Fishing near Cherokee, NC

Cherokee sits within the Qualla Boundary in the Great Smoky Mountains of western North Carolina, home to what is widely regarded as one of the most heavily stocked trout fisheries in the eastern United States. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Fisheries and Wildlife Management Department maintains roughly 30 miles of freestone streams—including the Oconaluftee River, Raven Fork, and Soco Creek—stocking over 400,000 trout annually across more than 150 spots. The 2011 US National Fly Fishing Championship was held here, and anglers travel from across the country and abroad to fish these waters.