Cherokee N.C. Trout Fishing

gunnurse

Senior Member
Does anyone ever go? I am wanting to arrange a trip with my brothers. Do they still heavily stock the streams in the dreads or summer? Any input would be appreciated.
 

NCHillbilly

Administrator
Staff member
Cherokee is stocked full 24/7/365 for the most part.
 

gunnurse

Senior Member
I guess I should have said trout catching at Cherokee. I’ve heard that it is hard to not catch trout, but was just wondering if it was true. We are going to make a day trip out of it, and my daughter is new at fly casting. I really want her to hook up as much as possible. Thanks NCH. I’ll let you know how the trip comes out. If this trip comes out ok, I’ll take my brothers.
 

NCHillbilly

Administrator
Staff member
I guess I should have said trout catching at Cherokee. I’ve heard that it is hard to not catch trout, but was just wondering if it was true. We are going to make a day trip out of it, and my daughter is new at fly casting. I really want her to hook up as much as possible. Thanks NCH. I’ll let you know how the trip comes out. If this trip comes out ok, I’ll take my brothers.
If you can’t catch stocker trout at cherokee, then you probably don’t have a bright future in the trout fishing business. ::gone:
 

gobbleinwoods

Keeper of the Magic Word

NCHillbilly

Administrator
Staff member
I'm not trying to be insulting at all, so forgive me if it came off like that. My meaning is that Cherokee is probably as close to a guaranteed thing as it gets as far as trout fishing goes. If you have any basic fishing ability and can recognize where the fish are likely going to be, and don't stand in the same place for an hour, you should catch some for sure, unless it's changed a lot since the last time I was there. More than once, I have caught a ten-fish limit from one good run. I see tourists fishing with 20lb test line and big red and white plastic bobblers the size of a golf ball on their line catch fish. :)
 

DSGB

Senior Member
Just got back from a four day trip. They stock twice a week. I've never really fished for trout and was able to catch a few the couple mornings I was able to fish. My 8 yo son and nephew even caught some when they weren't hung up in limbs, roots and rocks. :LOL:

ETA - All of ours were caught on spinning gear. I tried throwing some flies, but didn't have any luck, though I am very new to fly fishing.
 
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gunnurse

Senior Member
That’s what I need. Remember, I qualified this as a day trip so my daughter could gain an appreciation of feeling a trout on a fly line (or that was at least what my intent was to portray- see post #3). Certainly no offense taken.
 

burtontrout

Senior Member
Just got back from a four day trip. They stock twice a week. I've never really fished for trout and was able to catch a few the couple mornings I was able to fish. My 8 yo son and nephew even caught some when they weren't hung up in limbs, roots and rocks. :LOL:

ETA - All of ours were caught on spinning gear. I tried throwing some flies, but didn't have any luck, though I am very new to fly fishing.
This made me laugh. I can relate.
 

DSGB

Senior Member
Can you camp near the river?

There are campgrounds up and down the river on the reservation. Not primitive camping and you will have lots of neighbors.
 

TheTroutWhisperer

Senior Member
Fishing Cherokee is fun and there is lots of water to get away from people if you want. You don't have to fish in the trophy section to catch a hawg. I fish up there 3 or 4 times during the winter months and have a ball fishing small streamers, girdle bugs and crawfish patterns.
 

gunnurse

Senior Member
Going to Cherokee in the morning with the family. Definitely a quick minimalist trip. Hopefully, I won’t have a dismal future in the trout fishing business after the trip.
 

TheTroutWhisperer

Senior Member
Give us a report when you get back. Hope the water is down enough to fish it.. that area has been getting lots of rain for weeks I think.
 

NCHillbilly

Administrator
Staff member
Yes, a lot of the bigger creeks and rivers here are up and off-color. I'd guess Raven Fork on the rez should be fishable, if not, Soco Creek should be.
 

gunnurse

Senior Member
Well, I guess I have no future in trout fishing. Neither does the majority of people who were on the Rez yesterday and today. I talked to one guy who had been fishing for three days with a nada to show for it. He said that he caught 71 over 10 days this spring, but nothing yesterday or today.

There was a guide that I ran into with a couple of clients. They were “hole-hopping” hitting all the likely pools and riffles, and nothing.

I ran into a family that had caught about ten between them after an all day trip. I also ran into some people at our campground that had been fishing Cherokee for “years.” They said that as the casino has improved the fortunes for the Qualla, the trout fishing has declined. They were under the impression that the twice weekly stockings had decreased or declined to less than twice weekly.

I don’t know, and I don’t care. That’s why they call it fishing, not catching. Sure was nice in the tent last night, though.
 
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NCHillbilly

Administrator
Staff member
Sorry that y'all didn't catch anything. But, that's the way it goes sometimes. The fish are there, trust me. Plenty of them. Trout fishing is a whole different ball of yarn from other types of fishing, and has a pretty good learning curve.
 

TheTroutWhisperer

Senior Member
Sorry the fishing was off, trout fishing in the middle of the summer in the south is dicey anyway, I've only went out once in the last 2 months. Just resting up for mid September til mid April. Was the water running high and fast?
 
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