Polk County offers a wide variety of hunting and fishing opportunities for the outdoor enthusiast. From enticing a bass to strike a crank bait or placing a fly on top of a trophy trout to shooting doves or waiting for that 10-point buck to move from behind the brush pile, Polk County has it all -- even wild turkey, bear and boar.

FISHING

Hiwassee River

Perhaps the most popular activity is trout fishing on the Hiwassee River, one of the best trout fishing rivers in the eastern United States. An added bonus is the Trophy Trout section on the river north and east of Reliance This section enables anglers to fish for trophy trout. Fishing is limited to artificial lures and the limit is two fish and 14" minimum.

Year-round fishing is available on the Hiwassee and the river is stocked several times per year with approximately 130,000 rainbow trout and 20,000 brown trout. The state record brook trout is from the Hiwassee River, weighing in at 31 lbs. 14 oz.

In addition, several trout streams in the Cherokee National Forest are stocked annually with several thousand trout, making for a relatively secluded trout fishing adventure.

Other species of fish found in the Hiwassee River include bass, bream, catfish, and yellow perch. State records for yellow perch, carp, and the stoneroller (hornyhead) are also from the Hiwassee River.

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) regulates the flow of the river, and it is essential that you know the water level of the river and adjust your fishing techniques accordingly. A toll-free number is available from TVA from which you can find out what the water level will be for a particular period of time: 1-800-238-2264 (push button required).

When the river is down, it is best to fish the large pools and holes with light spinning tackle or fly fishing equipment. The most popular method is using a small hook and corn as bait. Trout there seem to love a few kernels of corn flowing in the current.

When the river level is high, bank fishing takes over for those who do not have the means to float the river. Several access ramps are available for those who wish to launch small boats and float the river. Rafts and canoes are also popular and can be rented at local float services in the area. The Cherokee National Forest permits four guided fishing services on the Hiwassee.

Parksville Lake

Parksville Lake is becoming increasingly popular and offers excellent fishing. Bluegill, catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie and trout are all becoming regular meals for many anglers. Bass can be taken with crank baits, spinners, grubs, and plastic worms. Creek mouths, sloughs, and underwater structures are productive April through July.

Parksville Lake is located on U.S. 64 aproximately 4 miles east of Ocoee, Tenn. From the Copper Basin area, take U.S. 64 West through the Ocoee gorge.

Conasauga River

Another excellent but underutilized area is the Conasauga River, lying just north of the Tennessee-Georgia state line off U.S. 411. It is accessible by U.S. Forest Service roads which are maintained and open to the public.

Bluegill and sauger may be caught here, as well as the Coosa bass and the Rock bass.

Try minnows or grubs for sauger in the fast current and shoals, and use crickets, grubs, and yellow rooster tails in the shallow, slow water for bluegill and bass.

The Coosa bass can be taken with small crank baits over the shoals. The Coosa bass only inhabits this southeastern area, so if you want to catch one, Polk County is the place to go.

Redeyes go for worms or small spinners and are active near banks in slow water May through July.

Hiwassee, above powerhouse

Another excellent place to fish is the section of the Hiwassee River above the Apalachia Powerhouse. TVA does not regulate the water level here and the river abounds with deep holes, rocky crevices, and woody thickets.

Bluegill and largemouth bass are found here but smallmouth bass fishing is reputed to be the best in Polk County.

Use top water baits, spring lizards (salamanders) or floating minnows worked near the weedbeds, brush and banks for best results. Small imitation crayfish seem to work very well and if you go through the spring and summer seasons, you may find that the smallmouth fishing is indeed excellent.

License required

To fish for these many species, you must possess a sportsman's license, or a combination hunting-fishing license. In addition, you must have a trout license when fishing for trout. Non-residents may purchase a non-resident trout stamp without purchasing any other additional licenses when fishing for trout. A 3-day, 10-day, and annual non-resident trout stamp is available from local license agents.

HUNTING

Hunting seasons for big game and small game are listed in pamphlets available in June; waterfowl pamphlets are available in September.

Small Game

Polk County offers a wide variety of small game hunting to the sportsman to test his skills and hopefully grace his table.

The extensive dairy farming in the Polk County area provides excellent dove hunting in three split seasons. The two later seasons are generally more productive because of migration patterns and late cut silage fields.

Rabbit and quail populations are fairly high throughout the agricultural areas of Polk County. There is quite a bit of private lands and some public lands and some public lands owned by Hiwassee Land Co. A permit to hunt on Hiwassee Land Co. is required and is available from local license agents in the county.

Although not abundant, woodcock and Wilson's snipe offer exciting hunting as they zig-zag their way out of range from your shotgun. Look for these birds in bottomlands, near creeks, and in wet areas.

The Cherokee National Forest occupies over 150,000 acres of the county and provides an enormous opportunity for the hunter. Special regulations apply, so please consult the Hunting Guide for the appropriate regulations. In Polk County, the Cherokee is divided into two management units, the Ocoee Unit and the Tellico Unit. The Ocoee Unit is south of the Hiwassee River and the Tellico Unit is north of the Hiwassee.

The entire forest is rugged and mountainous so be prepared for some fairly tough hunting. There is a system of roads and trails throughout the forest which the U.S. Forest Service maintains.

Rabbit and quail are also found here but are found mainly near the open fields and clear-cut areas. Grouse are scattered along creeks, small drainages, old logging roads and dry ridgetops.

Squirrels are abundant in the forest and they provide excellent hunting opportunities. Look for areas where squirrels have been cutting nuts, acorns, etc.

Raccoon hunting is also popular but special regulations apply to training raccoon dogs.

To hunt small game in Polk County a sportsman's license or a combination hunting-fishing license may be used. No WMA permit is necessary to hunt small game in the Cherokee.

Big game

Big game hunting in Polk County is exceptional, to say the least. It offers deer, wild hog, wild turkey, and black bear hunting. Although Polk County is open to deer hunting during the statewide seasons, most big game hunting occurs in the Cherokee.

To hunt big game in Polk, you must have a combination hunting-fishing license and a big game license. If you hunt on the Cherokee, an additional Cherokee WMA Big Game Non-Quota or Annual Non-Quota permit is required.

One of the most exciting big game in the Cherokee is the wild turkey. This sport is growing rapidly as evidenced by the number of wild turkeys harvested over the past few years. Turkey hunting in Tennessee is a springtime event and only gobblers are legal game.

Finally, waterfowl hunting in Polk County is available but is limited. The Hiwassee offers good jump shooting while Parksville Lake and the Ocoee River offer blind hunting and pass shooting. A waterfowl license and a Federal Migratory Bird Stamp (duck stamp) is required for duck hunting in Tennessee in addition to the regular hunting license.

Maps of Polk County and the Cherokee WMA are available at the U.S. Forest Service District Ranger offices in Etowah, Tenn., and Parksville, Tenn.

Local hunting and fishing license agents are numerous and spread throughout the county and surrounding area. Big game check stations are also located throughout the county.