NC Trout Fishing Regulations
nc mountain trout fishing regulations wild water
Mountain trout require cold, oxygenated water to thrive. Therefore there are a number of regulations put into place to help protect their environment, and prevent anglers from keeping the desired amount of fish with creel limits. While catch and release is the only practice that we preach at Southern Appalachian Anglers, public fishing regulations allow anglers to catch, and keep up to 7 trout in certain rivers. With that being said, North Carolina mountain trout streams are known as world class fisheries and can produce huge trout as well as beautiful wild specs.
The Wildlife Resources Commission marks rivers, and streams as: Wild Water, Hatchery Supported, and Delayed Harvest Water. If there are signs that are marked with purple or simply No Trespassing, those are not state owned, and anglers must steer clear of these lands since they are private. Below is a quick outline of the regulations you can find in Western North Carolina through the Piedmont region.
- WILD WATER: No closed season. Four 7 inch fish may be harvested. Artificial lures, single hook only may be used.
- HATCHERY SUPPORTED:
- Season is open August 1st, 2018 – February 28th, 2019. Seven trout per day no size limit may be harvested. No bait restrictions.
- Season CLOSED March 1st, 2019 – April 5th, 2019.
- From 7:00am on April 6th, to July 31st, 2019. Seven trout per day no size limit may be harvested. No bait restrictions.
- DELAYED HARVEST:
- October 1st – May 31st, no trout may be harvested. Artificial lures, single hook only may be used.
- June 1st, DH water is open to anglers under Hatchery Supported Regulations
- CATCH AND RELEASE ARTIFICIAL LURES: Season is open year round. Only artificial lures, using single hook may be used.
- CATCH AND RELEASE FLIES ONLY: Season is open year round. Only flies with single hook may be used.
Guided Fishing Trips
Southern Appalachian Anglers LLC offers a wide range of guided fishing trips for trout. Including float trips and waded trips – both full- and half-day trips for both. If you are interested in experiencing a fun, fish-filled day, with professional fly fishing guides in Western North Carolina, contact us online or at 828-691-1506 for more information or to book a trip of a lifetime. If you are just joining the fly fishing game, rest assured, all of our guides are fly casting instructors and offer great one-on-one instruction to make you a better angler.