Public Fishing Areas (PFAs) have been created throughout the state to provide free fishing opportunities from the banks of North Carolina’s lakes, rivers, streams and reservoirs. The Wildlife Resources Commission has enhanced fishing opportunities at PFAs by clearing banks of underbrush, and in some cases, by constructing universally accessible fishing piers, creating graveled or paved parking lots, installing fish attractors, or baiting the areas with grain or fish feed.

Community Fishing Program (CFP) sites are located primarily in city- or county-owned parks, providing urban anglers fishing opportunities in intensively managed bodies of water. CFP sites feature solar-powered fish feeders, universally accessible fishing piers (at most CFPs), and periodic stockings of harvestable-sized channel catfish from April through September.

Be sure to check out which sites participate in the Fishing Tackle Loaner Program!

Boat and Canoe Access Sites for Angling provides additional information on fishing opportunities on many North Carolina lakes, rivers and sounds. Some of these sites are managed by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission; some sites are managed by other municipalities, state parks and other groups. A few of the sites not managed by the Wildlife Resources Commission charge a small fee for upkeep and maintenance. For profit, privately owned access areas are not included in this list.

North Carolina Designated Public Mountain Trout Waters
These maps are provided to give anglers a guide to fishing regulations in effect on specific streams. They also provide locations of all waters open to public trout fishing. Designated waters are shown in thick colored lines that correspond to colors of existing signs conspicuously posted at major access areas to trout waters. Undesignated waters are shown as thin light blue lines. As an additional guide, game lands boundaries are also displayed. Please consult the current NC Hunting, Trapping and Fishing Regulations Digest or see the trout regulations for further information. Also see Fishing News.

Tract boundaries and designated portions of streams are not precise, but are approximations of actual locations. Users should identify boundaries on the ground before fishing. Private lands posted against trespass are not designated public mountain trout waters and require landowner permission to fish.

If you own a copy of the Trout Map Book, you can view a list of updates here (pdf).

Copyright ©2005
These maps may not be bought, sold, or reproduced for commercial use without the consent of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.

Attention Trout Fishermen Many streams open for public trout fishing are located on private lands. Fishing is allowed on these streams because landowners have generously provided access to the public for fishing. Show your appreciation to these landowners by removing your trash and being respectful of their property. Failure to do so could result in the closure of these streams in the future.