StrikeTracks

North Carolina

Cataloochee Creek near Cataloochee

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Current River Rating

Fair · 54

Conditions are mixed. Review the details below before heading out.

Scores are model-specific and are not directly comparable across water types.

Partial water evidence · Medium confidence

Should I Go?

Consider

Recommended Window

Monday, 7:00 AM–10:00 AM

Why

  • Air temperature is comfortable for a river trout trip.
  • Light wind should make casting and boat control easier.
  • Very clear skies may make trout more cautious in shallow water.

Favorable Factors

  • Recent precipitation has been light.

Timing Evidence

Window confidence: High

Current Readings

Flow
68.3 CFS
Gage Height
2.3 ft
Water Temperature
65.1 °F
Observation Time
Sep 6, 2026, 8:30 AM

Updated recently · USGS station 03460000 · Direct monitoring location

Readings from past 7 Days

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Historical readings are provided for context. Readings outside the current freshness window are not used to rate current conditions.

Better Nearby Options

Checking nearby StrikeTracks waters…

Preliminary guidance only. Always assess current weather, access, water depth, current speed, and your own ability before entering the river.

Changing Conditions Advisory

Short-term rainfall and flow-change signals

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Weather Near Gauge

Current Weather

Clear

Temperature

67°F

Feels like

69°F

Wind

4 mph NE

Wind gust

4 mph

Current precipitation

0.00 in

Updated

Sep 6, 2026, 5:00 AM

Recent Rainfall

Estimated precipitation near this gauge

Last 6 hours

0.00 in

Last 24 hours

0.00 in

Last 48 hours

0.00 in

Little recent rainfall near this river.

Next 24 Hours

  • Sun 6 AM

    Clear

    Temp 66°F

    Chance 1%

    Precip 0.00 in

    Wind 3 mph

  • Sun 10 AM

    Clear

    Temp 76°F

    Chance 3%

    Precip 0.00 in

    Wind 3 mph

  • Sun 2 PM

    Mostly clear

    Temp 83°F

    Chance 8%

    Precip 0.00 in

    Wind 8 mph

  • Sun 6 PM

    Clear

    Temp 84°F

    Chance 13%

    Precip 0.00 in

    Wind 7 mph

  • Sun 10 PM

    Overcast

    Temp 74°F

    Chance 14%

    Precip 0.00 in

    Wind 3 mph

  • Mon 2 AM

    Clear

    Temp 69°F

    Chance 9%

    Precip 0.00 in

    Wind 4 mph

Four-Day Forecast

  • Sun, Sep 6

    Overcast

    High 85°F / Low 65°F

    Chance 20%

    Precip 0.00 in

    Max gust 13 mph

  • Mon, Sep 7

    Overcast

    High 81°F / Low 66°F

    Chance 12%

    Precip 0.00 in

    Max gust 22 mph

  • Tue, Sep 8

    Drizzle

    High 81°F / Low 60°F

    Chance 6%

    Precip 0.01 in

    Max gust 12 mph

  • Wed, Sep 9

    Overcast

    High 84°F / Low 62°F

    Chance 4%

    Precip 0.00 in

    Max gust 9 mph

Weather and rainfall are estimated for this river's coordinates. Local conditions can vary, especially in mountainous terrain and during isolated storms.

Recent rainfall can influence river flow, but the timing and magnitude depend on watershed size, soil conditions, upstream reservoirs, and dam releases.

Weather data: Open-Meteo

Historical Flow

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Fishing Overview

Cataloochee Creek near Cataloochee, North Carolina. Monitoring-Backed from USGS (live 00010, 00060, 00065).

Fishery Profile

Documented species you may encounter at Cataloochee Creek.

High confidenceLast verified: Aug 23, 2026

Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations

Fishery overview

Cataloochee Creek near Cataloochee is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Cataloochee Valley trout reach. StrikeTracks publishes Monitoring-Backed conditions from USGS 03460000 (live discharge, stage, and water temperature). Distinct from Oconaluftee at Birdtown 03512000. NPS fishing rules apply inside the park. Flow Context remains default-deny. Hatch Match publishes general fly suggestions only.

Target species

  • Rainbow Trout

    Oncorhynchus mykiss

    Expectation
    Primary
    Population
    Wild
    Native status
    introduced
    Confidence
    High confidence

    NPS Cataloochee Creek rainbow trout. USGS 03460000. Distinct from Oconaluftee 03512000.

    Source: North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

  • Brook Trout

    Salvelinus fontinalis

    Expectation
    Common
    Population
    Wild
    Native status
    native
    Confidence
    High confidence

    NPS Cataloochee brook trout in colder headwaters.

    Source: North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

  • Brown Trout

    Salmo trutta

    Expectation
    Present
    Population
    Wild
    Native status
    introduced
    Confidence
    High confidence

    NPS Cataloochee brown trout where established.

    Source: North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

Fishery characteristics

Composition
Mixed wild and stocked
Great Lakes tributary
No
Flow regime
Natural flow

GSMNP Cataloochee Valley creek in Haywood County, distinct from the Oconaluftee mainstem and from Cherokee tribal waters.

Best seasons

  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Fall

Common techniques

  • Dry flies
  • Fly fishing
  • Nymphing
  • Spinning
  • Streamers

Access and Public Fishing Rights

Public fishing is documented by NPS Great Smoky Mountains fishing pages for Cataloochee Valley. Catalog coordinates are USGS 03460000. Park access, road, and seasonal gate rules apply.

Stocking information

NPS manages Cataloochee as park trout water. Confirm current official NPS fishing notices. This is not a NCWRC delayed-harvest pin.

Official sources

Great Smoky Mountains National Park fishing rules, including license and tackle restrictions, apply. Distinct from Oconaluftee 03512000 and from Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians waters. Confirm current NPS fishing regulations.

Hatch Match

No destination-specific hatch data is currently available.

General fly suggestions

  • Parachute-style dryGeneral attractor dry family — not a claim that a named mayfly is hatching.
  • Pheasant-tail-style nymphGeneral nymph family for trout rivers without destination hatch timing.
  • Elk-hair-style dryGeneral dry/attractor family. Pattern choice only — not a report that caddis are hatching.
  • Woolly-bugger-style streamerGeneral streamer family. Not a forage or insect Hatch event.

These are general fishing suggestions, not a report of insects currently hatching at this destination.

Location and Access

USGS monitoring location

Haywood, North Carolina

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The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.

River Details

County

Haywood

Management Category

National-park trout creek

Regulation Scope

Cataloochee Creek near Cataloochee

Regulation Summary

Cataloochee Creek near Cataloochee: NPS GSMNP fishing rules. Confirm current official regulations.

Target Species

rainbow-trout, brook-trout, brown-trout

Access, Parking, and Regulations

Verified access notes and official resources for Cataloochee Creek near Cataloochee. This is StrikeTracks guidance — always confirm with official sources.

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