THE TROUT STREAMS

South Carolinas mountain streams offer almost any type of angling a

trout fisherman may wish to try from fishing the hatchery-supported
easily-accessed variety to fishing the wild populations in secluded
headwaters. The major stream systems that provide good trout fishing are
the Chattooga, the East Fork of the Chattooga, the Chauga, Thompson, and
the Whitewater in Oconee County; the Eastatoee in Pickens County; and the
North, Middle, and South Saluda rivers and Matthews Creek in Greenville
County (see maps, beginning on page 32).
Please note that the SC Department of Natural Resources owns and/or
leases land from various private and public owners, which is included in its
wildlife management program. Known collectively as the Mountain Hunt
Unit, the Chauga, Franklin Gravely, and Caesars Head management areas
comprise nearly 200,000 acres of publicly accessible mountain land. Trout
fishermen should exercise caution by wearing international orange clothing
during the hunting seasons (October-December) when hiking to and from
the trout streams. Trout fishing access is also provided on state park lands,
some of which are not included in the wildlife management area program.
Parks with trout fishing access include Jones Gap and Caesars Head State
Park in Greenville County, Table Rock State Park in Pickens County and
Oconee State Park in Oconee County.

CHATTOOGA RIVER
Oconee County

A powerful, fast-flowing river that drops an average of 49 feet

per mile, the Chattooga River is the states best-known trout stream.
Made famous as the site for the movie, Deliverance, the Chattooga
is heavily used by canoeists and rafters, as well as trout fishermen.
Designated a National Wild and Scenic River in 1974, the Chattooga
is one of the longest and largest free-flowing rivers in the Southeast.
Beginning near the eastern flank of Whitesides Mountain, it travels
southward 10 miles in North Carolina and then continues 40 miles
as the boundary between Georgia and South Carolina. A national
survey of Trout Unlimited members voted the Chattooga as one
of the top 100 trout streams in the nation. Major roads that cross
the river provide four access points: Burrells Ford Road north of
Walhalla, SC; GA-SC Route 28; Earls Ford Road near Clayton, Ga.;
and U.S Route 76.
The Chattooga offers diverse angling opportunities. The river
supports a healthy population of wild brown trout in the headwaters