Below you will find a table that contains directions to Mountain Region Public Fishing Access (PFA) areas maintained by the NCWRC. This table lists the PFA area name, county, detailed directions. In addition, there is a column that notes the accessibility of the access area. If there is a wheelchair symbol in the access column, this means that the PFA area is considered fully accessible due to the designated disabled user parking and paved walkways leading to the area. Finally, if the site participates in the Fishing Tackle Loaner Program, it is also noted.

PFA areas are in alphabetical order by body of water.

 

 

Balsam Lake
Access County Public Fishing Access area Directions
Jackson Balsam Lake From Sylva, take NC 107 South and turn left on NC 281 at Tuckaseegee. Go approximately nine miles, turn left on SR 1756, and continue about five miles. The U. S. Forest Service signs beginning at the intersection of NC 107 and NC 281 can be followed to Balsam Lake.

 

 

 

Broughton Pond
Access County Public Fishing Access area Directions
Burke Broughton Pond From I-40 take US 64 south for 0.8 mile and turn left onto SR 1949 (Salem Road). Go one mile and turn left onto SR 1956 (Burkemont Road). Go one mile and turn left onto SR 2002 and go 1.1 miles to the end of the road. State prison facilities will be on the left. Turn right onto a gravel road which is the entrance to the parking area for the pond.

Notes:
Two small ponds are accessible. A canoe launch and a barrier free wooden fishing pier are available at the first pond. Primary species: largemouth bass and bluegill. Due to the small size of the ponds, anglers should limit the number of fish they harvest. A voluntary creel limit of five sunfish and two bass is recommended.

Anglers should be aware that this facility is located on the Broughton tract of the South Mountains Game Land which is also managed by the Commission for hunting. A trout license is required. No restroom, picnicking or camping facilities are located at this site.

 

 

 

Chatuge Reservoir
Access County Public Fishing Access area Directions
  Clay Jackrabbit From Hayesville, take NC 64 East. Go 4.6 miles and turn right on NC 175. Go 3.2 miles and turn right on Jack Rabbit Campground Road. Go 1.3 miles to the campground and follow the signs to the boating access area. At the top of the boat ramp, turn right and go up the hill to the ball field. Follow the Jackrabbit Mountain Trail which begins at the left field side of the ball field. Bank fishing access points are located along this trail and are identified by signs.
x
 Clay Ledford Chapel From intersection of US64 & Meyers Chapel Rd. at Hayesville take US 64 East. Travel 3.1 miles turn right onto SR1151(Ledford Chapel Rd). Travel 0.9 miles to area at the end of the road.

 

 

 

Cherokee Lake
Access County Public Fishing Access area Directions
Cherokee Cherokee Lake From Murphy, take US 64 West and go about eight miles. Turn right on NC 294 and go north 3.6 miles to the US Forest Service Recreation Area on the right.

Notes:
The paved path leads to an accessible fishing pier. Two fishing platforms are located along a trail that leaves the paved path and follows the shoreline to the dam. Christmas tree fish attractors are placed around the pier and platforms. Primary fish species: largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish and channel catfish. A sheltered picnic area with restrooms is on site.

 

 

 

Chinquapin Trout Lake
Access County Public Fishing Access area Directions
Ashe Chinquapin Trout Lake From Jefferson, take NC 88 east approximately 10 miles. Across from the Upper Mountain Agricultural Research Station, take SR 1599. Go four miles on the gravel portion of SR 1599 until the paved section is reached. Go approximately 0.1 mile past the beginning of the paved section, and the entrance to the lake will be on the right.
Notes:
This one-acre lake is owned by the Ashe County Wildlife Club and managed as Delayed Harvest Trout Waters by the Commission. Catch-and-release regulations apply from October 1 until the first Saturday in June. There is an accessible pier and parking lot at the site. Primary fish species: trout.

 

 

 

Crowders Lake
Access County Public Fishing Access area Directions
x
 Gaston Crowders Mountain State Park From Gastonia, take I-85 south and go to Exit 13. From Exit 13, follow the brown signs to the park. Take Exit 13 and go south approximately 1 mile. Turn right on SR 2974 and go 1.9 miles. Turn left on Sparrow Springs Road and go approximately 3 miles to the park entrance, and follow the signs to the lake parking area.
Notes:
Brush has been cleared from the shoreline of the pond. Fish species available include largemouth bass, various sunfish and catfish.

 

 

 

Curtis Creek
Access County Public Fishing Access area Directions
x
 McDowell Curtis Creek From Marion, travel on US 70 West approximately 9 miles to SR 1227 (Curtis Creek Rd). Turn right. Travel approximately 2 miles to US Forest Service Road FS 4030 on left. Travel approximately 200 yards on FS 4030, across the creek, and the parking area is on the right.

 

 

 

 

Davidson River
Access County Public Fishing Access area Directions
Transylvania Coontree From Brevard, take U. S. 276 north. Go approximately 4 miles, and the U.S. Forest Service Coontree Recreation Area parking lot will be in the left.

 

 

 

East Prong Roaring River
Access County Public Fishing Access area Directions
Wilkes East Prong Roaring River From I-77, take U. S. 21 north toward Sparta. Go approximately 5-6 miles and turn left on SR 1002 (Traphill Road). Go 5 miles to SR 1784 (John P. Frank Highway) and take it into Stone Mountain State Park.

 

 

 

Fontana Lake
Access County Public Fishing Access area Directions
x
 Graham Tsali From Bryson City, take US 19 West. Go nine miles and turn right on NC 28 toward Almond. Just past the Swain-Graham county line, turn right at the Tsali Recreation Area sign. Go about three miles, following the signs to the boating access area. The trail to the fishing area begins at the left of the boating access area parking lot and is marked with signs.

 

 

 

French Broad River
Access County Public Fishing Access area Directions
Madison Murray Branch From Asheville, take US 19/23 North to US 70 (Marshall Exit). Take US 70 North (about 35 miles) to Hot Springs city limit. Turn right on SR 1304 (first State road on right before crossing the French Broad River). At the stop sign, turn right and go six miles to the US Forest Service’s Murray Branch Recreation Area.
x
 Transylvania Blantyre From Brevard, take U. S. 64 east about 4 miles. Turn right on Pleasant Grove Road, cross over the river and the access area will be on the left.

 

 

 

Green River
Access County Public Fishing Access area Directions
x
 Polk Fish Top Access From Hendersonville (in Henderson County), take I-26 South to Exit 28. Turn left at the exit on Green River Cove Road. Follow Green River Cove Road about 4 miles to Fishtop Falls access area on the right.

 

 

 

Jacob Fork
Access County Public Fishing Access area Directions
Burke Jacob Fork From I-40 take NC 18 south (exit 105). Go 9.5 miles and turn right onto SR 1913 (Sugar Loaf Road). Go 4.3 miles to a stop sign. Turn left onto SR 1924 (Old NC 18) and go 2.6 miles to SR 1901 (Gap Road). Go 1.4 miles and turn right onto SR 1904 (Mountain Park Avenue) after crossing a bridge. Follow this road approximately four miles to the State Park parking area. This site is located in South Mountains State Park. Brown directional signs have been erected along the route.

Notes:
Three accessible fishing piers are located on Jacob Fork. Jacob Fork is a Designated Public Mountain Trout Water and a Special Trout Fishing license is required. Two piers are located on the left end of the parking lot in the Delayed Harvest portion of the stream. The stream is stocked with hatchery trout, and catch-and-release regulations apply from October 1 until the first Saturday in June. The third pier is located at the upper end of a fully accessible one-mile loop trail. Jacob Fork is managed under Wild Trout regulations at the upper pier (see the Regulations Digest for details).

South Mountains State Park has restrooms, hiking, picnicking and camping facilities. Additional information can be obtained by calling the Park at (704) 433-4772.

 

 

 

Lake Hickory
Access County Public Fishing Access area Directions
x
 Alexander Whittenburg From I-40 in Hickory, take Exit 125 and go north 7.5 miles on N. C. 127. Just after crossing Lake Hickory, turn left onto SR 1208, and go 0.3 miles. Turn left onto SR 1141, and go 0.2 miles to Whittenburg Boating Access Area. A separate parking area for the Public Fishing area is located at the eastern end of the Boating Access Area.
Notes:
Two piers have been constructed on Lake Hickory. Trees and brush have been added to attract fish. Fish species available include largemouth bass, crappie, other sunfish and catfish.

 

 

 

Lake James Tailrace
Access County Public Fishing Access area Directions
Burke Bridgewater From I-40 East of Morganton, take Exit 94 (Dysartsville), and go north on SR 1129. Go approximately 0.5 mile to the stop sign and turn left onto US 70. Go approximately 1.5 miles and turn right onto SR 1233. Go approximately 2.5 miles, along the Lake James dam, and turn right onto SR 1223. Go 0.5 mile to the parking area.
Notes:
Brush has been cleared from an area of shoreline and an accessible wooden pier provides access to the Catawba River tailrace of Lake James. This section of stream is a Designated Public Mountain Trout Water and is stocked with trout from April through July. Hatchery Supported regulations apply and a Special Trout Fishing license is required. Lake James State Park, located six miles from the tailrace, offers restrooms, camping, hiking, picnicking and swimming. A canoe launch is located at the far end of the parking lot. The river can be floated from the launch to take-outs at SR 1147 (Watermill Road) eight miles downstream and the Morganton Greenway 12 miles downstream. River flow is dependent on the release from Lake James. The upper two miles can be turbulent at high flows. Also a water intake dam in Morganton requires a short, 200-foot portage.

 

 

 

Lake Powhatan
Access County Public Fishing Access area Directions
Buncombe Lake Powhatan From I-26 in Asheville, take the NC 191 South exit at Biltmore Square Mall. Go approximately three miles, and turn right on SR 1129 at the sign for the N. C. Arboretum. Continue down SR 1129, staying to the left at all forks, to the entrance to Lake Powhatan Recreation Area. Further directions to the Public Fishing Access area can be obtained there.
Notes:
A day-use fee is required at the recreation area entrance. An accessible fishing pier is located near the dam. An access road to the pier can be used by anglers with disabilities. Others must walk to the pier. Catchable size trout are stocked from March to June. This is a Designated Public Mountain Trout Water and Hatchery Supported regulations apply. Primary fish species: largemouth bass and sunfish during the summer and fall, trout during the spring stocking season. Camping, restrooms and other recreation facilities are available within the Lake Powhatan Recreation Area.

 

 

 

Max Patch Pond
Access County Public Fishing Access area Directions
Madison Max Patch From Hot Springs, take N. C. 209 south about 5 miles, and turn right on Meadow Fork Road. From Meadow Fork Road, turn right on Max Patch Road, and go approximately 3 miles. Max Patch Pond parking area will be on the right.

 

 

 

Richland Creek
Access County Public Fishing Access area Directions
Haywood Vance Street Park From Asheville, take I-40 West (about 25 miles) to Exit 27 (US 19-74). Take US 19-74 South and go about five miles to the Waynesville Exit (US 276 South). Turn left on Russ Avenue and go to the second traffic light. Turn left on Howell Mill Road, go 0.8 mile, and turn right on Vance Street. Vance Street Park will be on the left along Richland Creek.

 

 

 

Tuckaseegee River
Access County Public Fishing Access area Directions
Swain Tuckaseegee From US 19 South/74 West, take the Bryson City exit (Exit No. 67). Go 1.1 miles, cross the Tuckaseegee River and a railroad track to a 4-way stop intersection. Turn left onto SR 1321 and go 1.75 miles. Where the road forks, take the left fork onto “Old 288” (SR 1321) and go 0.75 miles. The fishing pier and boat launching area is on the left. A 12 ft. x 36 ft. fishing platform that is accessible to the physically challenged has been built on the Tuckaseegee River arm of the Fontana Reservoir.