2020 Cherokee, NC Fishing Tournament Lineup
12.31.2019
We’re excited to announce the Cherokee fishing tournaments for 2020! Cherokee boasts 30 miles of streams, making it the longest privately-owned stocked waters east of the Mississippi. For more than 50 years, Cherokee has had one of the greatest stocking programs in all of the US, with close to 300,000 rainbow, brook and brown trout stocked annually. No wonder it's known as one of the best places to fish!
Cherokee’s fishing tournaments offer friendly competition and big payouts, from a $3,000 purse all the way up to $20,000 in tagged fish at several tournaments. It all adds up to a lot of fun in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. And, if you’re really lucky, you may even see some elk! Just make sure you carry your permit when you fish the Qualla Boundary. You can’t fish or enter a tournament without one. Register and buy a permit online or find a licensed sales agent at a number of local shops.
Want to learn more? Here’s a primer on everything you need to know about fishing Cherokee, NC, and check out an insider’s perspective in this interview with Team USA fly fishing champion Michael Bradley.
Fishing Notice for 2020 Season
-The Catch & Keep Enterprise Waters will be closed to EVERYONE (Including enrolled members) from March 14 – March 27, 2020
-Opening Day is March 28, 2020
-Tribal Tournaments have a registration deadline beginning this year. Registration will NOT be available on tournament days. See registration dates below.
-A 2-day fishing permit covering both tournament days is required for Tribal fishing tournaments
-Daily fishing permits will still be available for purchase on tournament days
-Legal fishing methods apply to everyone
2020 Fishing Tournaments in Cherokee, NC
The Cherokee Fly-Fishing Championship Series
The Cherokee Fly-Fishing Championship is limited to 40 anglers. Anglers will compete for the biggest trout, cash prizes, fishing gear, and an annual EBCI fishing permit (one per tournament). The top 24 advance to the championship finale on April 18-19, 2020 for a chance to win $3,000.
When: Saturday, December 21 to Sunday, December 22
Saturday, January 25 to Sunday, January 26
Saturday, February 22 to Sunday, February 23
Saturday, March 7 to Sunday, March 8
Purse: $3,000, plus cash prizes, fishing gear, fishing permits
Entry: $75 registration fee, plus a $10 daily fishing permit
Register: Anywhere fishing licenses are sold in Cherokee or online at FishCherokee.com.
Location: Cherokee Enterprise Waters. View the full map at FishCherokee.com.
Contact: Michael Bradley at michael@flyfishcherokeenc.com or by phone at (828) 788-0808.
Cherokee’s Annual Opening Day Fishing Tournament
Compete in the rivers on the Qualla Boundary (excluding the 2.2 miles of catch-and-release waters) for tagged fish ranging from $25 up to $5,000 at Cherokee's Annual Opening Day Fishing Tournament. Redeem tagged fish for cash prizes at the Natural Resources Enforcement Office, 517 Sequoyah Trail (off Hwy 441). Prize redemption will run from 4-6 pm each day of the tournament.
When: Saturday, March 28 to Sunday, March 29
Purse: $20,000 in tagged fish
Entry: $15 entry fee and a $17 two-day fishing permit
Registeration Deadline: Friday, March 27, 2020. Register anywhere fishing licenses are sold in Cherokee or online at FishCherokee.com.
Location: Cherokee Enterprise Waters. View the full map at FishCherokee.com.
Contact: Paula Price at paprice@nc-cherokee.com or by phone at (828) 359-6110.
Cherokee’s Memorial Day Trout Tournament
Cherokee's Memorial Day Trout Tournament allows you to compete for $10,000 in tagged fish within the beautiful freestone streams of Cherokee, NC. (The 2.2 miles of catch-and-release waters are excluded.) Redeem tagged fish at the Natural Resources Enforcement Office from 4-6 pm each day of the tournament.
When: Saturday, May 23 to Sunday, May 24
Purse: $10,000 in tagged fish
Entry: $15 entry fee and a $17 two-day fishing permit
Registration Deadline: Friday, May 22, 2020. Register anywhere fishing licenses are sold in Cherokee or online at FishCherokee.com.
Location: Cherokee Enterprise Waters. View the full map at FishCherokee.com.
Contact: Paula Price at paprice@nc-cherokee.com or by phone at (828) 359-6110.
The Tim Hill Memorial Trout Tournament
The Tim Hill Memorial Trout Tournament honors a longtime employee at the EBCI hatchery, Tim Hill, who passed away far too soon. $10,000 in tagged fish will be stocked in the rivers all across the Qualla Boundary (excluding the 2.2 miles of catch-and-release waters), and can be redeemed at the Natural Resources Enforcement Office from 4-6 pm each day of the tournament.
When: Saturday, July 11 to Sunday, July 12
Purse: $10,000 in tagged fish
Entry fee: $15 entry fee and a $17 two-day fishing permit
Registration Deadline: Friday, July 10, 2020. Register anywhere fishing licenses are sold in Cherokee or online at FishCherokee.com.
Location: Cherokee Enterprise Waters. View the full map at FishCherokee.com.
Contact: Paula Price at paprice@nc-cherokee.com or by phone at (828) 359-6110.
The Qualla Country Trout Tournament
Take home the summer’s biggest trout (excluding the 2.2 miles of catch-and-release waters) and compete for your share of $20,000 in tagged fish at the Qualla Country Trout Tournament. Redeem tagged fish from 4 to 6 pm each day of the tournament at the Natural Resources Enforcement Office.
When: Saturday, September 5 to Sunday, September 6
Purse: $20,000 in tagged fish
Entry fee: $15 entry fee and a $17 two-day fishing permit
Registration Deadline: September 4, 2020. Register anywhere fishing licenses are sold in Cherokee or online at FishCherokee.com.
Location: Cherokee Enterprise Waters. View the full map at FishCherokee.com.
Contact: Paula Price at paprice@nc-cherokee.com or by phone at (828) 359-6110.
Rumble in the Rhododendron Fly-Fishing Tournament
Rumble in the Rhodododendron is a two-person team fly-fishing competition is held exclusively in the catch-and-release trophy waters of Raven’s Fork, with teams competing for up to $10,000 in cash prizes. Open to all ages.
When: Saturday, November 7 to Sunday, November 8
Purse: Cash prizes totaling $10,000
Entry fee: $300 per team. Registration is limited.
Registration Deadline: October 5, 2020. Register for the event at River's Edge Outfitters.
Location: Cherokee Catch-and-Release Waters at Raven’s Fork. View the full map at FishCherokee.com.
Contact: Joey Walraven, River’s Edge Outfitters at joey@flyshopnc.com or by phone at (828) 497-9300.