22 public waters in the Mountains region — 4 lakes/reservoirs and 18 rivers. Every one is public water fishable on an North Carolina licence.
See every public fishing venue in North Carolina on the map, with boat ramps, camping, parking and full rules for each one.
Price Lake, a 39-acre lake in Watauga County, North Carolina, managed by National Park Service: A western North Carolina mountain lake (TVA, Duke or a municipal reservoir) — deep, clear, cool water with smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Walleye, Muskellunge, White Bass and a winter Crappie bite, plus stocked rainbow and Brown Trout near the cold dam releases. Fontana, Nantahala, Santeetlah, Glenville and the Hiwassee/Chatuge lakes.
In Watauga and Jackson Counties, North Carolina, Trout Lake is a 33-acre lake, managed by NC Wildlife Resources Commission (public boating access / fishing area). A western North Carolina mountain lake (TVA, Duke or a municipal reservoir) — deep, clear, cool water with smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Walleye, Muskellunge, White Bass and a winter Crappie bite, plus stocked rainbow and Brown Trout near the cold dam releases. Fontana, Nantahala, Santeetlah, Glenville and the Hiwassee/Chatuge lakes.
Bass Lake (22 acres) sits in Watauga County, North Carolina, managed by NC Wildlife Resources Commission. A western North Carolina mountain lake (TVA, Duke or a municipal reservoir) — deep, clear, cool water with smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Walleye, Muskellunge, White Bass and a winter Crappie bite, plus stocked rainbow and Brown Trout near the cold dam releases. Fontana, Nantahala, Santeetlah, Glenville and the Hiwassee/Chatuge lakes.
In Watauga County, North-Carolina, SweetGrass Lake is a 21-acre lake, managed by NC Wildlife Resources Commission. Public lakes across the Southeast typically hold largemouth and other black bass species, bream (bluegill and redear/shellcracker sunfish), black and white crappie, and blue, channel and flathead catfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In Ashe, Watauga and Alleghany Counties, North Carolina, South Fork New River is a 144 km river or creek. A North Carolina Public Mountain Trout Water — the classification (Hatchery Supported, Wild Trout, Delayed Harvest, Catch-and-Release/Fly, Wild Trout Natural Bait) sets the season, tackle and creel. Wild and stocked rainbow, brown and native brook ('specks') Trout. A Mountain Trout privilege is required in addition to the fishing licence.
The Watauga — the tailwater below Watauga Dam runs into Tennessee, but the North Carolina river above Boone is a Delayed-Harvest and Hatchery-Supported Trout water, plus the Valle Crucis and Guy Ford sections. Wild and stocked rainbow and Brown Trout in a cold, fast mountain river.
Ashe and Watauga Counties, North Carolina — North Fork New River is a 58 km stream: A North Carolina Public Mountain Trout Water — the classification (Hatchery Supported, Wild Trout, Delayed Harvest, Catch-and-Release/Fly, Wild Trout Natural Bait) sets the season, tackle and creel. Wild and stocked rainbow, brown and native brook ('specks') Trout. A Mountain Trout privilege is required in addition to the fishing licence.
Johns River runs 57 km through Caldwell, Burke and Watauga Counties, North Carolina: A North Carolina Public Mountain Trout Water — the classification (Hatchery Supported, Wild Trout, Delayed Harvest, Catch-and-Release/Fly, Wild Trout Natural Bait) sets the season, tackle and creel. Wild and stocked rainbow, brown and native brook ('specks') Trout. A Mountain Trout privilege is required in addition to the fishing licence.
Elk Creek runs 33 km through Watauga, Wilkes and Caldwell Counties, North Carolina: A North Carolina Public Mountain Trout Water — the classification (Hatchery Supported, Wild Trout, Delayed Harvest, Catch-and-Release/Fly, Wild Trout Natural Bait) sets the season, tackle and creel. Wild and stocked rainbow, brown and native brook ('specks') Trout. A Mountain Trout privilege is required in addition to the fishing licence.
Roan Creek (3 km) flows through Watauga County, North Carolina. A North Carolina Public Mountain Trout Water — the classification (Hatchery Supported, Wild Trout, Delayed Harvest, Catch-and-Release/Fly, Wild Trout Natural Bait) sets the season, tackle and creel. Wild and stocked rainbow, brown and native brook ('specks') Trout. A Mountain Trout privilege is required in addition to the fishing licence.
Wilkes and Watauga Counties, North Carolina — Stony Fork is a 18 km stream: A North Carolina Public Mountain Trout Water — the classification (Hatchery Supported, Wild Trout, Delayed Harvest, Catch-and-Release/Fly, Wild Trout Natural Bait) sets the season, tackle and creel. Wild and stocked rainbow, brown and native brook ('specks') Trout. A Mountain Trout privilege is required in addition to the fishing licence.
Watauga County, North Carolina — Meat Camp Creek is a 4 km stream: A North Carolina Public Mountain Trout Water — the classification (Hatchery Supported, Wild Trout, Delayed Harvest, Catch-and-Release/Fly, Wild Trout Natural Bait) sets the season, tackle and creel. Wild and stocked rainbow, brown and native brook ('specks') Trout. A Mountain Trout privilege is required in addition to the fishing licence.
Howard Creek (4 km) flows through Watauga County, North Carolina. A North Carolina Public Mountain Trout Water — the classification (Hatchery Supported, Wild Trout, Delayed Harvest, Catch-and-Release/Fly, Wild Trout Natural Bait) sets the season, tackle and creel. Wild and stocked rainbow, brown and native brook ('specks') Trout. A Mountain Trout privilege is required in addition to the fishing licence.
Boone Fork runs 10 km through Watauga County, North Carolina: A North Carolina Public Mountain Trout Water — the classification (Hatchery Supported, Wild Trout, Delayed Harvest, Catch-and-Release/Fly, Wild Trout Natural Bait) sets the season, tackle and creel. Wild and stocked rainbow, brown and native brook ('specks') Trout. A Mountain Trout privilege is required in addition to the fishing licence.
Left Prong Stony Fork (10 km) flows through Watauga and Wilkes Counties, North Carolina. A warmwater North Carolina river or large creek — largemouth and Spotted Bass, redbreast and Bluegill Sunfish, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bowfin and Gar. Access at NCWRC ramps, county landings and bridges.
Joes Creek runs 10 km through Watauga and Caldwell Counties, North Carolina: A North Carolina Public Mountain Trout Water — the classification (Hatchery Supported, Wild Trout, Delayed Harvest, Catch-and-Release/Fly, Wild Trout Natural Bait) sets the season, tackle and creel. Wild and stocked rainbow, brown and native brook ('specks') Trout. A Mountain Trout privilege is required in addition to the fishing licence.
In Watauga County, North Carolina, Middle Fork South Fork New River is a lake. A North Carolina Public Mountain Trout Water — the classification (Hatchery Supported, Wild Trout, Delayed Harvest, Catch-and-Release/Fly, Wild Trout Natural Bait) sets the season, tackle and creel. Wild and stocked rainbow, brown and native brook ('specks') Trout. A Mountain Trout privilege is required in addition to the fishing licence.
Beech Creek (4 km) flows through Watauga and Avery Counties, North Carolina. A North Carolina Public Mountain Trout Water — the classification (Hatchery Supported, Wild Trout, Delayed Harvest, Catch-and-Release/Fly, Wild Trout Natural Bait) sets the season, tackle and creel. Wild and stocked rainbow, brown and native brook ('specks') Trout. A Mountain Trout privilege is required in addition to the fishing licence.
Long Hope Creek runs 10 km through Ashe and Watauga Counties, North Carolina: A North Carolina Public Mountain Trout Water — the classification (Hatchery Supported, Wild Trout, Delayed Harvest, Catch-and-Release/Fly, Wild Trout Natural Bait) sets the season, tackle and creel. Wild and stocked rainbow, brown and native brook ('specks') Trout. A Mountain Trout privilege is required in addition to the fishing licence.
Winkler Creek runs 2 km through Watauga County, North Carolina: A North Carolina Public Mountain Trout Water — the classification (Hatchery Supported, Wild Trout, Delayed Harvest, Catch-and-Release/Fly, Wild Trout Natural Bait) sets the season, tackle and creel. Wild and stocked rainbow, brown and native brook ('specks') Trout. A Mountain Trout privilege is required in addition to the fishing licence.
In Watauga and Wilkes Counties, North Carolina, Dugger Creek is a 7 km river or creek. A warmwater North Carolina river or large creek — largemouth and Spotted Bass, redbreast and Bluegill Sunfish, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bowfin and Gar. Access at NCWRC ramps, county landings and bridges.
Thunderhole Creek (8 km) flows through Caldwell and Watauga Counties, North Carolina. A North Carolina Public Mountain Trout Water — the classification (Hatchery Supported, Wild Trout, Delayed Harvest, Catch-and-Release/Fly, Wild Trout Natural Bait) sets the season, tackle and creel. Wild and stocked rainbow, brown and native brook ('specks') Trout. A Mountain Trout privilege is required in addition to the fishing licence.
Across its mapped waters, Watauga County holds 20 species on PiscaMaps, including Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Spotted Bass, Black Crappie and Smallmouth Bass.
Ramps, put-ins and species for every water — plus the carp layer no other US app has.
Open the North Carolina map Join PiscaMapsOne North Carolina fishing licence covers every public water in the state — resident annual about $15, non-resident annual about $50, with non-resident 1-day and 3-day options. A separate North Carolina trout licence (~$10 res / ~$20 non-res) is required to fish for or possess trout, and Public Fishing Area ponds also need a North Carolina Lands Pass. North Carolina residents 65+ fish free. Buy at GoOutdoorsNorth Carolina.com.