Bring Your Fishing Pole

Western North Carolina is home to incredible fishing. With over 240 miles of shoreline and 11,700 acres, Fontana Lake offers deep cool waters and a varied fish population including Lake Trout, Walleye, Muskie, Perch, Catfish, Crappie, Bluegill, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, and White Bass. Fly fishing and trout farms are other good ways to relax while fishing. The Oconaluftee River running from Bryson City to Cherokee is the best-stocked river in the southeast. Five tagged fishing tournaments throughout the year offer plenty of chances to win. The Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail is the first and only trail of its kind in the US and has fishing spots stretching from down near Franklin to up near Cherokee.