Lake Apalachia Fishing
Cherokee County NC is home to several trout waters. It appears that Lake Apalachia will likely join the list of trout fisheries in 2015. Lake Apalachia is more than 1,000 acres of water and 31 miles of waterfront. The lake is in a 3 year test trial to see if the lake can be considered designated trout waters. The lake already is home to a variety of fish including smallmouth bass, redbreast sunfish and white bass. Trout can soon be added to the list.NC first stocked the lake with trout in December 2012 and again in December 2013. So far the data gathered has been impressive in the numbers and growth. Wildlife Resources claim that withing 6 months fish that were 10-12 inches grew to 18 inches. There have been trout that are 21 inches and weigh 4 pounds. The reason for the rapid growth is that there is a large number of blueback herring in the lake and they provide the trout with a steady diet.
The biggest downfall to the lake is lack of access to fish the shorelines and boat ramps. The majority of the lake can only be accessed by boat and right now there is only one boat ramp in the entire county. The boat ramp is located below the Hiwassee Lake Dam at the TVA Powerhouse. Try to launch and recover when they are not generating and be aware that there is no dock, only a boulder breakwater at the ramp. Fishing the shoreline is also accessed at this same location. Trout, bass and perch can be caught in this area.
Wildlife Resources believes that limited access can be a good thing because it will help keep a steady and healthy quality and quantity of fish in the lake. They feel that Lake Apalachia will become a trout fishery in 2015 and shows signs of becoming the best big-trout waters in the county, and maybe even the region.