Thirty miles of privately stocked, freestone streams unwind around you—running pure and descending into Cherokee by way of the runoff from the nearby Great Smoky Mountains. These are the same waters the Cherokee people have fished for centuries, and now are the longest privately owned and stocked fishing waters east of the Mississippi. Here, powerful trout circle and glide next to smallmouth bass and other freshwater fighters, all waiting to test even the most cunning anglers.
With an easy-to-purchase permit, you’re ready to drop a hook on a lazy morning or compete in big-money tournaments the EBCI Natural Resources Department hosts throughout the season. You’re ready to Fish Cherokee.
Let’s help each other enjoy a great day on the water.
Fishing etiquette consists mainly of a few simple rules. By offering a little respect to others, and to the fish, you’ll find thoughtfulness goes a long way—and makes the day more fun for everybody.
- Please respect those around you.
- Don’t crowd other anglers. Walking behind your fellow fishers prohibits their casting.
- Use care in terms of how you approach the water. In a river, silt or mud kicked up by clumsy wading can often spook fish downstream—so can your shadow if you’re not mindful of it.
- Respect your environment. If you pack it in, pack it out. Streams are delicate ecosystems. Try to leave them the way you found them.
- Respect the fish.
- Respect the law.
- Respect private property rights.
Fly-Fishing
Fly-fishing, which is becoming a growing preference for fans of the catch-and-release lifestyle, is prominent in the Enterprise Waters here in Cherokee. Cherokee’s catch-and-release season is open all year long. By practicing catch-and-release fly-fishing techniques, as well as using fly rods and barbless hooks, you can help conserve a great fighter for other anglers to catch—if they’re as good as you!
Fly-fishing is allowed in all Enterprise Waters.
Catch-and-Release
The Parkway Haven is a portion of Raven Fork set aside for catch-and-release fly-fishing only. This 2.2-mile stretch of trophy fishing waters runs north from the point where the Blue Ridge Parkway crosses Raven Fork, up to the south end of the River Valley Campground on Big Cove Road. Anglers will find deep, inviting pools alongside riffles, runs, and pocket waters. A special use fishing permit, as well as a daily fishing permit, is required to fish this section.
This map can help you decide where to stay, so you’re never far from your favorite fishing spots.
Releasing Trout
Trout are delicate and likely to be weakened after a fight. Handle hooked fish gently with pre-wet hands, being careful not to remove the trout’s slick, protective outer coating. Remove your hook carefully, preferably using forceps, to avoid damage to the fish and to minimize the time your fish is out of the water. After removing the hook, gently cradle the trout, facing upstream, giving it support until it regains enough stability and strength to swim away on its own power.
Catch-and-Keep
Catch-and-keep means keeping fish caught using traditional spin rods, fly rods, and barbed hooks. Fishing styles include short rod/spin-and-bait fishing, handy for penetrating some of Cherokee’s heavily forested banks.
Enterprise Waters offer a 10-fish limit per day, per permit holder, allowing anglers of all ages to bring home a sizable catch. Anyone ages 12 and older may purchase a Tribal fishing permit. Children ages 11 and under may fish under a supervising adult’s permit. Please note, however, that your child’s catch applies to the adult daily permitted catch limit of 10 fish.
For conservation reasons and the protection of native fish, it is recommended that minnows not be used or let go in Enterprise Waters.
Need a fishing permit? Just stop by any of these trusted vendors:
| Licensed Sales Agent | Physical Address |
| Big Cove Grocery | 7260 Big Cove Road, Cherokee, NC 28719 |
| Big Don’s Place | 964 Big Cove Road, Cherokee, NC 28719 |
| BJ’s Gas & Gifts | 1607 Acquoni Road, Cherokee, NC 28719 |
| Cherokee Home Center | 1623 Acquoni Road, Cherokee, NC 28719 |
| Cherokee Welcome Center | 498 Tsali Blvd., Cherokee, NC 28719 |
| Indian Creek Campground | 1367 Bunches Creek Road, Cherokee, NC 28719 |
| KOA Camping Resort | 92 KOA Campground Road, Cherokee, NC 28719 |
| Cherokee Mini Mart | 1340 Tsali Blvd., Cherokee, NC 28719 |
| Outpost Trading | 4768 Hwy 74W, Whittier, NC 28789 |
| River Valley Store | 3160 Big Cove Road, Cherokee, NC 28719 |
| Rivers Edge Outfitters | 61 Big Cove Road, Cherokee, NC 28719 |
| Rivers Edge Motel | 20 Old River Road, Cherokee, NC 28719 |
| Shell 1403 (Casino Mart) | 510 Paint Town Road, Cherokee, NC 28719 |
| Shell 1406 (Hwy 19) | 1205 Seven Clans Lane, Cherokee, NC 28719 |
| Tuckaseegee Fly Shop | 3 Depot Street, Bryson City, NC 28713 |
| Wolf Campground | 102 Acree Drive, Cherokee, NC 28719 |
| Yogi in the Smokies Campground | 317 Galamore Bridge Road, Cherokee, NC 28719 |
Regular Permit
$10.00 per day – Tribal permit, for each person 12 years of age and over, for streams and ponds. No other fishing permit or license is accepted. Children under 12 are allowed to fish when accompanied by a permitted adult. Two-, three-, and five-day permits are available at a reduced rate of $17 for a two-day, $27 for a three-day, and $47 for a five-day permit. An annual permit is available for $250.
Catch-and-Release Special Use Permit
$25 for a one-to-three day permit, or $75 per year, with the purchase of a general Tribal fishing permit. The special use permit allows use of the designated catch-and-release area on Raven Fork. All general fishing regulations apply to this permit, as do the following special-use regulations within the catch-and-release area:
- Tackle is limited to fly rods, reels, and line with a maximum of 18 feet of leader material or monofilament line attached.
- Only artificial flies and streamers constructed of natural or synthetic material on a single, barbless hook are permitted.
- Fishing with multiple flies attached to a single line (droppers) is permitted.