Catch This: Cherokee Fishing Tournaments’ 2017 Lineup
3.1.2017
The fish in Cherokee, NC, are so plentiful, you’ll almost catch as often as you cast! That’s because we have the best and longest stretch of privately-owned and stocked fishing waters east of the Mississippi. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned pro, Cherokee has something for every level of experience. Just make sure you get your easy-to-purchase permit first. You can’t drop a hook without one.
Insider Tips, From the Pros
Looking for some insider tips from local Cherokee anglers? Check out our recent blog with Michael Bradley, the 26-year-old Cherokee fly fishing champion on Team USA who has been fishing the waters in Cherokee since he was a child. Michael discusses his favorite places to fish, and the lures that have helped him achieve “100-fish days” in Cherokee.
Ready to put your fishing to the test? Here’s the 2017 Fly Fishing Tournament lineup so you can do just that, and win money while you’re at it!
Lucrative Tournaments
Cherokee’s Annual Opening Day Fishing Tournament kicks off the season on Saturday, March 25, to Sunday, March 26. The fish are big, and the prizes are even bigger! Anglers compete for a chance to win $20,000 in tagged fish. The competition takes place in the rivers on the Qualla Boundary, excluding the 2.2 miles of catch-and-release waters. Tagged fish will be specially stocked for this event, and when you catch one, you can redeem it for cash prizes ranging from $25 to $5,000. Open to all ages and for all legal fishing methods.
Cherokee’s Memorial Day Trout Tournament takes place over Memorial Day weekend, Friday, May 26, to Sunday, May 28. An $11 entry fee lets you compete for $10,000 in tagged fish within the beautiful freestone streams of Cherokee, NC, minus the 2.2 miles of catch-and-release waters. Tagged fish are specially stocked for this event, and redeemed for cash prizes ranging from $25 to $1,000 at the Beetle Stage Pavilion next to the Cherokee Welcome Center on US 441.
The Tim Hill Memorial Trout Tournament, Friday, May 26, to Sunday, May 28, honors a longtime employee at our very own trout hatchery who sadly passed away far too soon. A portion of the $11 entry fee will be donated to a charity to pay tribute to Tim. Anglers will compete for $10,000 in tagged fish, specially stocked for the event. Cash prizes ranging from $25 to $1,000 per tagged fish.
The Qualla Country Trout Tournament is one of the last big tournament of the season, taking place Friday, September 1, to Sunday, September 3. The waters will be stocked with tagged fish in different colors that are redeemable for $25 to $5,000—a total cash purse of $20,000. Open to all ages and for all legal fishing methods.
Rumble in the Rhododendron Fly Fishing Tournament closes out the 2017 fishing season on Saturday, November 4, to Sunday, November 5. Two-person teams compete exclusively in the catch-and-release section of Cherokee’s “trophy waters” known simply as Raven Fork, for a payout totalling $10,000 for the top teams. To enter this all-ages tournament you must first acquire a Cherokee fishing permit, then register for the event by phone or in person wherever fishing permits are sold. Entry fee also includes lunch and dinner.
