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South Yadkin River is a public river in Iredell County, Davie County, Rowan County, Alexander County and Wilkes County, North Carolina, managed by State of North Carolina (public / navigable water). You can fish it on an North Carolina licence, but bank access is only at road crossings, parks, NCWRC access sites and other public land; riparian owners control the bank on non-navigable reaches. Public access confirmed via public-trust river.
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.
It runs roughly 63 miles through the Foothills & Piedmont region. Anglers here mostly fish for rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout. Live flow and gauge height come from the South Yadkin River Near Mocksville, Nc USGS station shown below. The nearest other mapped waters on PiscaMaps are Fifth Creek and Rocky Creek.
Species from NCWRC access and trout-water data.
Night fishing: No statewide night-fishing closure in North Carolina. Trotlines, set-hooks and jugs are legal on most inland waters with a licence and gear tags (not on Public Mountain Trout Waters or designated impoundments). Some NCWRC boating access areas gate at night; the Community Fishing Program lakes have posted hours.
Boats: Most North Carolina rivers are waded or floated by canoe, kayak and jon boat; the Roanoke, Cape Fear, Neuse, Tar-Pamlico and Chowan take bigger craft.
Bank & bivvy camping: North Carolina navigable-water rule: you may fish and float any navigable stream on an Inland Fishing licence; bank access is at NCWRC boating access areas and Public Fishing Areas, state parks, Game Lands and bridges. A Mountain Trout privilege is needed on Public Mountain Trout Waters, and where an inland river meets Coastal/Joint waters you need a Coastal Recreational Fishing Licence instead.
Boat ramps: 5 mapped — US 601 River Access, Rowan County Pump Station Access, Cooleemee Access, Cooleemee Falls Portage, Cooleemee Falls Portage.
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors.
Loading live flow & gauge height…
Live from USGS gauge 02118000 — South Yadkin River Near Mocksville, Nc. Full gauge data →
Anyone 16+ needs a North Carolina Inland Fishing licence — resident annual is about $27, non-resident annual about $45, and non-resident 10-day (~$23) licences are sold. A Mountain Trout privilege (~$16) is required in addition to fish any Public Mountain Trout Water; the Mountain Heritage Trout Waters in the mountain towns need only a $8 3-day licence. North Carolina residents 70+ get a free lifetime licence. Buy from the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. A North Carolina Inland Fishing licence covers navigable rivers. Where an inland river meets Coastal or Joint waters (marked by NCWRC/DMF signs) a Coastal Recreational Fishing Licence is required instead. A Mountain Trout privilege is required on Public Mountain Trout Waters.
Every water carries species, bank & boat access, current regulations and live water conditions — and members get Swim Mapper, Catch Logger and Trip Planner. It's the only US map with a dedicated carp-water layer.
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