Welcome to Chattooga River TU!
Welcome to the website of Trout Unlimited’s Chattooga River Chapter. We are the chapter with weekly activities to interest conservationists, coldwater anglers, and all of you who appreciate opportunities that contribute to the health of our environment.
Chapter opportunities include monthly meetings featuring knowledgeable speakers on varieties of subjects relating to coldwater conservation. Weekly hikes present every member an invitation to see and appreciate the diversity of Oconee and Pickens Counties. Our fishing and daily outings are mentoring sessions which allow participants to attend as overnight campers or on a day-trip basis.
We maintain the Coon Branch Trail along the primitive Whitewater River between the falls. We collect litter along our adopted stretch of Highway 107 in Oconee County and along the Eastatoe River in Pickens County.
“Trout in the Classroom” is an activity we sponsor in local schools. “Scouting-for-Trout” is an on-stream activity for youth.
Refer to our “CORE AGENDA,” linked in the menu to the left, for a complete list of activities.
And, by the way, we enjoy fishing for trout.
Experience with us, “Catch and Release!”
Upcoming CRCTU Meeting
Chattooga River Chapter of TU
Trash Pick Up
Saturday, February 22, 2025 along Rte. 107 & Burrells Ford Rd.
We are planning a quarterly roadside trash pick up for Saturday, Feb. 22nd starting at 9:30 am, depending on the weather. Our regular p/u area is along State Route107 from the Trout Hatchery Rd. south to the Cherry Hill Recreation/Campgrounds, a distance of approximately 3 miles. We’ll meet, park cars and get equipment at the Burrell’s Ford intersection, about in the middle of the distance we covered. Depending on attendance, we may also cover the Burrells Ford Rd. down to the Chattooga River.
You may want to bring sunglasses, sunscreen and a long sleeve coat or maybe a raincoat. Do bring a hat and gloves.
Some of our members meet about 8am, prior to the trash P/U, at the Kountry Kupboard, 3708 Blue Ridge Blvd, Walhalla. Come join us for breakfast if you want. Look for the scruffy looking bunch.
It’s about a 1/2 hr. drive from there. You would take rte 28 through Walhalla up in the mountains. Around Mountain Rest, at the Y in the road, turn right onto rte 107, continuing to Burrells Ford Road, which will be on the left side of road.
We’re here to help! Whether you have questions, feedback, or need assistance, our team is ready to connect with you. Your experience matters to us, and we’re committed to providing the support you need.
Feel free to reach out through any of the options below. We look forward to hearing from you and making sure your experience with us is smooth and enjoyable.
Chattooga River TU
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
2025 Stream of the Season Schedule for Chattooga River TU Chapter
Below is the schedule for this year’s fishing outings. I wanted to let you know of confirmed outings as soon as possible. The October trip is still being planned. All have a limited number of participants, so if you are interested in attending any of them, I need to know. Send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. An email reservation is required to be included – no in-person requests please. Acceptance will be first come – first served based on email delivery time.
April 22 – 25. North Mills River
This is a camping outing. If interested, make a reservation for a campsite at Recreation.gov for North Mills River campground. If no sites are available, contact me to see if a shared campsite is possible. This is a delayed harvest stream. Other fishing options include the nearby Davidson River, and private water for-fee trips on Davidson and N. Mills River. NC license required.
Our April outing will be at the North Mills River campground. It is now open for business following Hurricane Helene cleanup. This is a Delayed Harvest stream in NC. We need to move quickly to reserve campsites at recreation.gov web site. Only one reservation per person is allowed. As of this morning there are a number available. I have reserved site 24 which is a double site.
The dates are Tuesday, April 22 (check in) through Friday, April 25 (check out). If you would like to go, pick an available campsite and make the reservation. Standard campsites can accommodate one tent and two vehicles. Double sites can accommodate two tents and 4 vehicles. If you have someone to share a campsite, great. If not, let me know and I'll pair you with someone. I can have someone share my site, so let me know. Notify me (Tom McInnis, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) when you reserve your campsite so I can track who's going.
May 18 – 21. Tellico River (Tennessee)
This popular outing includes lodging at Green Cove motel. We have rooms for six people reserved but can add more if demand is there. The Tellico is a heavily stocked stream and requires both a Tennessee license and a daily permit for this stretch of river. Other non-permit streams are nearby.
June 10 – 13. Deep Creek (Great Smoky Mountains National Park) and Bryson City
We have a house reserved on the stream outside the park. There are seven beds available. Deep Creek is wild trout in the park and stocked outside the park. The Tuckasegee River runs through Bryson City and is still delayed harvest during out visit, as is the Nantahala River as well. Cherokee Reservation waters are nearby and heavily stocked, including the special regs Raven Fork trophy water. NC license required.
July 13 – 16. South Holston River and Watauga River, Tennessee
We have a house reserved on the S. Holston River. This tail-water river is famed for trophy brown trout. The equally good Watauga River is nearby. A guided float trip is recommended for the best fishing experience. I can provide names of outfitters if desired. Requires Tennessee fishing license.
August and September = no trips planned.
October 7 – 10. Tuckasegee DH, Sylva, NC
We will be staying in a cabin close to the DH section of upper Tuckasegee River. The cabin has 6 beds. Requires NC fishing license.
National Hunting and Fishing Day is a grassroots effort undertaken to promote outdoor sports and conservation. It was started in 1972 and is celebrated nationally in late September. There is an Upstate version that in recent years has been held at Oconee County’s South Cove County Park near Seneca. It is made possible by partnerships with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), Oconee County Parks and Recreation, and numerous local conservation groups including our CRC Trout Unlimited. Offering can vary yearly but include family-oriented activities such as archaeological displays, animal ID, archery, air rifles, animal tracks, camouflage games, fly tying and casting, kayaking, fishing in Lake Keowee, axe throwing and much more.
All activities are free, all ages are welcome, and all gear is provided. CRCTU members typically spend the day there in shifts working with interested folks helping them try the basics of fly casting in addition to explaining to participants what we do in areas including fishing, conservation, and education. Our members have a fun group interaction, help to expose the community to our various activities, and sometimes even pick up new members.
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