Highlights

•  Wild Natural Bait designated waters 
•  Single hooks only 
•  Daily limit of 4 fish a minimum of 7 inches 
•  Fishing season open year-round 
•  Multiple "frontcountry" campsites to stay at off of "Bull Pen Road," if planning on fishing the multiple opportunities in this area (Scotsman Creek, Fowler Creek &  Chattooga River @ Iron Bridge Access)
•  Either access the creek from Bull Pen Road or hike the "Bad Creek Trail to Ellicott & Commissioner Rocks"

The Local Scoop

We recommend Fowler Creek to those fishermen looking for a challenge and those who don't mind a little "bushwacking" to get to prime fishing holes. You will have the chance to catch some gorgeous Wild mountian trout in these waters by using either natural bait or artificial bait (single-hook only). Please be aware that some scrambling and/or rock hopping will have to be done in places on this creek. You will run into several waterfalls and a couple in particular that are fairly large. Please be careful and use your best judgement.
For the best fishing access you will need to fish this stream from where it empties into the Chattooga River. To do so, you will need to park at the suggested parking in my "local directions" and pick up the "Bad Creek Trail to Ellicott & Commissioner Rocks," which starts at the entrance to the Ellicott Rock Wilderness (Cashiers' side) 0.1 mile from where you will need to park (see local directions).
Hike approx. 3 miles down to the Chattooga River avoiding an intersecting trail for "Sloan Bridge" at approx. 2.3 miles in. Once down at the river you will notice a very inviting primitive campsite, and when I say "inviting," I mean wide open, directly on the river, fire ring and space for multiple tents. This would be a nice basecamp for those dedicated Hikers/Fishermen to take advantage of while in the area. You could fish Scotsman Creek, Fowler Creek and the Chattooga River. That would make for a nice long weekend trip in the backcountry.
To pick up Fowler Creek you will either need to bushwack along side the Chattooga or actually wade up the river for approx. 0.25 mile to where Fowler Creek empties into the Chattooga. Start here and enjoy.

The Local Directions

From Cashiers, NC
From the main intersection of U.S. Hwy 64 and N.C. Hwy 107 in Cashiers, N.C. head South on N.C. 107 towards S.C. Travel 7 miles to "Bull Pen Road" on your Right. Take this part pavement/part gravel road for 2.8 miles until you cross Fowler Creek and see a sign on the Right hand side of the road that says "Fowler Creek" (just past the Ellicott Rock Wilderness Sign on the Left). Park at the Forest Road just past the creek on the Right.

From Highlands, NC
From downtown Highlands, take "Horse Cove Road" (East).  To find Horse Cove Road, head East on Main Street passing by "Mountain Fresh Grocery" on your right.  Continue down this curvy road for 4.5 miles into the cove and off of the Highlands plateau.  At 4.5 miles, you'll come to a fork in the road.  Take the right and onto "Bull Pen Road."  This road is gravel but usually in good condition with a few bumpy sections to deal with.  At 3 miles down Bull Pen Road you'll cross the Chattooga River at the "Iron Bridge."  Continue over the river for another 3 miles to parking on your left via grassy/gravel and closed Forest Road (gated), just before Fowler Creek intersects Bull Pen Road.  If you decide to access Fowler Creek from where Bad Creek Trail meets the Chattooga River, you'll need to walk 0.1 mile across the creek and up Bull Pen Road (toward Cashiers) from where you parked, to find "Ellicott Rock Wilderness" and Bad Creek Trail's trailhead.

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Coordinates

35.02294, -83.09556

Access

Moderate via N.C. Hwy-107/
Bull Pen Road (Cashiers)
Moderate via Horse Cove Rd/
Bull Pen Road (Highlands)
Difficult creek access via
Roadside or Bad Creek Trail

Hike Distance

3.25 miles, via Bad Creek Trail

Nearest City

Cashiers

County

Jackson County

Distance From

Bad Creek Trail, 0.1 mile
Cashiers, 9.8 miles 
Highlands, 12.1 miles