MIDDLE TENNESSEE FLY FISHERS

Oconaluftee River

  • Home
  • About
    • Charter/Misson
    • Meeting Times
    • Purchase Membership
    • Officers
    • Sponsors
    • Member Documents
    • Member Roster
    • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • Calendar
  • Rivers/Streams/Lakes
    • Barren Fork River
    • Bedford Lake
    • Caney Fork River
    • Elk River TN
    • Chattahochee River
    • Collins River
    • Cumberland River
    • Davidson River
    • Duck River
    • Duke's Creek
    • Fires Creek
    • Hatchery Creek
    • Hiwassee River
    • Holston River
    • Little Red River
    • Lone Branch Park
    • Missouri Trout Park
    • Nachoochee Bend
    • Nantahala River
    • Watauga River
    • Noontootla River
    • Norfork River
    • Oconaluftee River
    • Old Hickory Lake
    • Rainbow Point Soque River
    • Raven Fork River
    • Riverside Soque River
    • Smith Creek
    • South Holston River
    • Spring River
    • Tellico River
    • Tims Ford Lake
    • Tuckasegee River
    • Upper Raven Fork
    • White River
  • Merchandise
  • Education
    • Knots >
      • Albright
      • Arbor
      • Blood
      • Davey
      • Double Davey
      • Dropper Loop
      • Duncan (UNI)
      • Improved Clinch
      • Nail
      • Perfection
      • Surgeons
  • Outings
    • 2023 Outing List
    • Winter >
      • Freeze Out - Jan >
        • Freeze Out RSVP
        • Freeze Out Sign Up Sheet
      • Elk River Cleanup - Mar >
        • Elk River Cleanup RSVP
        • Elk River Cleanup Sign Up Sheet
      • White River - Feb >
        • White River, AR RSVP
        • White River, AR Sign Up Sheet
      • Duck River - Mar >
        • Duck River RSVP
        • Duck River - Sign Up Sheet
      • Cherokee NC - Apr >
        • Cherokee Spring RSVP
        • Cherokee Spring Sign Up Sheet
    • Summer >
      • Spring River May >
        • Spring River RSVP
        • Spring River Sign Up Sheet
      • Bedford Lake >
        • RSVP Template
        • Sign Up Sheet
      • Cumberland - June >
        • Cumberland RSVP
        • Cumberland Fall Sign Up Sheet
      • South Holston - Jul >
        • So Holston / Watauga RSVP >
          • So Holston Sign Up Sheet
      • Out West Outing TBD >
        • Western Trip RSVP
        • Western Sign Up Sheet
      • Buffalo River Aug >
        • Buffalo River RSVP
        • Buffalo River Sign Up Sheet
    • Fall >
      • Hiawassee-Tellico Outing >
        • Hiawassee RSVP Template
      • Cumberland - October >
        • Cumberland RSVP
        • Cumberland Fall Sign Up Sheet
      • Montauk State Park >
        • Montauk RSVP
        • Sign Up Sheet
      • Social Event - Dec >
        • Social Event RSVP >
          • Social Sign Up Sheet
Oconoluftee River

THE OCONALUFTEE RIVER is a large stream by Smokies’ standards with diverse water types, great roadside access, and great fishing. The headwaters are near Newfound Gap, elevation 5,048 ft., in the National Park. The river flows rapidly, dropping elevation quickly and picking up numerous tributaries along the way to the confluence near Cherokee. The Oconaluftee River is known for holding large brown trout in the lower elevations along with many aggressive rainbow trout. Once upriver into the Beech Flats section you will find Southern Appalachian strain brook trout.

The OCONALUFTEE in Cherokee is stocked twice each week by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Cherokee manages their own fish hatchery and maintains one of the heaviest stocked trout streams in all of the Southeastern US. This section of river is managed as a "Put and Take "fishery. You are permitted to keep 10 fish per license holder, with no size limit or bait restriction. Current regulations require that you keep each fish you catch up until the point you reach your limit of trout.
Access is phenomenal along the entire length of the river. Cherokee maintains areas from which to access the river to fish, including an island park, handicap access locations, and numerous access points with ample parking. The Oconoluftee River is a great place to take the kids for a family day of fishing fun!
Fishing Access Type:
    Boat No
    Kayak No
    Wading Yes
Fishing Access:
Upper Section

Access is easy from the Newfoundland Gap Road (RT 441) which leads from Cherokee, North Carolina to Gatlinburg, TN. There are several good pull offs that are near the stream in the lower elevations.  In the higher elevations, it will be necessary to walk a little farther.
    Lower Section
        Map
Fishing Style:
    Nymph
    Dry Fly
    Spinner Fall
​    Terrestrials
​    Streamers
Equipment:
4wt to 6wt rod
      
Flies:
​​Hatch Chart
Water Flow:
Freestone
Species: 
Rainbow and Brown with Occasional Brookies in Beech Flats Prong
Misc. Information: Fishing License
Picture
Click on the logo to visit the MTFF Facebook.
Picture
Click on the logo to visit the TWRA Stocking Schedule.
Picture
Click on the logo to visit the TVA Water Release site.
© 2019 MIDDLE TENNESSEE FLY FISHERS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRIVACY POLICY
  • Home
  • About
    • Charter/Misson
    • Meeting Times
    • Purchase Membership
    • Officers
    • Sponsors
    • Member Documents
    • Member Roster
    • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • Calendar
  • Rivers/Streams/Lakes
    • Barren Fork River
    • Bedford Lake
    • Caney Fork River
    • Elk River TN
    • Chattahochee River
    • Collins River
    • Cumberland River
    • Davidson River
    • Duck River
    • Duke's Creek
    • Fires Creek
    • Hatchery Creek
    • Hiwassee River
    • Holston River
    • Little Red River
    • Lone Branch Park
    • Missouri Trout Park
    • Nachoochee Bend
    • Nantahala River
    • Watauga River
    • Noontootla River
    • Norfork River
    • Oconaluftee River
    • Old Hickory Lake
    • Rainbow Point Soque River
    • Raven Fork River
    • Riverside Soque River
    • Smith Creek
    • South Holston River
    • Spring River
    • Tellico River
    • Tims Ford Lake
    • Tuckasegee River
    • Upper Raven Fork
    • White River
  • Merchandise
  • Education
    • Knots >
      • Albright
      • Arbor
      • Blood
      • Davey
      • Double Davey
      • Dropper Loop
      • Duncan (UNI)
      • Improved Clinch
      • Nail
      • Perfection
      • Surgeons
  • Outings
    • 2023 Outing List
    • Winter >
      • Freeze Out - Jan >
        • Freeze Out RSVP
        • Freeze Out Sign Up Sheet
      • Elk River Cleanup - Mar >
        • Elk River Cleanup RSVP
        • Elk River Cleanup Sign Up Sheet
      • White River - Feb >
        • White River, AR RSVP
        • White River, AR Sign Up Sheet
      • Duck River - Mar >
        • Duck River RSVP
        • Duck River - Sign Up Sheet
      • Cherokee NC - Apr >
        • Cherokee Spring RSVP
        • Cherokee Spring Sign Up Sheet
    • Summer >
      • Spring River May >
        • Spring River RSVP
        • Spring River Sign Up Sheet
      • Bedford Lake >
        • RSVP Template
        • Sign Up Sheet
      • Cumberland - June >
        • Cumberland RSVP
        • Cumberland Fall Sign Up Sheet
      • South Holston - Jul >
        • So Holston / Watauga RSVP >
          • So Holston Sign Up Sheet
      • Out West Outing TBD >
        • Western Trip RSVP
        • Western Sign Up Sheet
      • Buffalo River Aug >
        • Buffalo River RSVP
        • Buffalo River Sign Up Sheet
    • Fall >
      • Hiawassee-Tellico Outing >
        • Hiawassee RSVP Template
      • Cumberland - October >
        • Cumberland RSVP
        • Cumberland Fall Sign Up Sheet
      • Montauk State Park >
        • Montauk RSVP
        • Sign Up Sheet
      • Social Event - Dec >
        • Social Event RSVP >
          • Social Sign Up Sheet