Looking to try fishing for the first time? Still fine-tuning your angling skills? Or perhaps you forgot your gear at home? The Tackle Loaner Program is here for you! The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has teamed up with various cities, counties, state parks and other organizations so that North Carolinians (and visitors) may borrow rods, reels and other fishing gear free of charge. The NCWRC created the program in the 1990s to introduce new anglers, especially children, to the wonderful pastime of fishing and encourage novice anglers to develop their skills. The program is funded by the federal Sport Fish Restoration program.
The Tackle Loaner Program operates just like a library system. Anglers of all ages register at any participating site, then receive a TLP ID card, which allows them to check out fishing gear. Participants can then use their ID card again and again to loan out gear at any of NC’s TLP sites. All gear must be returned to the site from which it was originally loaned out, however.
First-time TLP participants under 16 years of age will receive a free mini-tackle box loaded with basic fishing essentials.
Adaptive fishing gear can be loaned to anglers with disabilities at some TLP sites. This gear includes a Velcro reeling system and assistive arm or hand pole holders/grips for those with limited or no hand function. We also offer wheelchair pole holders. If you are visiting or plan to visit a TLP site that does not have this gear readily available, please contact tackleloaner@ncwildlife.org so that we may assist.
A list of Tackle Loaner Program sites is below, sorted by county A-Z. You can also use the N.C. Fishing Access Map to find your nearest TLP site. A tutorial on how to filter the map for TLP sites can be found here.
Many of the 50+ TLP sites are also Community Fishing Program sites, where the NCWRC regularly stocks catfish.
The NCWRC is always looking to bring the Tackle Loaner Program to more communities, because we believe everyone should have access to fishing. If your city or county does not have a TLP site, but you’d like to see one, please let us know by reaching out to tackleloaner@ncwildlife.org. Agencies interested in becoming a TLP partner are encouraged to reach out as well.
SITE LOCATION
COUNTY (A-Z)
TLP PARTNER
ADAPTIVE GEAR AVAILABLE
New River State Park
Alleghany
NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.
Stone Mountain State Park
Ashe Park Pond
Ashe
Ashe County Parks & Recreation
Asheville Parks and Recreation Office (serves Swannanoa River)
Buncombe
Asheville Parks & Recreation
Yes
South Mountains State Park
Burke
Cashiers-Glenville Recreation Center (onsite pond)
Jackson
Jackson County Parks & Recreation Dept.
Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center (serves Mill Creek)
McDowell
Mountain Gateway Museum
Buckeye Recreation Center (serves Buckeye Creek Reservoir and Coffey Lake
Watauga
Beech Mountain Parks and Recreation
Wilkes County Library (serves Reddies River, Cub Creek & Yadkin Greenway Pier)
Wilkes
Town of Wilkesboro/Wilkes County Partnership
Patience Park Office (serves Yancey County Toe River Campground)
Yancey
Yancey County Parks & Recreation
Graham-Mebane Lake
Alamance
Graham Recreation and Parks
Camp TN Spencer Park (onsite pond)
Cabarrus
Cabarrus Co. Active Living & Parks
Frank Liske Park (onsite lake)
Broad River Greenway
Cleveland
Little River Reservoir
Durham
Durham Parks & Recreation
Lake Michie Recreation Area
Eno River State Park
Rankin Lake Park
Gaston
Gastonia Parks & Recreation
Dallas Park (onsite ponds)
Gaston County Parks & Recreation
Lake Devin
Granville
Oxford Parks & Recreation
Lake Rogers Park
Creedmoor Parks & Recreation Dept.
Oka T. Hester Complex (onsite pond)
Guilford
Greensboro Parks & Recreation Dept.
Bur-Mil Park (serves Bur-Mil Park and Lake Brandt)
Guilford County Parks and Recreation
High Point City Lake Park
High Point Parks & Recreation
Oak Hollow City Lake
San-Lee Park (onsite pond)
Lee
Lee County Parks & Recreation
Matthews Community Center (serves Squirrel Lake)
Mecklenburg
Matthews Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources
Quest Nature Center (serves Mountain Island Lake)
Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation
McDowell Nature Center (serves Lake Wylie)
Reedy Creek Nature Center (onsite pond)
Aberdeen Lake Park
Moore
Aberdeen Parks and Recreations
Southern Pines Recreation and Parks Dept. - 2nd Floor at Campbell House (serves Reservoir Park)
Southern Pines Recreation and Parks
Century Center (serves Anderson Community Park)
Orange
Carrboro Recreation, Parks & Cultural Resources
Mayo Park (serves Mayo Lake)
Person
Person County Parks and Recreation
Lake Lucas Park
Randolph
Asheboro Cultural & Recreation Res.
Haw River State Park (serves Robins Nest Lake)
Rockingham
Mayo River State Park
City Park (onsite pond)
Rowan
Salisbury Parks & Recreation
Salisbury Community Park (onsite pond)
Morrow Mountain State Park
Stanly
Elkin Municipal Park (serves Big Elkin Creek)
Surry
Elkin Recreation & Parks Department
Tumbling Rock Reservoir at Westwood Park
Mount Airy Parks & Recreation
Cane Creek Park
Union
Union County Parks & Recreation
Aycock Recreation Center (serves Fox Pond)
Vance
Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks
Apex Community Park (serves Apex Lake)
Wake
Apex Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources
Bass Lake Park
Holly Springs Parks & Recreation
Falls Lake Information Center
Lake Wheeler Park (Simpkins Pond)
Raleigh Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources
Harris Lake County Park
Wake Co. Parks, Rec. & Open Space
Lake Crabtree County Park
Poole Family YMCA (serves Lake Benson)
Poole Family YMCA in Garner
Hazel W. Guilford Memorial Library (serves Pamlico River)
Beaufort
BHM Regional Library System
Creekside Park (serves Brice’s Creek)
Craven
Craven County Parks and Recreation
Lake Rim Park
Cumberland
Fayetteville-Cumberland Co. Parks & Recreation
River Park North
Pitt
Greenville Recreation & Parks
Lumber River State Park (in Orrum)
Robeson
NC Dept. of Natural and Cultural Resources
Lumber River State Park (in Wagram)
Scotland
Cliffs of the Neuse State Park
Wayne