![]() ![]() Flowing into the north shore of Fontana Lake, it is a medium to large stream in its lower reaches, and its relative remoteness (it is accessible only by boat or long hikes) keeps it from being too much a victim of its fame. On a national level, this stream in the heart of the park is possibly the best-known Tar Heel trout water. That said, these are my choices, in no particular order of preference, and I'm sticking to them. My early experiences were largely confined to waters of the park and a few streams in the Nantahala National Forest, but in adulthood they have expanded to encompass delightful days all up and down what a good friend and fellow angler, the late Harry Middleton, described as the ancient "spine of time" of the Appalachians. Mine has been a marvelously misspent life that has seen me, as a native Tar Heel and hopelessly addicted trout fisherman, spend appreciably chunks of a full six decades in pursuit of these inhabitants of bright, sparkling waters. The picks that follow come totally from first-hand experience. As we turn to that task, fairness dictates a bit of what pointy-headed lawyers describe as "qualifying the witness." That leads directly to the matter at hand - selecting not one but 10 top streams. Everyone has an opinion and likely can make some cogent, although not totally convincing, arguments in support of their stream of choice. ![]() If you want to start an argument among the trout-fishing fraternity, just make a bold statement that one stream or another is the "finest trout water" in North Carolina. This is thanks to the fact that the waterways of close to a million and a half acres of land in the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, along with the Nantahala and Pisgah national forests, are suitable for trout. While some are private water, most of the stream mileage is open to the public. There are hundreds, perhaps more than a thousand, creeks and rivers that hold trout in the state. Please click here to see a copy of the rules.The Appalachian chain in North Carolina, running from the southwest corner of the state northward and eastward for the entire length of North Carolina's boundary with Tennessee, embraces some of the finest trout water east of the Rockies. Our rules are simple and designed to make fishing enjoyable for all concerned. Like any fishing club, we have basic rules to ensure members know what can and can’t be done. Regular stocking coupled with more catch and release fishing ensures that here are plenty of fish to be caught. ![]() While our members enjoy trout fishing on a catch and release basis they can take three fish per visit. Please see our Catch Reports page for more information. This June, despite lockdown and several weeks of closed fishing with a slow take up on reopening, we still managed a catch rate of 40 fish caught. In 2019 the catch rates were excellent, with March 2019 working at just under 2 trout per hour. Please get in touch to add your name to the membership waiting list. Membership entitles you to fish for 365 days a year. There is a one off Joining fee of £100 for new members. Membership is priced at £350 per year, offering superb value for money due to the quality of fishing. The fishery therefore remains un-spoilt and a unique and pleasurable place to fish. Membership is on an annual basis running from March to February but we also allow new members to join during the year if there is availability. Our membership is run on a non-commercial basis, and is limited to sixty members. Our members are friendly, helpful and happy to share any tips on how to increase your catch rate. Members can use our private parking next to the fishing lodge, which is located close to the lake. Membership includes full use of the clubs facilities including clubs boats, lodge, and life jackets. Our superb trout fishing venue provides the discerning fly fisherman with the opportunity to fish in tranquil surroundings from either boat or bank. ![]()
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