Purchasing a permit is easy. It starts with a seven-digit sportsman number. If you don’t know what that is, it’s likely you don’t have one, so begin by registering. You’ll immediately receive your tribal sportsman number. The sportsman number will be located above your name once you are registered.

With your sportsman number handy, you’re ready to purchase your sport fishing license, which can be easily printed from your home computer.

You are required to carry your tribal permit with you at all times while fishing on the Qualla Boundary (otherwise known as the Cherokee Indian Reservation).

Opening day for general fishing waters is the last Saturday in March, with fishing closed to everyone two weeks prior to that date. Trophy fly-fishing waters are open year-round.