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In Cherokee, NC the fish are so plentiful, you won’t need luck. But you will need a permit.

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.

Please note: Opening day in the general fishing waters is the last Saturday of March. Fishing is closed to everyone for two weeks prior to that date. Catch-and-release trophy fishing waters remain open year round.