North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

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Tackle Loaner Program (TLP)

First-time and novice anglers in North Carolina are encouraged to borrow rods and reels free of charge to join in the fishing fun this year. The loaner rods and reels are provided by various city and county parks statewide and by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission through the Commission's Tackle Loaner Program (TLP). The Commission created the Tackle Loaner Program to introduce North Carolinians, especially children, to fishing and to encourage novice anglers to continue developing their angling skills. The Commission works cooperatively with the American Sportfishing Association to expand the tackle loaner program to parks that are already participating in the Commission's Community Fishing Program.

Here's how it works
The Tackle Loaner Program operates just like a library. Anglers of all ages register at participating parks to receive a tackle loaner ID card, which allows them to check out a rod and reel. Anglers under 18 years of age must have a parent or guardian complete the registration form. After returning the loaner rods and reels to the park office, first-time participants under 16 years of age will receive a free mini-tackle box containing hooks, bobbers, sinkers, and a stringer. Tackle loaner ID cards can be used at other participating sites in North Carolina, but rods and reels must be returned to the original loaner site.

A list of Tackle Loaner Program sites appears below. Be sure to also see Fishing Publications for more information. For further assistance or to receive a brochure with directions, contact (919) 707-0170. Directions to Community Fishing Program sites can also be also found on the N.C. Fishing Access Map.

Adaptive Fishing Gear
Adaptive fishing gear can be loaned to disabled anglers at some TLP sites. The gear types are electric John’s Reels with either a push button or joystick-operating device. Typically, these special reels are placed on easy cast fishing rod devices that the photos illustrate below. Some sites also offer rod holders for those persons with shoulder problems and or an inability to hold something for an extended time. For individuals with grip problems action life gloves are available in various sizes. These gloves are available for either right or left hands.

 Current NC Tackle Loaner Program Sites

SITE

COUNTY

COOPERATOR

Graham-Mebane Lake Office

Alamance

Graham Recreation and Parks
New River State Park Alleghany NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.
Stone Mountain State Park Alleghany NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.

Ashe Park Pond

Ashe

Ashe County Parks & Recreation
Horse Creek Ashe Lansing Village Shoppe
Buckeye Recreation Center Avery Beech Mountain
Goose Creek State Park Beaufort NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.

Tomahawk Lake Complex

Buncombe

Black Mountain Recreation and Parks
South Mountains State Park Burke NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.

Frank Liske Park Office

Cabarrus

Cabarrus County Parks & Recreation
Camp TN Spencer Cabarrus Cabarrus County Active Living & Parks Department

Frank Liske Park Office

Cabarrus

Cabarrus County Parks & Recreation

Lake Rim Park Office

Cumberland

Cumberland County Parks & Recreation
Davidson County Park Davidson Davidson County Parks & Recreation

Lake Michie Recreation Area

Durham

City of Durham Parks and Recreation
Eno River State Park Durham NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.

Dallas Park

Gaston

Gaston County Parks & Recreation

Rankin Lake Park

 Gaston

Gastonia Parks and Recreation

Lake Devin

Granville

Oxford Parks and Recreation

Bur-Mil Park Office

Guilford

Greensboro Parks & Recreation

Guilford Mackintosh Park and Marina

Guilford

Burlington Parks and Recreation

Higgins Lake Marina

Guilford

Greensboro Parks & Recreation

High Point City Lake Office

Guilford

High Point Parks & Recreation

Oak Hollow City Lake Office

Guilford

High Point Parks & Recreation

Oka T. Hester Complex

Guilford

Greensboro Parks & Recreation
Glenville Recreation Center Jackson Jackson County Parks & Recreation

San-Lee Park Office

Lee

Lee County Parks & Recreation

Neuseway Nature Park Complex

Lenior

Kinston/Lenoir County Parks & Recreation

Mountain Gateway Museum and Heritage Center

McDowell

Mountain Gateway Museum and Heritage Center

Latta Plantation Nature Preserve

Mecklenburg

Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation

McDowell Nature Preserve

Mecklenburg

Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation

Reedy Creek Nature Preserve

Mecklenburg

Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation

Matthews Community Center
loans tackle for Squirrel Lake

Mecklenburg

Matthews Parks & Recreation

Anderson Community Park

Orange

Carrboro Recreation and Parks

Mayo Park

Person

Person County Parks and Recreation

River Park North Complex

Pitt

Greenville Recreation & Parks

Lake Lucas

Randolph

Asheboro Parks and Recreation

Hinson Lake

Richmond

Rockingham Parks and Recreation

Mayo River State Park

Rockingham

NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.

City Park

Rowan

Salisbury Parks and Recreation

Salisbury Community Park

Rowan

Salisbury Parks and Recreation

Albemarle Park Office

Stanly

Albemarle Parks & Recreation
Morrow Mountain State Park Stanly NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.

Elkin Municipal Park

Surry

Elkin Parks & Recreation

Tumbling Rock Reservoir

Surry

Mount Airy Parks and Recreation
Bryson City Outdoors Swain Swain County Chamber of Commerce
Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education Transylvania NC Wildlife Resources Commission

Cane Creek Lake Marina

Union

Union County Parks & Recreation
Aycock Recreation Center Vance Henderson-Vance Parks and Recreation

Apex Park Office

Wake

Apex Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources

Bass Lake

Wake

Holly Springs Parks and Recreation

Bond Lake Park Office

Wake

Cary Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources

Lake Crabtree County Park

Wake

Wake County Parks and Open Space

Harris Co. Park Office

Wake

Wake County Parks & Recreation

Lake Benson

Wake

Garner Parks and Recreation Department

Umstead State Park

Wake

NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.

Wheeler Lake Complex

Wake

Raleigh Parks & Recreation
Pettigrew State Park Washington NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.
Cliffs of the Neuse State Park Wayne NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.
Wilkesboro Tow Hall Wilkes Town of Wilkesboro

Patience Park

Yancey

Yancey County Parks and Recreation

Adaptive Fishing Gear