CATCH & RELEASE TIPS:
- Use barbless hooks. If you use a net, use one made of rubber. It is less harmful to fish scales, gills and eyes. Only net your fish if it is the only way to control it.
- Wet your hands when handling fish. Dry hands and gloves will remove its protective mucous (slime) coating and scales. These protective layers help prevent infection by waterborne disease. Do not beach a fish or let it flop around the deck of the boat.
- Try not to remove the fish from the water. If you must, be quick and gentle, do not squeeze the fish. Needle nose pliers, hemostats, de-hookers etc., will speed up the removal of a deep set hook.
- To revive the fish, hold it under the belly and by the tail, keep it in an upright position underwater, do not move the fish back and forth (this is also a good time to get a measurement and take a photo). If you are fishing in a river or stream, hold the fish facing the current. Be patient and give the fish as much time as it needs to recover and swim away on its own.
35.2578, -83.4728 Burningtown Creek
35.0970, -83.2637 Cullasaja River- Sequoah dam to US 64 bridge near junction SR 1672
35.0799, -83.2366 Cliffside Lake
35.1544, -83.4215 Cartoogechaye Creek- Us 64 bridge to little TN river
35.1958, -83.2765 Ellijay Creek
35.2498, -83.6402 Nantahala River—upper (Dicks Creek to Whiteoak Creek)
35.2733, -83.6770 Nantahala River—lower (Nantahala hydropower discharge canal to Swain Co. line)
35.2756, -83.6566 Queens Creek Lake
35.0665, -83.3859 Tessentee Creek- Nichols branch to GA. line
35.2478, -83.6558 Nantahala River (Whiteoak Creek to NP&L powerhouse discharge canal)
35.0965, -83.5665 Nantahala River-upstream from rainbow springs