| Fires Creek Area |  click to enlarge |
Map
of Fires Creek (96kb)
|
| Fires Creek Area | click to enlarge |
Map
of Fires Creek (96kb)
|
The Fires Creek area located in Clay County on the
Tusquitee Ranger District offers a wide variety of outdoor recreation.
Trout fishing, picnicking, hiking and camping are all available within
the area. The 25-mile Rim trail follows the ridge around the area providing
scenic views. The Fires Creek area
supports a variety of fishing opportunities including backcountry trout fishing
in the upper section of Fires Creek and more accessible fishing on the lower end
of the Creek. A physically disabled
accessible trail is located along Fires Creek.
Access: From
Murphy follow Hwy 64 east for 9miles then turn North onto NC 1302 for four
miles. Then turn left onto NC1344
for 1.7 miles.
Camping: There are several areas within the Fires
Creek area suitable for primitive camping.
Most of these sites are located along NC 1344. No camping is allowed in marked wildlife openings.
The Bristol Field Horse Camp is a first come first serve
camping area that requires a per night/ per site fee. This area provides restrooms, fire pits, and uncovered horse
stalls. Horses are not allowed
within 30 feet of the creek.
Comments: Several local fishermen not only enjoy the
trout fishing within this area but the picnic and swimming areas as well.
For more information: Contact the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission at http://www.wildlife.state.nc.us/fs_index_03_fishing.htm for more information on local fishing regulations and license requirements. Trail and local topographic maps are available from:
Tusquitee Ranger District
201 Woodland Drive
Murphy, NC
28906
The upper portions of Fires creek ands
all tributaries are managed by
the NCWRC under Wild trout regulations (Above the lower gameland boundary on
USFS Road 442.) In
all wild trout waters the minimum length limit is 7 inches and the creel limit
is 4 trout per day. Only artificial lures with one single hook may be used. The
lower reaches of Fires Creek are hatchery supported trout waters.
Hatchery supported
waters are stocked periodically in order to sustain fishing. In hatchery
supported waters there is no size limit or bait restrictions. The creel limit is seven trout per day.
Species Present: Brook trout (hatchery supported),
and rainbow and brown trout (both hatchery-raised and wild) are found in Fires
Creek.
Seasons: The Wild trout sections of Fires Creek are open to fishing year-round, while the hatchery supported trout waters are open every month except March.
