Near Cherokee in Swain County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Fish Tales

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, March 28, 2017

1. Fish Tales Marker

Inscription. Rainbow and brown trout, stonerollers, hogsuckers, sculpins, river chubs, and other fish live here in the lower reaches of the Oconaluftee River. But these are just a few of over 85 species found in the Smokies. The park's streams offer multiple mixes of oxygen, temperature, flow rate, and water purity, making for diverse aquatic life. But logging before the park's creation, the introduction of nonnative species—like rainbow and brown trout—and acid precipitation have taken their toll on natives species like brook trout. Today the park's fisheries biologists strive to keep fish populations healthy and to restore native fish species to their original waters.

Some species found in park waters
Rainbow trout
Stoneroller
Mottled sculpin
Brook trout
Northern hogsucker
Rock bass
Smallmouth bass

Gaining Ground
Fishing for native brook trout was not allowed in the park for nearly 30 years. This small trout was squeezed from its historic range, and its numbers were drastically reduced because of competition from rainbow trout in lower elevations and high stream acidity from acid precipitation in higher elevations.

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To restore brookie numbers to their former range, biologists are removing rainbow trout from certain river stretches (above). Brook trout are gaining ground, so much so that now nearly all park streams are opened to brook trout fishing and harvest.

A North Carolina or Tennessee state fishing license is required to fish park waters. Before you fish ask at a visitor center for current park fishing regulations.

Erected by Great Smoky Mountains National Park, National Park Services, US Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Environment • Horticulture & Forestry.

Location. 35° 31.481′ N, 83° 18.271′ W. Marker is near Cherokee, North Carolina, in Swain County. It can be reached from U.S. 441 1.6 miles north of Blue Ridge Parkway, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cherokee NC 28719, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Mountains and specifically in the Great Smoky Mountains.

It is also in

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, March 28, 2017

2. Fish Tales Marker

the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Cut and Run (within shouting distance of this marker); America's Sharpest Notes (approx. 0.4 miles away); Mingus Mill (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Mingus Mill (approx. 0.4 miles away); Civilian Conservation Corps (approx. 0.8 miles away); Mountain Farm Museum (approx. 0.8 miles away); The Meathouse (approx. 0.8 miles away); Apple House (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cherokee.

Also see . . . Great Smoky Mountains National Park. National Park Service (Submitted on August 29, 2017.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 29, 2017. It was originally submitted on August 28, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 589 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 28, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.