Valley River Fishing Guides
An accessible delayed-harvest trout river running down the Andrews valley to the Hiwassee at Murphy, with easy wading, stocked fish up top and smallmouth on the lower water.
Guides on the Valley River
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About the Valley River
The Valley River is the working trout stream of Cherokee County, and it is one of the more approachable mountain rivers in western North Carolina. It gathers in the Snowbird Mountains, runs southwest down a broad open valley through Andrews and Tomotla, and joins the Hiwassee River at Murphy. Unlike the plunging gorge rivers to the east, this one has a gentle gradient and a road alongside it for most of its length, which makes it a good choice for anglers who would rather fish than climb.
North Carolina manages a delayed-harvest section on this river, and that reach is the main draw through the cool months, holding stocked rainbows and browns in good numbers on catch-and-release regulations before the harvest season opens. Wild brown and rainbow trout hold in the upper water and the shaded tributaries, and brook trout are found in the small cold feeder branches up in the national forest. The lowest miles toward the Hiwassee warm through summer and hold smallmouth bass, redbreast sunfish and rock bass, which makes for a genuinely pleasant hot-weather alternative.
This gauge sits at Tomotla on the middle river and reports discharge and stage but no water temperature, which is a real limitation on a low-elevation valley stream that warms up in summer. Use the reading to judge whether the river is high and stained after mountain rain, and judge the temperature by season and by hand. Access along the valley is a mix of public delayed-harvest easements and private pasture, and the boundaries are signed, so read them before crossing a fence line. It is also one of the better rivers in the region for a first mountain trout trip, because the wading is forgiving, the road is close, and a poor day here still means easy walking.
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Access
The delayed-harvest section near Andrews - marked state water with signed parking access.
Andrews town park - developed bank access on the middle river.
The Tomotla crossing near the gauge - roadside access to the lower middle river.
The Highway 19 corridor between Andrews and Murphy - a string of roadside pull-offs.
Konehete Park in Murphy - access near the Hiwassee confluence.
Nantahala National Forest feeder streams - walk-in access to the wild brook trout water.
Hiwassee River access at Murphy - smallmouth water immediately below the confluence.
Seasons
Spring: high, cold water, good hatches and the last of the delayed-harvest catch-and-release season.
Summer: low and warm on the valley floor - fish the headwaters early or target the lower smallmouth water.
Fall: the delayed-harvest season reopens and the river fishes as well as it does all year.
Winter: cold, clear and lightly fished, with the stocked reaches holding fish through the season.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the Valley River?
As of Sep 17, 5:30 am, the USGS gauge VALLEY RIVER AT TOMOTLA, NC reads 79 cfs. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the Valley River?
Anglers target Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Redbreast Sunfish, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass on the Valley River in North Carolina.
Where can you access the Valley River?
The delayed-harvest section near Andrews - marked state water with signed parking access. Andrews town park - developed bank access on the middle river. The Tomotla crossing near the gauge - roadside access to the lower middle river. The Highway 19 corridor between Andrews and Murphy - a string of roadside pull-offs. Konehete Park in Murphy - access near the Hiwassee confluence. Nantahala National Forest feeder streams - walk-in access to the wild brook trout water. Hiwassee River access at Murphy - smallmouth water immediately below the confluence.
When is the best time to fish the Valley River?
Spring: high, cold water, good hatches and the last of the delayed-harvest catch-and-release season. Summer: low and warm on the valley floor - fish the headwaters early or target the lower smallmouth water. Fall: the delayed-harvest season reopens and the river fishes as well as it does all year. Winter: cold, clear and lightly fished, with the stocked reaches holding fish through the season.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Valley River?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the North Carolina agency site: https://www.ncwildlife.gov/fishing/regulations