About Mountain Trout Waters
Brook, brown and rainbow trout require cold, clean water and are therefore generally restricted to mountain streams and lakes.
Those mountain waters that support trout and are open to public fishing are designated as "Public Mountain Trout Waters" by the
Wildlife Resources Commission and are man aged for public trout fishing. A significant amount of trout fishing opportunities in
western North Carolina are located on private property. These landowners have generously allowed for public access for fish - ing.
Please respect their property. Your cooperation is needed to protect fishing opportunities for future generations. The Commission
conspicuously marks Public Mountain Trout Waters with regulation signs that indicate locations for public access. When anglers
encounter "posted against trespass" signs along these designated sections on private lands, they should respect the property
owner's rights and choose another location along that stream to fish.
Fishing in Public Mountain Trout Waters
- Fishing is limited to hook and line only.
- An artificial lure is defined as a fishing lure that neither con tains nor has been treated with any substance that
attracts fish by the sense of taste or smell.
- Natural bait is defined as any living or dead organism (plant or animal), or parts thereof, or prepared substances
designed to attract fish by the sense of taste or smell.
- It is unlawful to take fish bait or bait fish from Public Mountain Trout Waters.
- It is unlawful to possess natural bait while fishing Wild Trout and Catch and Release waters, unless those waters are also
specifically classified for use of natural bait.
- Dropper flies may be used when fishing any Public Mountain Trout Waters.
- It is unlawful to fish with more than one line per person, except on power reservoirs and municipal water supply
reservoirs.
- Fishing is not allowed in Hatchery Supported Trout Waters dur - ing the closed season except in the Linville River and
tributaries within Linville Gorge Wilderness Area and on power reservoirs and municipal water supply reservoirs designated as
trout waters.
- Non-trout species may be harvested from Delayed Harvest Trout Waters during the catch-and-release only trout season under
applicable size and creel limits.
- It is unlawful to place hatchery-reared fish into Wild Trout Waters or move wild fish from one stream to another on game
lands without prior written authorization.
Trout Fishing in Undesignated Waters
Some waters that are not designated as Public Mountain Trout Waters contain mountain trout. When fishing in undesignated waters,
there is no size limit or bait restriction, and the creel limit is seven trout per day. A trout fishing license is not required to
fish undesignated waters, and there is no closed season.
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