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North Carolina

Fishing

Fishing

Mountain Trout Regulations: Counties A-M

Alleghany County

Delayed Harvest Trout Waters

  • Little River (S.R. 1133 bridge to 275 yards downstream of the intersection of S.R. 1128 and S.R. 1129 [marked by a sign on each bank])

Hatchery Supported Trout Waters

  • Big Pine Creek
  • Bledsoe Creek
  • Brush Creek (N.C. 21 bridge to confluence with Little River, except where posted against trespassing)
  • Cranberry Creek
  • (Big) Glade Creek
  • Little River (275 yards downstream of the intersection of S.R. 1128 and S.R. 1129 [marked by a sign on each bank] to McCann Dam)
  • Meadow Fork
  • Pine Swamp Creek
  • Piney Fork
  • Prathers Creek

Wild Trout Waters

  • All waters located on Stone Mountain State Park

Ashe County

Catch and Release/Artificial Flies and Lures Only Trout Waters

  • Big Horse Creek (Virginia state line to Mud Creek at S.R. 1363, excluding tributaries)

Delayed Harvest Trout Waters

  • Big Horse Creek (S.R. 1324 bridge to North Fork New River)
  • Helton Creek (900 yards upstream of S.R. 1372 bridge [marked by a sign on each bank] to North Fork New River)
  • South Fork New River (upstream end of Todd Island to the S.R. 1351 bridge)
  • Trout Lake

Hatchery Supported Trout Waters

  • Beaver Creek (N.C. 221 to confluence of Beaver Creek and South Beaver Creek)
  • Big Horse Creek (Mud Creek at S.R. 1363 to S.R. 1324 bridge)
  • Big Laurel Creek (S.R. 1315 bridge to confluence with North Fork New River)
  • Buffalo Creek (S.R. 1133 bridge to N.C. 194-88 bridge)
  • Cranberry Creek (Alleghany Co. line to South Fork New River)
  • Nathans Creek
  • North Fork New River (Watauga Co. line to Sharp Dam)
  • Old Fields Creek (N.C. 221 to South Fork New River)
  • Peak Creek (upstream property boundary of NCDA-NCSU Upper Mountain Research Station to Trout Lake, except Blue Ridge Parkway waters)
  • Roan Creek
  • Three Top Creek

Avery County

Catch and Release/Artificial Flies and Lures Only Trout Waters

  • Elk River (portion on Lees-McRae College property, excluding the millpond)
  • Lost Cove Creek (game land portion, excluding Gragg Prong and Rockhouse Creek)
  • Wilson Creek (game land portion)

Hatchery Supported Trout Waters

  • Boyde Coffey Lake
  • Elk River (S.R. 1305 crossing immediately upstream of Big Falls to the Tennessee state line)
  • Linville River (S.R. 1504 to the Blue Ridge Parkway boundary line, except where posted against trespassing)
  • Milltimber Creek
  • North Toe River—upper (Watauga St. to Roby Shoemaker Wetlands and Family Recreational Park, except where posted against trespassing)
  • North Toe River—lower (S.R. 1164 to Mitchell Co. line, except where posted against trespassing)
  • Squirrel Creek
  • Wildcat Lake

Wild Trout Waters

  • Birchfield Creek
  • Cow Camp Creek
  • Cranberry Creek (headwaters to U.S. 19E/N.C. 194 bridge)
  • Gragg Prong
  • Horse Creek
  • Kentucky Creek
  • North Harper Creek
  • Plumtree Creek
  • Roaring Creek
  • Rockhouse Creek
  • Shawneehaw Creek (portion adjacent to Banner Elk Greenway)
  • South Harper Creek
  • Webb Prong

Buncombe County

Catch and Release/Artificial Flies and Lures Only Trout Waters

  • Carter Creek (game land portion)

Hatchery Supported Trout Waters

  • Bent Creek (headwaters to N.C. Arboretum boundary line)
  • Cane Creek (headwaters to S.R. 3138 bridge)
  • Corner Rock Creek (Little Andy Creek to confluence with Walker Branch)
  • Dillingham Creek (Corner Rock Creek to Ivy Creek)
  • Ivy Creek (Ivy River) (Dillingham Creek to U.S. 19-23 bridge)
  • Lake Powhatan
  • Reems Creek (Sugar Camp Fork to U.S. 19-23 bridge, except where posted against trespassing)
  • Rich Branch (downstream from the confluence with Rocky Branch)
  • Stony Creek
  • Swannanoa River (S.R. 2702 bridge near Ridgecrest to Wood Avenue bridge [intersection of N.C. 81 and U.S. 74A in Asheville], except where posted against trespassing)

Burke County

Catch and Release/Artificial Flies and Lures Only Trout Waters

  • Henry Fork (portion on South Mountains State Park)

Delayed Harvest Trout Waters

  • Jacob Fork (Shinny Creek to lower South Mountains State Park boundary)

Hatchery Supported Trout Waters

  • Carroll Creek (portion on game lands above S.R. 1405)
  • Henry Fork (lower South Mountains State Park line downstream to S.R. 1919 at Ivy Creek)
  • Linville River (portion within Linville Gorge Wilderness Area (LGWA) and portion below Lake James power­house from upstream bridge on S.R. 1223 to Muddy Creek) There is no closed season within LGWA.

Special Regulation Trout Waters

  • Catawba River (Muddy Creek to City of Morganton water intake dam). The creel limit is two trout per day, and the minimum size limit is 14 inches. No bait restrictions. No closed season.

Wild Trout Waters

  • All waters located on South Mountains State Park except Clear Creek Reservoir, the main stream of Jacob Fork between the mouth of Shinny Creek and the lower park boundary, and Henry Fork and its tributaries
  • Nettle Branch (game land portion)

Caldwell County

Delayed Harvest Trout Waters

  • Wilson Creek (game land portion below Lost Cove Creek to Phillips Branch)

Hatchery Supported Trout Waters

  • Boone Fork Pond
  • Buffalo Creek (mouth of Joes Creek to McCloud Branch)
  • Joes Creek (first falls upstream of S.R. 1574 to confluence with Buffalo Creek)
  • Wilson Creek (Phillips Branch to Brown Mountain Beach Dam, except where posted against trespassing)
  • Yadkin River (Happy Valley Ruritan Community Park to S.R. 1515)

Wild Trout Waters

  • Buffalo Creek (Watauga Co. line to Long Ridge Branch including tributaries on game lands)
  • Joes Creek (Watauga Co. line to first falls upstream of the end of S.R. 1574)
  • Rockhouse Creek

Cherokee County

Hatchery Supported Trout Waters

  • Davis Creek (confluence of Bald and Dockery creeks to Hanging Dog Creek)
  • Hyatt Creek (Big Dam Branch to Valley River)
  • Junaluska Creek (Ashturn Creek to Valley River)
  • Shuler Creek (Joe Brown Hwy. [S.R. 1325] bridge to Tennessee state line)
  • Valley River (S.R. 1359 to U.S. 19 Business bridge in Murphy)

SPECIAL REGULATION TROUT WATERS

  • Apalachia Reservoir. The creel limit is three trout per day. There is no minimum size limit, but only one trout may be greater than 14 inches. No bait restrictions. No closed season.

Wild Trout/Natural Bait Waters

  • Bald Creek (game land portion)
  • Dockery Creek (game land portion)

Clay County

Delayed Harvest Trout Waters

  • Fires Creek (Rockhouse Creek to the foot bridge in the USFS Fires Creek Picnic Area)

Hatchery Supported Trout Waters

  • Buck Creek (game land portion downstream of U.S. 64 bridge)
  • Fires Creek (foot bridge in the USFS Fires Creek Picnic Area to S.R. 1300)
  • Tusquitee Creek (Compass Creek to lower S.R. 1300 bridge)

Graham County

Delayed Harvest Trout Waters

  • (Big) Snowbird Creek (USFS footbridge at the old railroad junction to USFS Road 2579)

Hatchery Supported Trout Waters

  • Calderwood Reservoir (Cheoah Dam to Tennessee state line)
  • Cheoah Reservoir
  • Panther Creek (confluence of Stand Creek and Rock Creek to Lake Fontana)
  • Santeetlah Creek (Johns Branch to Lake Santeetlah)
  • (Big) Snowbird Creek (USFS Road 2579 to S.R. 1127 bridge)
  • Stecoah Creek (upper game land boundary to Lake Fontana)
  • Tulula Creek (S.R. 1201 to lower bridge on S.R. 1275)
  • West Buffalo Creek
  • Yellow Creek (Lake Santeetlah Hydropower Pipeline to Cheoah River)

Wild Trout Waters

  • Little Buffalo Creek
  • South Fork Squally Creek
  • Squally Creek

Wild Trout/Natural Bait Waters

  • Long Creek (game land portion)

Haywood County

Delayed Harvest Trout Waters

  • West Fork Pigeon River (Queen Creek to the first game land boundary upstream of Lake Logan)

Hatchery Supported Trout Waters

  • Cold Springs Creek (Fall Branch to Pigeon River)
  • Jonathan Creek (upstream S.R. 1302 bridge to Pigeon River, except where posted against trespass)
  • Pigeon River (Stamey Cove Branch to upstream U.S. 19-23 bridge)
  • Richland Creek (Russ Avenue [U.S. 276] bridge to U.S. 19 bridge)
  • West Fork Pigeon River (Tom Creek to Queen Creek, including portions on game lands, except Middle Prong)

Henderson County

Delayed Harvest Trout Waters

  • North Fork Mills River (game land portion below the Hendersonville watershed dam)

Hatchery Supported Trout Waters

  • (Rocky) Broad River (end of S.R. 1611 to Rutherford Co. line)
  • Cane Creek (railroad bridge upstream of S.R. 1551 bridge to U.S. 25 bridge)
  • Clear Creek (Laurel Fork to S.R. 1582)
  • Green River (Lake Summit powerhouse to game land boundary)
  • (Big) Hungry River (S.R. 1885 to Green River)

Jackson County

Catch and Release/Artificial Flies and Lures Only Trout Waters

  • Flat Creek
  • (East Fork) Tuckasegee River (game land portion upstream of Tanasee Creek Lake, including Duke Energy powerline corridor)

Delayed Harvest Trout Waters

  • Tuckasegee River (downstream N.C. 107 bridge to the falls located 275 yards upstream of the U.S. 23-441 bridge [marked by a sign on each bank])

Hatchery Supported Trout Waters

  • Balsam Lake
  • Bear Creek Lake
  • Cedar Cliff Lake
  • Cullowhee Creek (Tilley Creek to Tuckasegee River)
  • Dark Ridge Creek (Jones Creek to Scott Creek)
  • Greens Creek (Greens Creek Baptist Church on S.R. 1370 to Savannah Creek)
  • Savannah Creek (Shell Branch to Cagle Branch)
  • Scott Creek (Dark Ridge Creek to Tuckasegee River, except where posted against trespassing)
  • Tanasee Creek Lake
  • Tuckasegee River—upper (John Brown Branch to the downstream N.C. 107 bridge)
  • Tuckasegee River—lower (falls located 275 yards upstream of U.S. 23-441 bridge [marked by a sign on each bank] to S.R. 1534 bridge at Wilmot)
  • Wolf Creek Lake

Wild Trout Waters

  • Gage Creek
  • North Fork Scott Creek
  • Tanasee Creek
  • Whitewater River (downstream from Silver Run Creek to South Carolina state line)
  • Wolf Creek (except Balsam Lake and Wolf Creek Lake)

Wild Trout/Natural Bait Waters

  • Chattooga River (S.R. 1100 bridge to South Carolina state line)

Macon County

Delayed Harvest Trout Waters

  • Nantahala River (Whiteoak Creek to Nantahala hydropower discharge canal)

Hatchery Supported Trout Waters

  • Burningtown Creek (Left Prong to Little Tennessee River)
  • Cartoogechaye Creek (downstream U.S. 64 bridge to Little Tennessee River)
  • Cliffside Lake
  • Cullasaja River (Sequoyah Dam to U.S. 64 bridge near junction of S.R. 1672)
  • Nantahala River—upper (Dicks Creek to Whiteoak Creek)
  • Nantahala River—lower (Nantahala hydropower discharge canal to Swain Co. line)
  • Queens Creek Lake

Wild Trout/Natural Bait Waters

  • Chattooga River (S.R. 1100 bridge to South Carolina state line)
  • Kimsey Creek
  • Park Creek

Madison County

Delayed Harvest Trout Waters

  • Big Laurel Creek (N.C. 208 bridge to the U.S. 25-70 bridge)
  • Shelton Laurel Creek (N.C. 208 bridge at Belva to the confluence with Big Laurel Creek)
  • Spring Creek (N.C. 209 bridge at Hot Springs city limits to iron bridge at end of Andrews Avenue)

Hatchery Supported Trout Waters

  • Big Laurel Creek (Puncheon Fork to the S.R. 1318 [Big Laurel Road] bridge downstream of Bearpen Branch)
  • Big Pine Creek (S.R. 1151 bridge to French Broad River)
  • Little Ivy Creek (confluence of Middle Fork and Paint Fork at Beech Glen to confluence with Ivy Creek at Forks of Ivy)
  • Max Patch Pond
  • Meadow Fork (Meadow Fork Campground to Spring Creek)
  • Puncheon Fork (Wolf Laurel Branch to Big Laurel Creek)
  • Roaring Fork (Fall Branch to Meadow Fork)
  • Shelton Laurel Creek (confluence of Big Creek and Mill Creek to N.C. 208 bridge at Belva)
  • Shut-in Creek
  • Spillcorn Creek
  • Spring Creek (junction of N.C. 209 and N.C. 63 to the confluence with Meadow Fork)
  • West Fork Shut-in Creek (lower game land boundary to confluence with East Fork Shut-in Creek)

McDowell County

Catch and Release/Artificial Flies and Lures Only Trout Waters

  • Newberry Creek (game land portion)

Delayed Harvest Trout Waters

  • Catawba River (portion adjacent to Marion Greenway)
  • Curtis Creek (game land portion downstream of the USFS boundary at Deep Branch)
  • Mill Creek (U.S. 70 bridge to I-40 bridge)

Hatchery Supported Trout Waters

  • Armstrong Creek (Cato Holler lower line downstream to upper Greenlee line)
  • Catawba River (Catawba Falls Campground to Old Fort Recreation Park)
  • Little Buck Creek (game land portion)
  • North Fork Catawba River (headwaters to North Cove School at S.R. 1569 bridge)

Mitchell County

Delayed Harvest Trout Waters

  • Cane Creek (N.C. 226 bridge to S.R. 1189 bridge)
  • North Toe River (U.S. 19E bridge to N.C. 226 bridge)

Hatchery Supported Trout Waters

  • Big Rock Creek (headwaters to N.C. 226 bridge at S.R. 1307 intersection)
  • Cane Creek (S.R. 1219 to N.C. 226 bridge)
  • East Fork Grassy Creek
  • Grassy Creek (East Fork Grassy Creek to mouth)
  • Little Rock Creek (Green Creek bridge to Big Rock Creek, except where posted against trespassing)
  • North Toe River (Avery Co. line to S.R. 1121 bridge)

Wild Trout Waters

  • Green Creek (above Green Creek bridge, except where posted against trespassing)
  • Little Rock Creek (above Green Creek, including all tributaries, except where posted against trespassing)
  • Wiles Creek (game land boundary to mouth)