Print it. Bag it. Bring it.Phones die, screens crack, and most of this water has no signal. Print this map, fold it into a zip-top bag or dry bag with your license, and you have a backup your electronics can’t give you. Every marker is numbered so you can say exactly where you are.
| # | Point | Type | Lat, Lon | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C J Harris Access Duke Energy Progress - 1 launch lane | Access / boat ramp | 35.36369, -83.24684 | Duke Energy ramp at Dillsboro, at the top of the mapped reach. |
| 2 | Barkers Creek Access Duke Energy Progress - 1 launch lane | Access / boat ramp | 35.38903, -83.29472 | Duke Energy ramp with a paddle carry-down between Dillsboro and Whittier. |
| 3 | Whittier Access Duke Energy Progress - 1 launch lane | Access / boat ramp | 35.43283, -83.36021 | Duke Energy ramp at Whittier. |
| 4 | Tuckasegee River at Bryson City USGS 03513000 - real-time stage and flow | USGS gauge | 35.42750, -83.44694 | Roster gauge for this water. Duke releases upstream move this river quickly; read it before a float. |
| 5 | Old 288 Access Tennessee Valley Authority - 2 launch lanes | Access / boat ramp | 35.43051, -83.48662 | TVA-owned ramp at Bryson City with a carry-down. The launching dock is 30 ft long on a 14% slope. |
Gauge: USGS 03513000 — Tuckasegee River at Bryson City, NC. Live flow on the web page.
Species: Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass
Regulations: www.ncwildlife.gov/fishing/regulations
Emergency: call 911 and give the number of the nearest point on this map plus its coordinates.
Cullowhee and Western Carolina University: upper river access.
East Laporte River Access Park: county park with parking and river frontage.
Dillsboro: the top of the delayed harvest water and a common put-in.
Barkers Creek and Wilmot: mid-river accesses on Highway 441 and 74.
Whittier and Governors Island: accesses above Bryson City.
Bryson City: town access near the gauge and the lower float takeout.
October through early June: delayed harvest regulations on the marked sections; the busiest and most productive months.
March through May: heavy stocking, hatches, good floating flows.
June through September: warmer water, dam releases keep it fishing; go early and watch generation.
Fall: brown trout become aggressive, the river is quiet, and the color in the valley is worth the trip on its own.