By Joey Walraven
In today’s world of social media, blogging, and being able to get internet access practically anywhere, there are few secrets left. Unfortunately, this seems to especially hold true in the world of fishing! What precious few secrets we do have about “honey holes” or magic flies, most of us plan on taking with us to the grave. I even know of a local guide who blindfolded a buddy before taking him to one of his secret fishing spots. This was a friend, mind you, not just some stranger off the street. So, I’ve decided, in the spirit of the holidays, to share a secret with you. Well, it’s a sort of a secret. Just keep it quiet.
You might already know about how incredible a place Cherokee, North Carolina can be. The scenery is mind blowing. The history is captivating. The wildlife alone is worth the trip. But just in case you aren’t aware of what an amazing fishery Cherokee is, let me point out a few things. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) have their very own hatchery right here on the reservation. Which means the Fish and Wildlife Management Department isn’t dependent on the state or anyone else to stock the waters. They raise and stock 400,000 trout in the 30 miles of fishable water in Cherokee every year. That’s an enormous amount of fish! Just to put that into perspective, the state of North Carolina stocks 800,000 trout annually, but spread over 1,000 miles of water. It’s easy to see why Cherokee is considered some of the most heavily stocked waters in the Southeast, if not the entire country.
If you are vaguely aware of the fishing in Cherokee, then you’re probably familiar with the Oconaluftee. A beautiful river that flows through town and offers easy access to heavily stocked waters. The ‘Luftee is certainly some of the most heavily fished waters on The Reservation. If you’ve really done your homework, you might even know about the Raven Fork and the famous 2.2-mile stretch of fly fishing only, water. This section is strictly catch and release and offers up trout in excess of 20 inches on a regular basis.
Now for the (sort of) secret! Most folks aren’t aware of one of the real hidden treasures in Cherokee and that’s Soco Creek. While this little creek has less access, it’s much easier to wade and absolutely loaded with stocked and wild trout. It’s well worth the time invested to explore this amazing little creek.
Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas! Remember, it’s the season of giving!
Joey Walraven is the Owner of Rivers Edge Outfitters, located in Cherokee, NC. You can contact him at 828-497-9300 or info@flyshopnc.com.