Go Fishing

Western North Carolina is filled with numerous trout streams and the Land O’Sky Chapter is fortunate to be located in the heart of this fishing paradise. Whether you are a resident just getting into trout fishing, new to the area, or just visiting, we want to share with you some local streams. All of these are within a one hour drive of Asheville and most are stocked as part of either the hatchery supported stream or delayed harvest stream programs.

Fishing is one of the activities that brings many members to Trout Unlimited and provides a backdrop to most of our conservation, education, and outreach activities. Whether you’re just getting into trout fishing, are new to the area, joining TU will help you learn and understand what’s special about fishing our great mountain trout streams.

In North Carolina, our trout streams fall into three broad classifications:  Wild Trout, Delayed Harvest and Hatchery-Supported waters.  The designations applicable to these streams and the regulations that must be observed are generally displayed on diamond-shaped signs along the water; however, you should always “know before you go” to avoid a wasted trip or expensive ticket.  In addition, some of our waters have multiple designations along their courses.  The Davidson, for instance, goes from a Catch-And-Release Only to Hatchery Supported designation, and it’s theoretically possible to have one foot in one type of water and one in another.

We’ve tried to break the waters out by “designation”, and each page contains an overview of the regulations.  Please consult the latest NCWRC Wildlife Regulations Handbook for the most up-to-date and reliable information – and enjoy your trip!