Loftis noted that two of the Chattooga's main tributaries, Scotsman and Fowler creeks, also support good wild brown trout populations. These are much smaller and tighter but lower in gradient overall and easier to access. They also get even less fishing pressure than the main river.

Overflow Creek in Macon County is also in the Chattooga River watershed; however, its flow feeds the West Fork of the Chattooga River in Georgia, which joins the main river more than 10 miles south of the North Carolina border. Small and fairly remote, the North Carolina section of the Overflow supports mostly brown trout, but has brook trout in its upper end. The topography the stream flows through is unusual and a cause for caution by anglers: The stream will be strangely flat for a long stretch and then plummet over a major waterfall.

The North Fork of the French Broad, like the Chattooga, is a pretty large trout stream. Through the wild trout/natural bait section, which is mostly on the Nantahala National Forest, the North Fork tumbles often, creating some huge pools where big brown trout lurk. The trout population on the North Fork includes rainbows and browns, according to Loftis. State Highway 215 parallels much of the North Fork and provides decent fishing access.

Moving north in the mountains, but staying the French Broad River system, anglers will come to Big Creek in Madison County (one of a handful of creeks of the same name in the North Carolina mountains). This particular Big Creek supports a dense population of trout, most of which are rainbows, based on NCWRC sampling work. Loftis did not rate Big Creek as a good destination for anglers seeking large fish, but he said it supports an abundance of legal-sized trout.

Because Big Creek is located in a sparsely populated area and has a somewhat pastoral appearance, Loftis suspected that it probably gets extremely light fishing pressure.

Much less of a secret but no less of a quality destination is Kimsey Creek, a major tributary of the Nantahala River that joins the main stream in the Standing Indian area. Kimsey Creek supports plenty of rainbows and browns and some big browns, which move up out of the main river. Tributaries also support brook trout.

Kimsey Creek and Park Creek, a smaller Nantahala tributary that joins the main river just downstream of Kimsey Creek and is managed under the same regulations, together offer a great trout-fishing experience. A Forest Service campground at the mouth of Kimsey Creek offers good amenities, and the entire area is heavily forested and high in the mountains.

"Everything for a nice weekend fishing trip is right there," Loftis said.

Both streams are small and tight and run very clear, calling for short rods (whether spinning or fly), sneaky approaches and finesse presentations. A cricket fished with a fly rod, with just a small split shot added to the line, offers outstanding prospects.

Two other Nantahala River tributaries provide interesting opportunities. Buck Creek joins the river just upstream of Nantahala Lake, while Jarrett Creek actually feeds the lake. Buck Creek supports a good mix of rainbows and browns and offers a better-than-average opportunity for an angler to catch a "memorable brown trout," Loftis said. It has a modest grade for a mountain trout stream. Jarrett Creek, which rises just south on the southern slope of Wayah Bald, is smaller and steeper and supports mostly rainbows.

Other streams under this management scheme are the upper Tellico River and Bald and Dockery creeks in Cherokee County, Deep and Long creeks in Graham County, Hurricane Creek in Haywood County, Tellico and Turtlepond creeks in Macon County and the Thompson River in Transylvania County.

Loftis noted that the upper Tellico has degraded water quality from an ORV area in its watershed and therefore carries fewer trout than most other mountain streams of its size. The rest offer good trout-fishing prospects, although a few are quite small. Rainbows predominate in all except the Thompson River, which is primarily a brown trout stream. Brookies are in many tributaries.

BEFORE YOU GO
For complete regulations regarding wild trout/natural bait waters and a complete list of stream sections under this designation, visit the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Web site at www.ncwildlife.org. The site also offers downloadable maps of trout waters.