History

The waters of the Eastern Band Cherokee still run crystal clear, shaded and brim with brook, large browns, and rainbow trout. Renowned for 18-inch and above record-size trout – state records include a 15 lb. 13 oz. brown trout, caught in 1990 & a 7 lb. 7 oz. brook trout, recorded in 1980 – this 30 miles of accessible fishing water is the single largest managed trout fishery in the eastern states. One of Cherokee’s most popular attractions, the freestone waters are considered by many the best place in eastern America to catch trophy-size trout. A plentiful fish harvest has always been a part of the Cherokee heritage since before recorded time. Today, visitors share these waters with anglers of all interests – from live-bait fishers on ponds with kids in tow to experienced fly fishers looking for the peace and tranquility of a catch and release area. The tribe’s Fisheries & Wildlife Management Program stock over one million fish annually so that every time you wet a line, chances are you will enjoy a memorable catch. Streams and rivers are stocked twice weekly throughout the year. 

Yes, opening day is still the last Saturday in March, with the only closure of Enterprise Waters being the preceding three weeks in the month of March. Catch and Release Areas never close. Cherokee trout fishing helps preserve lasting cultural traditions, provides food resources for tribal members, and offers visitors the opportunity to share this natural gift of the Cherokee homelands. A managed resource since 1959, tribal waters are cared for and stocked with the fish raised at the tribeowned hatchery. Here, where waters emerge directly from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, fish are raised and then stocked throughout the Enterprise Waters – the three primary accessible waterways – the Raven Fork and ponds, Soco Creek, and the Oconaluftee River. As you explore the resources of the Eastern Band Cherokee Nation’s trout fishery, you reach back to a time beyond recorded history.

We invite you to discover the hospitality and legacy of plenty, high above the valleys below, where waters run pure, cold, and forever. We wish you tight lines and a bountiful catch. Littering is Against the Law! Prepare in advance to remove any litter you may cause before entering fishing areas. Parking areas are provided near many stream access points, often equipped with picnic areas and trashreceptacles installed. Always observe safety first, avoiding gates and fences and leave conditions better than you found them. We appreciate the removal of any trash you may encounter. It should be well noted that any violations regarding littering will be addressed with the highest intensity under the law. Always respectprivate property and if there is any question about stream access? Always ask forpermission. Be courteous and especially when parking vehicles, do not block theaccess of others.