Catch and Release, Artificial Flies Only Waters
You must release fish once caught and you can only use artificial flies in doing so. Here is a breakdown of the Catch and Release, Artificial Flies regulations:

• Season is open year-round
• No fish may be harvested or possessed
• Only artificial flies having one single hook may be used
• It is unlawful to possess natural bait on your person while fishing
• It is unlawful to use more than one line per person
• It is unlawful to fish from one-half hour after sunset, to one-half hour before sunrise on any Catch and Release stream located on Game Lands
• It is unlawful to take fish bait or bait fish from "Catch and Release Waters"
• It is unlawful to move wild fish from one stream to another on game lands without prior written authorization from the NCWRC

Delayed Harvest Waters
These are stocked trout waters open to fishing year-round, but trout caught between October 1 and the first Saturday in June must be immediately released. You cannot keep or have in your possession any trout while fishing these waters during this time. Single-hook, artificial lures or flies are required during the October-June period. Beginning the first Saturday in June, harvest of trout from these waters is allowed, and anglers can use natural bait. "Hatchery Supported" trout regulations apply during this time. Beginning October 1, these waters revert back to "Delayed Harvest" trout regulations. Harvest of trout is again prohibited and anglers must use single hook artificial lures or flies. Here is a breakdown of the Delayed Harvest Regulations:

From October 1, 2007 to June 6, 2008:

• You may only use single hook artificial lures
• No fish may be harvested or possessed
• No fishing allowed at all between 1/2 hour after sunset on June 6, 2008 and 6:00 am on June 7, 2008

At 6:00 am, June 7, 2008:

• These waters open under the "Hatchery Supported" regulations
• No bait restrictions
• No minimum length limit
• Seven (7) trout per day creel limit.

Hatchery Supported Waters
These waters make up over half of all trout waters in North Carolina. They cover approximately 1,100 miles of streams. Most of these streams receive at least one stocking per year of catchable size fish. Here is a breakdown of the Hatchery Supported Regulations:

• Season is open from July 1, 2007 to February 29, 2008
  Then from 6:00 am April 5, 2008 to June 30, 2008
• There is no bait or lure restriction
• There is no size limit restriction
• There is a seven (7) fish per day creel limit

Wild Waters
Here is a breakdown of the Wild Waters Regulations:

• You can only use a single hook artificial lure
• You can only keep four (4) fish
• The four fish must be at least seven (7) inches long
• It is unlawful to possess natural bait on your person while fishing
• It is unlawful to use more than one line per person
• Except in the following areas: Nantahala River downstream from the Swain County line and in the sections of Green River in Polk County located on Green River Game Lands from the confluence with Cove Creek, downstream to Brights Creek: it is unlawful to fish from one-half hour after sunset, to one-half hour before sunrise
• It is unlawful to take fish bait or bait fish from "Wild Waters"
• It is unlawful to place hatchery-reared fish into a wild trout stream or move wild fish from one stream to another on game lands without prior written authorization from the NCWRC

Catch and Release, Artificial Lures Only Waters
You may catch the fish but you must release them back and you can only use artificial lures in doing so. Here is a breakdown of the Catch and Release, Artificial Lures Regulations:

• Season is open year-round
• No fish may be harvested or possessed
• Only artificial lures having one single hook may be used
• It is unlawful to possess natural bait on your person while fishing
• It is unlawful to use more than one line per person
• It is unlawful to fish from one-half hour after sunset, to one-half hour before sunrise on any Catch and Release stream located on Game Lands
• It is unlawful to take fish bait or bait fish from "Catch and Release Waters"
• It is unlawful to move wild fish from one stream to another on game lands without prior written authorization from the NCWRC

Wild Trout, Natural Bait Waters
Here is a breakdown of the Wild Trout, Natural Bait Waters Regulations:

• Season is open year-round:
• You can use a single hook artificial lure (or)
• You can use a single hook with natural bait
• You can only keep four (4) fish
• The four fish must be at least seven (7) inches long
• It is unlawful to use more than one line per person
• It is unlawful to fish from one-half hour after sunset, to one-half hour before sunrise
• It is unlawful to take fish bait or bait fish from "Wild Trout, Natural Bait Waters"
• It is unlawful to place hatchery-reared fish into a wild trout stream or move wild fish from one stream to another on game lands without prior written authorization from the NCWRC