FISHING NFNC

The lower French Broad River area supports a variety of fishing opportunities including large river fishing from bank or boat, and smaller river and stream fishing.  This area is located in Madison County, is close to Hot Springs and the Appalachian Trail, and is easily accessible by car.

Access:  From Asheville, follow Highway 19/23 North to Marshall, and exit right onto Highway 25/70.  Follow Highway 25/70 through Marshall, and Walnut19 to the intersection of Highway 208.  Turn left to stay on Highway 25/70 and follow to Hot Springs.  To access the lower French Broad River proper, turn right onto SR 1304 and follow to the Murray Branch Recreation Area.  To access Spring Creek, follow Highway 25/70 through Hot Springs and turn left onto Highway 209.  Follow Highway 209 to the Rocky Bluff Campground on your left. 

From Tennessee, follow Interstate 40, to Highway 25/70 in Newport.  Follow Highway 25/70 to Hot Springs.  To access the lower French Broad River proper, turn left to stay on Highway 25/70 through town, cross the River, then turn left onto SR 1304 and follow to Murray Branch Recreation Area.  To access Spring Creek, turn right onto Highway 209 and follow to the Rocky Bluff Campground. 

Camping:   The Rocky Bluff Campground is located on Spring Creek and offers overnight camping for trailers and tents.  Restroom facilities, drinking water, tent pads, and grills are provided.  Sites are first-come, first-served, and a fee is required to camp in this campground.

The Silvermine Group Camp is available for larger groups through a reservation system (1-877-457-4023, Cradle of Forestry in America).  These facilities offer restrooms and drinking water.  There is a fee and minimum group size required to camp here.

Primitive camping is allowed on Forest Service lands throughout the lower French Broad River area, except where signed “no camping”.  Exceptions to this rule may occur along major Forest Service roads, where primitive campsites have been designated and signed to protect water quality and other natural resources.

Comments:  There is no camping available at the Murray Branch Recreation Area.

Lower French Broad River

The lower French Broad River is a large, and often deep river.  Improved (and free) canoe and other carry-down boat access is available at the Stackhouse Boat Launch and Murray Branch Recreation Area on the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina.  Alternate (but maybe not free) egress points can be found on private land and in Tennessee.  Canoes, rafts, and other high-floating crafts are recommended on this stretch of river because of the presence of several Class I-III rapids.  White-water rafting is also popular on this stretch of river.  There are several large islands in the River, which are popular overnight camping spots for anglers and rafters.

Species Present:  catfish, smallmouth bass longnose gar, musky,  sauger, and numerous sunfish

Seasons:  The lower French Broad River is open to fishing year-round.

Spring Creek

Spring Creek is managed for hatchery supported  "put-and-take" trout  fishing and also offers fishing for  smallmouth bass and sunfish in the lower portion.  Public access is somewhat limited, but there is a trail to the creek from the Rocky Bluff Campground. 

Species Present:  trout, smallmouth bass and other sunfish

Seasons:  Spring Creek is open to fishing year-round except during the month of March.

For more information:  Contact the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission at http://www.ncwildlife.org/fs_index_03_fishing.htm for more information on local fishing regulations and license requirements.  Trail and local topographic maps are available from:

Appalachian Ranger District
Bridge Street, P.O. Box 128
Hot Springs, North Carolina 28743
(828) 682-6146