Lake Cherokee Fishing
Cherokee County, NCWRC District 9, 50 acres.
Pick for smallmouthPiscifun Chaos Pro CNC baitcasting reel25% OFFSale $97.99 Photo of Tellico River: ChristopherM, CC BY 2.5
Lake Cherokee, sized up
The lake named Lake Cherokee lies in Cherokee County and belongs to Commission District 9. Federal dam data count 50 acres of water. Persimmon Creek Dam on the Persimmon Creek holds it back, finished in 1942. Murphy is the nearest town on the Census list, roughly 8 miles off.
The access data show no ramp on this water.
Putting in on Lake Cherokee
Shore fishing sites on Lake Cherokee
- Cherokee Lake1 pier, owner US Forest Service, open
Launches within a drive of Lake Cherokee
- Little RangerNottley River, 4 miles southeast
- Ramsey BluffHiwassee Lake, 5 miles northeast
- Hanging DogHiwassee Lake, 5 miles northeast
- Grape CreekHiwassee Lake, 5 miles northeast
- ApalachiaApalachia Lake, 6 miles north
- Mission TrailraceHiwassee River, 14 miles east
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and Public Fishing Areas, USACE Wilmington District, USFS and OpenStreetMap, checked October 2026.
NCWRC limits for Lake Cherokee
Only statewide inland limits apply on Lake Cherokee.
| Species | Daily creel | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 5 a day | 14 in minimum | No closed season |
| Crappie | 20 a day | 8 in minimum | No closed season |
| Sunfish | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
| Striped and Bodie bass | 4 a day | 20 in minimum | No closed season |
| White bass | 10 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
| Walleye | 8 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
| Blue, channel and flathead catfish | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
| Trout (undesignated waters) | 7 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
The I-95 and I-77 lines decide part of the table for Lake Cherokee.
NCWRC 2026-27 inland regulations (eRegulations), checked October 2026. All North Carolina limits.
For the smallmouth herePiscifun AlinoX 300 low profile baitcaster34% OFFSale $104.99 Lake Cherokee beside nearby lakes
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Stocked 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Cherokee | 50 | 0 | ||
| Hiwassee Lake | 4 miles northeast | 5,870 | 3 | yes |
| Apalachia Lake | 8 miles northwest | 1,100 | 1 | yes |
| Chatuge Lake | 21 miles east | 6,700 | 3 | |
| Lake Santeetlah | 26 miles northeast | 2,884 | 5 | |
| Nantahala Lake | 29 miles east | 1,605 | 3 | yes |
Just around Lake Cherokee
Nearby impoundments to Lake Cherokee
- Hiwassee Lake4 miles northeast
- Apalachia Lake8 miles northwest
- Chatuge Lake21 miles east
- Lake Santeetlah26 miles northeast
- Nantahala Lake29 miles east
Bait counters nearest Lake Cherokee
- Howard's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Murphy, under a mile
- The Bait and Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Murphy, 5 miles
- Fishers of Men Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Murphy, 5 miles
- Dukes Hideaway Marinamarina, Murphy, 5 miles
- Duke's Hideaway Marinamarina, Murphy, 6 miles
- Harbor Cove Marinamarina, Murphy, 6 miles
Hire help on Lake Cherokee
- The Reel Mccoy Fishing Guide Servicefreshwater / lake guide, Cherokee, (828) 736-4634
Towns encircling Lake Cherokee
- Murphy8 miles
- Hayesville20 miles
- Andrews21 miles
Counties that share Lake Cherokee
- Cherokee Countyseat: Murphy
Piscifun reels and a scale grip
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Before a trip to Lake Cherokee
How do I find Lake Cherokee on a map?
The lake point falls in Cherokee County, District 9, about 8 miles from Murphy.
How large a water is Lake Cherokee?
50 acres, per the NID.
Which access area serves Lake Cherokee?
No ramp is mapped on it; nearby ramps are listed.
Does Lake Cherokee hold bass?
No species are named in NCWRC records.
Does NCWRC stock Lake Cherokee?
NCWRC lists no stocking for it this year.
Are the statewide NCWRC limits in force on Lake Cherokee?
The statewide table covers it.
Which North Carolina license do I need for Lake Cherokee?
Inland license from 16: $32 resident.
Where can I check the level of Lake Cherokee?
Ask the dam operator; no feed is public.
Who sells bait close to Lake Cherokee?
Howard's Bait & Tackle, about under a mile away.
Pack the truck for Lake Cherokee
License costs and limits are one click away.