Fishing Outings
Schedule
2025
Cataloochee Camp Trip

Cataloochee Valley
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
(near Maggie Valley, NC)
​
September 15 - 18, 2025
​
Registration Contact & Trip Host:
Mike Waddell
Phone: (803) 315-2409
Email: mwaddell003@sc.rr.com
​
-
Trip Capacity: 12
-
Deposit: $50
-
Budget Estimate: $125 per participant
-
Primitive camping in group camp site
-
Dinners provided
-
Sandwich fixings available for self prep for on or off stream
One of several annual trips up to this area in North Carolina, this site is a rustic stream-side tent camping location in the Cataloochee Valley of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The Group campsites are situated in a remote part of the Park and offer a great backcountry fishing experience.
We will be in the thick of bear and elk habitat so staying wildlife aware is a good idea. Oh, and the trout are wild. They have not stocked in the Park for 30-some years. Depending on conditions, you can expect to encounter native brook trout and wild rainbow and brown trout. We encourage fly fishing and the practice of catch & release.
What you will need:
-
A current NC or TN Fishing License
-
A National Forest Parking Pass - Recommend the 7 day pass at $15 (click here for information)
-
A small personal or sharable tent and other personal camping gear (the site has 5 raised gravel tent pads measuring 16'x16' and all tents should be set up on the pads)
-
Sunscreen
-
Fishing gear
Please note:​
-
Campsite limits autos to 5 - carpooling will be necessary
-
No cell service anywhere in the valley (to obtain cell signals you can drive 20 minutes to the Park entrance point - on top of the mountain)
-
There is a vault toilet nearby along with bear proof trash containers.
-
Access road is gravel and rather narrow - no guard rails!
For more information on the campgrounds (Click Here)
For directions (Click Here)
​
Mail Deposits to
Michael Waddell
240 Frostwood Drive
Columbia, SC 29212
November Fishing SC Upstate
Fishing the Delayed Harvest sections of the Chattooga River and Chauga River and perhaps Pigpen and other Chattooga tributary creeks. Lodging will be at one of the cabins at Oconee State Park, conveniently located near these waters.
Trip Host: Carl Hammond-Beyer
Carl's Email: chbtrout@gmail.com
​
Dates: Mid-November (dates not yet determined)
Trip capacity: 6
Budget pending:
Dinners provided.
Lunch fixings provided for self-prep.
​
Nantahala River / Snowbird Creek

Weekend Trips
Nantahala River, near Bryson City, NC
Snowbird Creek, near Robbinsville, NC
​​
Typically, we arrange accommodations at the Bryson City Cabins.
These trips range from December to March during the delayed harvest season.
Details for 2025 & 2026 are incomplete at this time.
​​​​​
Registration Contact & Trip Host:
Mike Waddell
Phone: (803) 315-2409
Email: mwaddell003@sc.rr.com
​
-
Trip Capacity: 15
-
Deposit: $50
-
Budget Estimate: $160 per participant
Wilson Creek
Wilson Creek - Weekend Trip
Near Mortimer, NC
Caldwell County
We arrange one to two cabins for our group. Breakfast and Dinner will be prepared by the trip hosts. Lunch food will be available for self prep for either on stream or back at the cabin.
This is usually a winter trip in December or January. We attempt to time it up with NC DNR stocking schedules.
​
Once dates and plans come together, additional information will be published.
Saluda River (Lower section below Lake Murray)
Several outings are planned this fall into early winter.
​
Trip Host : Carl Hammond-Beyer
Contact Carl: Email
Saluda a' Gervais Street Saturday Floats
September 6 & October 4
Targeting Smallmouth & Largemouth Bass and Stripers
Bring your own watercraft: kayak, canoe, inflatable
Meet time 7:00am at Saluda Riverwalk Parking at Candi Lane, Columbia
Saluda Shoals Float
December 20
Targeting stocked rainbow trout
Meet and put-in at Saluda Shoals Park boat launch. Float to the Park take-out point.
Meet time 7:00am