Trout Fishing - Tuckasegee River, North Carolina

Trout Fishing - Tuckasegee River, North Carolina

Here in Jackson County you can experience some great trout fishing.  The Tuckasegee River is the largest body of water in Jackson county and offers fly anglers a terrific time trying out their skill at catching the big ones.  There are also many small streams for those great mountain fishing locations.

There are other areas in the Great Smoky Mountains offering you a great fishing get away where you can search for rainbow, brown and native brook trout, bass, bream, walleye and crappie.  Some of the other locations, besides Tuckasegee River fishing, are the North Carolina Mountain lakes in Jackson County, the Cherokee Indian Reservation and of course, the other streams in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

You will need to obtain the proper permits for fishing in the different locations.  If you are on the reservation you will need to have a Cherokee Tribal permit and in the state parks you will need a permit from the state.

There are hundreds of fishing spots on the Cherokee Indian Reservation from secluded to easy access trout ponds.  The Qualla Boundary has more than 30 miles of clear trout streams and three ponds that are stocked twice weekly with rainbow, brook and brown trout.  The trout are produced at the Cherokee Tribal Trout Hatchery, located on Straight Fork in the Big Cove Community. Visitors are welcome from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The tribal permit for fishing their lands costs $7.  Children younger than 12 are not required to have a permit but must be accompanied by an adult that has a permit.

Trout fishing in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park was fabulous before the contamination of over 160 miles of clear mountain streams during the logging operations of the early 1900's.  Although the streams are still great for fishing it has taken years to get the stream back in condition for good fishing.

Fishing here is allowed all year in open waters.  It is allowed to fish from one half hour before official sunrise to one half hour after official sunset. 

Size Limits

Rainbow and Brown Trout: 7-inch minimum.
Smallmouth Bass: 7-inch minimum.
Rockbass (Redeye): No minimum.
All trout or smallmouth bass caught less than the legal length shall be immediately returned to the water from which it was taken. Any brook trout must be returned immediately to the water, unharmed.

Lures, Bait and Equipment

Hand-held rods only.
Artificial flies and lures. One hook only.
Fishermen may not possess fish bait or liquid scent.
The use or possession of double, treble or gang hooks is prohibited.
Fishing tackle and equipment including creels and fish in possession are subject to inspection.