The Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Nantahala National Forest offer hundreds of miles of spectacularly clear streams. The Cherokee Indian Reservation also offers a variety of fishing opportunities for the trout fisherman with regularly stocked streams and three trout ponds.

If you prefer stillwater fishing, Fontana Lake boasts one of the most diverse fish populations anywhere in the country. With depths of over 400 feet, many northern fish such as walleye, muskie and smallmouth are among favorites of local fishermen.

To fish in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you must have either a valid North Carolina or Tennessee fishing license. No license is required to fish in Cherokee Reservation waters, however a tribal permit is required. The cost is $7 per day with a small discount for multi-day permits.

You can purchase a basic North Carolina license for a period of one day, three days or one year. The cost for a non-resident is: one day $10, two days $15, one year $30. If you plan to fish for trout outside the National Park, an additional "trout stamp" is required at a cost of $10. Some of the trout streams are strictly catch-and-release.

For more information about North Carolina fishing, go to Online Fishing Regulations