this?

There's a ton of spots that'll fit your bill.  

Try a google search on the Wilson Creek area.  

Or in Great Smoky Mountains NP, check out Indian Creek out of Bryson City or Enloe Creek off of Straight Fork Rd. for a real wilderness experience.

South Mills River Trail.  Take Hwy. 280 from I-26 at the airport to the Turkey Pen Gap trailhead parking area.  Follow the trail down to the river, cross the swinging bridge and hike upstream.  You'll have to go in a few miles to get away from most of the people but it's worth it.  It's an easy hike and the fishing can be very good in the right spots.

It's about 30 minutes +/- from Asheville depending on where you're staying.

We're staying in Biltmore Village.

Do you guys think I'll need a NC fishing license for the day- or are there not any wildlife officer's around every corner waiting for you?

Also; three years ago we went to chimney rock park but it was raining and closed because of unstable something or other. This year we might want to go back- but I don't see any good hiking areas around there especially if I want to fish.

All I found was the rambling bald trail across the road from chimney rock as well as the buffalo creek park- which is new?

I used to fly fish a lot in the Mills River and Pisgah aread around ten years ago; never once was I checked for a license.  The place is a whole lot more crowded now so I wouldn't  take the chance.  

PIsgah will offer you tons of options for what you are looking for.  If you are staying in Biltmore Village, go down 26 to the airport exit and head towards Bervard on 280, you will hit the entrance to Pisgah National forest in around 15 to 20 minutes.  Turn right and follow the river; there are tons of trails that follow the rivers and creeks up there.  Another great spot is Turkey Pen gap.  Tons of trails and most follow the river.

I would suggest getting the South Pisgah district map from Pisgah map company.

Better get a license. I was checked a few weekends ago at Wilson Creek area. My first time getting checked in awhile though.

If you go to Cherokee and fish the reservation lands it's only $10 per day to fish. They even have tagged fish that have monetary prizes.

Thanks guys! Will try and make sense of all of this

I check


Seriously Cherokee is some of the most stocked waters anywhere.  You'd best get a tribal permit though, their DNR guys don't play!