Best of the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail
Finding the best spots along the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail is as easy as reading a map.
Sport Hawk | 4.7.2022
Fly anglers in the southeastern states know that the best way to escape the heat and humidity of summer is to head into the western North Carolina mountains. From Asheville to the Tennessee line, a labyrinth of high-country watersheds run the gamut from brawling rivers to cascading mountain streams. Roughly in the middle of this angling abundance lies the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail.
Established in 2009 by the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, the trail is basically a free map consisting of 15 rivers and streams. The main artery is the Tuckasegee River, which runs north from the Blue Ridge mountains toward the Great Smokies. Along the way, the Tuck joins numerous other trout streams rushing past fishy hamlets like Cullowhee, Sylva, and Bryson City. Here’s how to experience five of the top stretches along the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail.
Visit the Fly Fishing Trail.
Download the map.
1. TUCKASEGEE RIVER
Of the 15 locations on the Fly Fishing Trail, five are sections of the Tuckasegee River. Floating or wading, you won’t go wrong with the Delayed Harvest stretch between Highway 107 and the tiny hamlet of Dillsboro. North Carolina’s DH rivers prohibit keeping fish from October to early June, so late fall through spring are prime months. Above and below the DH stretch anglers will find hatchery-supported waters allowing a nearly year-round harvest. Check the regulations for current seasons. There are rainbow, brown, and brook trout in the upper stretches and even some smallmouth in the sections below Dillsboro.
2. PANTHERTOWN CREEK
The upper reaches of the East Fork of the Tuckasegee are fed by a mountain treasure called Panthertown Creek. The stream runs clear and cold under the shadow of massive rock faces that have lent the area its nickname “Yosemite Valley of the East.” Brook trout are the target species. This is strictly catch-and-release fishing in tight spaces for typically small, wild fish that are as beautiful as a pool full of gemstones.
3. RAVEN FORK TROPHY WATERS
At the trail’s extreme northern end, the Raven Fork offers a 2.2 mile stretch of designated trophy water lying within the Cherokee Indian Reservation. The tribe regularly stocks the Raven Fork, and as a result it produces plenty of 20-inch-plus trout. You won’t need a state license, but fishing Raven Creek does require a tribal permit for anglers 12 years or older. Access is good right along road 1410 from the Blue Ridge Parkway Overpass up to the end of the trophy section at River Valley Campground.
4. TANASEE CREEK
If brown trout are your preference, head to Tanasee Creek. It flows off the Blue Ridge Parkway free and clear before reaching the first of a series of impoundments on the East Fork of the Tuckasegee River. Tanasee Creek Road crosses the creek near where it enters the first reservoir, and above that, you will find several miles of small water holding wild brown trout. This is a narrow stream that calls for crouching and stalking, so a shorter fly rod (7 ½-foot, 3 to 4-weight) will come in handy here, and be sure to practice your bow-and-arrow cast.
5. CANEY CREEK
For a bit more casting room on a mid-size river, try Caney Creek due east of Cullowhee. Above its confluence with the Tuck at East Laporte River Access Park, there are good numbers of stocked rainbows, brookies, and browns with some wild fish scattered in. Limited access is the main issue with fishing Caney Creek. Much of the river flows across private land, so make sure you respect posted signs. The headwaters of Caney Creek are wild trout “bluelines” flowing off the Blue Ridge Parkway. These include several other Fly Fishing Trail locations, such as Piney Mountain, Rough Butt, and Chastine creeks.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Travel:
Sylva is the geographical center of North Carolina’s Fly Fishing Trail. Bryson City, just to the east in Swain County, serves as the anchor for all Western Carolina Fly Fishing. Sylva is less than 50 miles from Asheville, about 20 miles from Bryson City, and is roughly three hours from Atlanta, Chattanooga, and Charlotte. Highway 74 (aka the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway) runs right past town.
Campgrounds:
Most campgrounds in the area are private, which means more of a mom-and-pop, KOA-type experience than the primitive camping found on public land. Some of these campgrounds cater to ATV riders, so carefully study the amenities and reviews.
For a map of private campgrounds, click here:
Public campgrounds can be found here.
Forest Service Lodging:
To really get away from it all, check out Balsam Lake Lodge in the upper reaches of the East Fork of the Tuck. This Forest Service property is confined to mostly “blueline” fishing in narrow streams for wild brookies. The lodge is in a beautiful location. It sleeps 16 people, and is only $170 to $200 per night! The state also stocks trout in the lake, a small impoundment of Wolf Creek. Balsam Lake Lodge is less than thirty minutes from the confluence of the East and West forks of the Tuck, and it is also near Tanasee Creek.
Public Lands: Nantahala National Forest, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Regulations: Trout Fishing in North Carolina
Local Experts: Area Fly Shops
Don’t Miss: Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians