Any of you guys ever fish the Cherokee Reservation?

[BowsnBrowns]

I'm probably going to get to go up there with my brother-in-law and my father-in-law this coming Tuesday. We were probably going to try the Oconaluftee and maybe Raven Fork. None of us have ever fished there before so I was wondering if anyone has any tips on fishing there. We will all be using ultralight rods probably fishing corn or powerbait(as I am still scouring the internet trying to decide which fly rod and reel to purchase for my first setup). I know that you have to pay a $7 fee for a daily tribal permit(I was told you can buy them at the fly shop right in the middle of town). Any help will be greatly appreciated. Feel free to PM me if you don't want to post your advice on the board.

[AM]

I have fished the tribal waters on the Oconaluftee couple of times. It is put and take and they do stock some pretty nice fish from time to time. This time of year I think mornings would be your best bet. First time I fished it, I caught a couple of fat 16 inch bows under the bridge. Last time I fished it, we went upstream from the park and caught a few standard size stockers that put up a most excellent fight.

[Lambster]

I fished that area back in 94 and landed (3) Brookies in the 3lb. range....... let one go kept one and gave one to my mom for supper! We fished that in late Sept. an Oct. using Caddis flies #14's and attractor patterns such as Humpys which produces some nice fish....... up on Bunches creek the flyrod works very well to! Oconaluftee R. up by the Dairy Queen produces some good sized fish! The best book to read on that area is by Don Kirk the book is called Flyfishing Guide to the Great Smoky Mountains... very good book......... streamers work very well into the deeper holes! The water is down right now....... I'd wait till fall........Good luck to you....... also Soco Creek is pretty good.........

[BowsnBrowns]

I appreciate the info....and thanks Lambster and Art Vandalay for the PMs....I was kind of thinking that the heat and water levels might be a problem...I'll be up at the in-law's on Sunday(we are supposed to talk about the trip then) and I think I'm going to push for us to hold off until the weather gets a little better suited for fishing.......I'll take the camera along so hopefully I'll have some pics to post in the fall when we go....and hopefully I should have my first fly rod by then and I'll get to try it out;)

[fishnpreacher]

You can pick up permits at any of the convienence stores. I have found that the fly shop's hours are not very consistent, especially off-peak season. I've fished the Oconoluftee, Soco, and ???? others I've forgotten the names of. I like getting out of town and fishing a little more off the beaten path. Go upstream on the 'Luftee and try around the bridges. Friend of mine does well there fishing the lakes at the KOA campgrounds.

If you can hold out for cooler weather, and we get enough rain, you may be able to get up into the park for some wild fish, but thats a different time and place.

[gonefishn]

BrowsnBrowns,
How did your fishing turn out? I'm heading up that way on Monday (Sept. 3) and wanted to fish the same area while I was there and had a few hours to kill. Hope it went well for you.

tracy