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June 17, 2026

The red tag in the cheek of this trout identifies it as a fish stocked in Apalachia Lake in 2012 at 14 inches long.

Trout tagging 101

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission implants elastomer tags into cheeks of all rainbow and brown trout stocked into Apalachia Lake. […]

Scotty fly-rod holder with side/deck mount

Phillip Gentry

When it comes to bream fishing from a paddlecraft, especially with fly tackle, having a secure place to store your rod is critical. The problem is that while most fishing kayaks come with rod holders, they typically only fit spinning or baitcasting rods. Fortunately, you can buy aftermarket rod holders designed specifically for fly rods. […]

Fishing on Apalachia Lake in extreme western North Carolina is often directed by water flow through Hiwassee Dam and then a pumpback feature that returns it to the larger, upstream lake.

Apalachia Lake flow changes often

Mike Marsh

The flow regime in Apalachia Lake is starkly different from what anglers expect with other mountain lakes. Water entering the lake through Hiwassee Dam is very cold, so the lake can support big trout, and it’s oxygenated by the Tennessee Valley Authority as it passes through the dam. […]

The flier

Phillip Gentry

The first thing most anglers who catch their first flier think is that they’ve caught a hybrid bream/crappie. The flier, Centrarchus macropterus, is a sunfish native to muddy-bottomed swamps, ponds, weedy lakes and backwaters, mostly in the coastal planes in both Carolinas. The biggest fliers, which can live up to five years, get to about 12 inches and a pound. […]