Returning to the TROPHY TROUT WATERS of Cherokee, NC

[@flyrodhiker8326]

“It’s a beached whale” had me in tears lol. You guys are awesome

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

Yeah, that part was pretty funny. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@jennifermorgan6913]

been there...done that😂🤣🤣

[@kkott-IU]

I'm not even a fly fisherman and this video was awesome! Great humor and anyone who has a fishing buddy can relate to the laughs and fun you have together.

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

Thanks Kurt. Glad you enjoyed it. It’s never to late to become a fly fisherman.

[@kkott-IU]

@@GoodBuddyFlyFishing I bought a cheap beginner rod, but I get out so little as it is and just enjoy the environment. Hope you’ll not curse too loudly under your breath or laugh out loud at the beached whale w a spinning rod slinging some metal or plastic!

[@Amiyelvovna]

Nice vid Like the music! So many have horrible music. Beautiful creek, good times and a few fish 🎣

[@dogsoldier0372]

Tough river, I’ve fished the Raven Fork multiple times, & it’s as tough as any Appalachian trout stream is. They haven’t been stocking it at all & the stocking that occurred before the tournaments all stopped as well. They stock mainly the regular stretch of the river where any fishing method is allowed. I fished it in December 20, good day, it warmed up & I fished from 8:30 - 5 non stop in every run & plunge pool on the Raven Fork & never got a bite. I threw midges in every color & size & I even got to tying on every nymph & squirmy I had to try & coax a strike, but what made me most concerned was not seeing one single trout the whole day. From the bridge by the school & others, I saw 0 trout. I think the Raven Fork is a waste of time at the present. At least you caught 3. Little River in the GSMNP has been producing some good size wild rainbows, I’ve caught much larger bows there this winter than any years before. Not as many browns as there used to be in it though.

[@bigtflyfishing7007]

So glad I didn't have to climb that boulder. Another awesome vid!

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

Thanks T. I probably should’ve offered Steve a hand but you never know what might happen if you put the camera down.

[@leopete4626]

Locals never fish the trophy waters because it’s always being fished you can catch a lot more fish anywhere else in Cherokee. The best creek to fish for me is soco creek, you can catch plenty of natives and catch some pretty decent tanks more than you would in the trophy waters.

[@dynamicphotography_]

I love the fall on camera at 6:14. Great fish too!

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

Steve has always been really good at falling in. Makes for good content when landing a fish is involved for sure.

[@hhoutdoors1644]

My brother, brother in law and I fished the trophy section thanksgiving day and it was terrible. Did not get a single bite, y'all just made me feel a lot better! Love your content.

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

It was rough. We went a couple years ago and it wasn’t good then either. Thanks for watching and at least we aren’t the only ones that struggled up there.

[@frankcanora5900]

Good video. I have fished that section without catching a thing. Sadly, I did walk up on some Cherokee Indians fishing that section with spinners and worms. I never went back.

[@IrvaneNelson]

I’m getting the full Heimler experience. first watching Heimler’s history and the getting tired of learning about Jackson. Then watching Heimler catch fish and proceed to binge videos instead of studying. Anyways love the video... from both channels.

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

Thanks so much. Glad you are enjoying them. Keep studying so you that when you fish you don’t have to think about studying.

[@GirthGorlack]

Love watching you two hit the water since all my spots are frozen over this time of year in the PNW. Keep up the great content and hope to see you some day in my neck of the woods!

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

Thanks for watching. We don’t deal with frozen very often.

[@GirthGorlack]

@@GoodBuddyFlyFishing Neither do I friend! But I bet you would have some fun floating the Yakima or going into the Hoh rain forest for some steelhead.

[@philth2451]

Enjoy every single video. Keep it up guys!

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

Thanks Phil. So glad to have you here with us. Thanks for watching.

[@Scatteringseeds]

I enjoy watching you guys and the banter... keep making those vid’s... think you guys are better than mediocre 😊

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

Thanks Richard. I know we still have a long way to go, but we appreciate the encouragement. Thanks for being apart of the good buddy family.

[@skipsamples2647]

Great recovery on the slip and still got the fish!

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

It was super impressive. Steve has a tendency to fall in. I’m surprised he was able to save it and keep the fish pinned. Thanks for watching.

[@jennacavin4708]

Another great video! Loved it.

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

Thanks Jenna. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@tightliningmd]

Jon PLEASE bend at the knees when you hold up a trophy. If you throw out your back it ruins the whole trip. Loved the video guys. Nice job adapting and find a good spot, even if you had to hoard the parking lot lol. Keep up the awesome content. W wall love to see it!

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

That was a heavy fish for sure. I had a back brace on under my waders just to be safe. Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.

[@JohnWright-bz6ix]

You guys are great! Love your videos

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

Thanks John. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@gregkirchenbaum5766]

Another enjoyable good buddy fishing video, starting to question who is the better fishermen...

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

Yeah me too. But don’t tell Steve I said that. Thanks for watching.

[@HoraceHess]

I've been fishing the Raven Fork and Oconnaluftee for thirty-plus years, long before they introduced the TU fly fishing only section. It's my opinion that they either do not stock it as well as they used to, or there are many more people fishing the river than before and it gets fished out quickly. Great video! Cheers.

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

We have heard they don’t stock it near as well as they used too. Hopefully they can get it together soon.

[@BluffLINEMedia]

Y’all. I’m an AP World teacher that makes fly fishing videos. Imagine how cool it was to find that Professor Heimler fly fishes on the KZbins too!! Pretty sure there is a collab film there that could be amazing! 🔥🔥🔥

[@jamiehaynes2415]

I just finished watching all your videos and I must say awesome and comical content looking forward to future videos I also like that most places you fish are close to where i live and i fish the same places in NC but we always go in April every year have a Merry Christmas and even better 2021

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

Awesome thank you! Glad to have you along with us.

[@colinmorgan7839]

Just found your channel, sheesh you deserve way more subscribers

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

Thanks. We really appreciate that. Glad to have you here with us.

[@fronylol]

Pretty water. Reminds me of some rivers here in New Mexico. Great video👍🏾

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

Another place we’d love to fish. Thanks for watching.

[@fronylol]

@@GoodBuddyFlyFishing and when you come I’d be happy to show you the water! I have some videos showing some of new mexico

[@Scovophoto]

I found the perfect animated gif of a sea lion bouncing on a rock but alas youtube does not all pics/gifs to be posted in comments:) Still an awesome video. Love the cliffhanging drama landing the big fish!

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

Would’ve loved to have seen that. Thanks for watching Bob.

[@7gigglegurl]

Hopeless optimist! Aren't we all. Great video and looking for campground but can't find it via Google. Thanks for sharing.

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

Thanks for watching. The two places we stayed on the Raven were river valley campground and Cherokee / great smokies KOA. You will find those in Google maps searching by those names.

[@smileysadventures3776]

I wish I’d seen this before this past weekend because I had an identical experience

[@creekchickenoutdoors]

I'm glad I discovered your channel. You guys should come down and fish SC with me sometime. Great content and entertaining!

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

Thanks for watching. Never fished SC before. Definitely on the list of Southeast places to go.

[@dogsoldier0372]

You guys should get up with me in the late fall - into late winter & let me take you to some great spots on the Davidson in NC.

[@jerdew]

I caught a bunch out of Raven Fork this year. I went in September and caught tagged fish won some money. Pulled the tags a tossed fish back in. The fish were larger in May.

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

That’s awesome. It was it that good for us.

[@stevecrawford333]

Fly fishing the Raven fork for 4 years, and have caught 1 trout. I know they are in there even got in with goggles lol. Ive accepted I either have no clue what flys to use or the river is hard and I need to go to another place. Got an easy trout stream in nc?

[@carolinamischief9344]

Just getting into fly fishing, might see y’all around sometime! I’m from the area.

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

Awesome. See ya out there.

[@matthewmcmillen250]

Any tips on what is hot down there this time of year?? Love the video by the way!!! Planning to throw Walts, franchise, and some blow torch variations

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

We’ve never fished it this time of year but I would think those would work.

[@colinmorgan7839]

If you guys uploaded something at the normal quality like once or twice a week I feel like y’all could blow up! I’m completely addicted to your vids nowol

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

We would love to get there one day. Steve has his hands full with his history channel and life in general is pretty busy.

[@screech57245]

Hey Steve! You guys should come out to Utah next year and we'll fish the Green River below Flaming Gorge. 10000 fish per mile!

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

We would love to get out there sometime. That sounds like a lot more fish than the Raven fork. Thanks for watching.

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

Andy! That was Jon responding, but now it’s Steve. Good to hear from you, man. Don’t tempt us to come fishing in Utah... you might just get it

[@screech57245]

@@GoodBuddyFlyFishing Bring it on! There are some great rivers out here, and we can always go up to Idaho or Montana too :)

[@hillbilly_delux78]

I had a long conversation with a local guy from Maggie Valley that fly fishes every day just about up there. He was telling me the Raven Fork gets poached like crazy said it was common to see stringers of 8-10 fish in the trophy area and folks just using it like a super market. Its a known thing up there, but word is it's mostly folks from the reservation so no one says anything . I like that area too, but mostly fish straight fork when i am up there. I used to go every year, but i find myself going to Sylva or Bryson City more now as there seem to be more options and more fish.

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

Our next video will be on the Tuck so we didn’t spend all of our time on the Raven. Thanks for watching.

[@walott93]

@@GoodBuddyFlyFishing Nice! Looking forward to it. We fished the Tuck last weekend and it was great!

[@Keith_Murry]

Yeah it’s only good when they stock on opening day and tag the fish to win money. I think it happens in March. Pulled some huge toads out of there closer to the top.

[@williammiller353]

Maybe plan a trip to the Tellico in East Tennessee, I have always had good luck there.

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

Haven’t heard much about the Tellico. We will have to look into it. Thanks for the help.

[@shrek1648]

Yay love GB!

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

And we love you too.

[@ReelFishing88]

Let me tell you about the Raven Fork. Went fall of 2016 twice. Had phenomenal fishing. I actually have video on my channel. My dad and I Caught an easy 10-15 fish a day a piece. We went up again in the fall of 2017. Literally didn’t see a single fish in any pool except one. Caught one fish the 4 days we were there. And we aren’t googans either. It was god awful. I messaged Rivers Edge last fall about the fishing. They said it’s as good as it ever was. Obviously not the case. Not sure if someone new took over the stocking responsibilities or what. We’re looking to go somewhere in Georgia/NC this fall and thought about the Ravenfork again. After seeing this video I guess not. If anyone has any information on the river feel free to share

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

The Tuck can be really good in the fall if you want to stay near Cherokee. I didn’t hear a single good report of the Raven this past year.

[@jasminesdad0401]

Loved the video! I'm a newbie...does the chest pack impede your cast at all? I use a sling pack now but looking to upgrade soon.

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

I’ve always used a chest pack so I am not sure. It tends to get in the way some when you fill it as much as I do with fly boxes I never open. I am used to it I guess. If you have a local fly shop just try one on and I bet you could get a good idea of how it will feel when fishing. Good luck out there and thanks for watching.

[@hunters1372]

Watching this while planning a trip to Cherokee is discouraging lol

[@ryangeach9009]

I’m Looking at getting a chest pack and trying to decide between the two you both have. Got any suggestions over which one you guys think is better?

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

Hey Ryan. This is Jon and I just got the fishpond cross-current pack to replace the umpqua. The umpqua didn’t sit real flat on my chest, probably because I put too much stuff in it, and it sagged but I really like that the fishpond pack holds my net so well. Probably because it’s a fishpond net. I used it for the first time today and thought it was great.

[@ryangeach9009]

@@GoodBuddyFlyFishing ok awesome good to know thanks for replying. One more question Did you like the pack on the back of the umpqua pack and/or miss it on the crosscurrent?

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

I have the backpack for the umpqua and I liked it. It was good for longer days on the water so I could keep snacks and lunch and water with me.

[@ryangeach9009]

@@GoodBuddyFlyFishing awesome thanks for the feedback! Just found your channel and even though I’m out west it’s fun watching you guys fish out in the southeast

[@seanflahockey]

Wow glad to know it wasn't just my skill at flyfishing. Went there in like November 2017 (during the drought even) and it was great, we killed it and nobody was there except us. Returned the following year and three days of nothing. I will not go back again and they lost our business Including the VRBO on the reservation we would stay at). Clearly something is going on among the reservation elders and management of this fishery. I guess money made from fishing permits isn't like casino money.

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

I have heard it’s a little messed up these days. I also heard some of the locals follow the stock truck and poach the trophy section. Maybe one day it will get back to its former glory. I’m sure the pandemic didn’t help the tourism to the rivers or the casino this past year.

[@drewwally]

Did you have to get the reservation license? Also, I legit can’t find where to get river access. How do you find out about this stuff? I’m in the wrong part of NC

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

Yeah. You have to get the reservation license and the trophy section permit. Put in river valley campground in your map and all of the pull offs are on the way there.

[@chrisdavis137]

Use regular spin rod catch more fish there they hard to catch on a fly rod there for some reason don't know why

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

If I had to guess, those fish see a lot of flies but who knows. Fish are weird sometimes. Thanks for watching.

[@stevecrawford333]

@@GoodBuddyFlyFishing yeah never catch anything there then threw rooster tails and caught a few

[@QuentinDavis-yt9hl]

I fish Cherokee a couple times a year I have never had a day when I didn't catch 10 fish they stock over 2hundred thousand pounds of fish a year and they try not to hassle you while your fishing I really can't find anything to complain about considering the license is only 27.00 for 3 days sorry you guys didn't catch that 4 pounder every cast.

[@det282]

Steve put some severe wear on those new waders in this video.

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

They are quality waders but probably not made for that.

[@andrewpadyk67]

IMO the section you fished is not worth the premium fee. But it seems to continue to attract lots of fishermen anyway. Pretty water though.

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

It is pretty water. I hope they get thinks figured out in the near future. We love going up there.

[@gregmccarty8253]

Shamu lives!

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

I know it’s not good to laugh at your own jokes but I can’t help but laugh at that part of the video. Thanks for watching.

[@ryanstalcup4231]

They stock every week

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

That’s what they say but last year they let us know that they had only stocked once over the summer and we were there in October.

[@ryanstalcup4231]

@@GoodBuddyFlyFishing who told you that? covid may have had something to do with it if that's true about last year but I feel like I saw the truck more than once. the tribe holds a tournament in march with tagged fish you can win up to $10,000 I think can't remember exactly off the top of my head.

[@seanbrennan3824]

Last few trips to Cherokee sucked. They dont stock nearly as much as they use to! And almost no hold overs. Plenty of other waters

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

That seems to be the general consensus.

[@trevormay226]

You look and sound a suspicious amount like Heimlers History

[@edroberts8405]

The Cherokee trophy section hasn't been good since 2016/2017. I've heard that some of the outdoor businesses in Cherokee have started to complain to the chef. Business has been dropping since 2018 and this year been real bad up there for businesses due to the virus. So they really only stocking the non trophy section with small trout. They have lost my business until they get thing straight in Cherokee.

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

Yeah, that was about the last time we caught a bunch of fish. It didn’t help that they canceled the rumble in the rhododendron tournament. They usually put a ton of fish in for that tournament. Thanks for watching.

[@imrexa__3431]

@@GoodBuddyFlyFishing I live in Cherokee and have seen both your videos about fishing the trophy section and I had great luck last year during the summer it starts to really slow down during the winter late fall like the videos

[@byronbrockmeyer2250]

I was there in April 2021 and only fished the regular waters and didn't catch or see a fish. Didn't see anyone else catch any either except for in the ponds and in soco near the casino.

[@guillermopetermann]

not a good buddy waking up that way

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

I’m usually up on fishing days way early. No excuse to still be asleep. Thanks for watching.

[@guillermopetermann]

@@GoodBuddyFlyFishing just cheerring, it was very funy, a good buddy must know how to take some nonsense now and then

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

For sure. Steve and I have known each other for 20 years now. Whatever we dish out is coming back.

[@410outdoors6]

The reason you didn’t catch any fish is cause your fly fishing!

[@rogerbiss7915]

You demonstrate all that is wrong with fly fishing. The parking full the access was especially stupid. You should hope someone that knows what they are doing meets you on the river. You might learn something.

[@GoodBuddyFlyFishing]

I’m not sure what you mean by “the parking full the access.” You might want to sound a little more competent before you try and feel better by telling someone that something they did or said was stupid. Please don’t watch anymore of our videos. You are obviously way too good of a fly fisherman to waste your time watching a couple of guys that admit to being not so good.

[@garden2tableproduce]

Cherokee is horrible dont go stay out of NC much better fishing other places