Tackle Loaner Program (TLP)

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 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has teamed up with various cities, counties, state parks and other organizations so that North Carolinians (and visitors) are able to borrow rods, reels and other fishing gear free of charge. The Commission created the program back in the 90’s 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.

HOW TLP WORKS

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.

ANGLERS WITH DISABILITIES

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.

HOW TO FIND A TLP SITE

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 Commission regularly stocks catfish.

NO TLP IN YOUR AREA?

The NCWRC is always looking to bring the Tackle Loaner Programs 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.

Current NC Tackle Loaner Program Sites

SITE LOCATION	COUNTY (A-Z)	TLP PARTNER
Graham-Mebane Lake Office	Alamance	Graham Recreation and Parks
New River State Park Office	Alleghany	NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.
Stone Mountain State Park Office	Alleghany	NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.
Ashe Park Pond Office	Ashe	Ashe County Parks & Recreation
Hazel W. Guilford Memorial Library	Beaufort	BHM Regional Library System
Goose Creek State Park Office	Beaufort	NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.
Asheville Parks and Recreation Office	Buncombe	Asheville Parks & Recreation
South Mountains State Park Office	Burke	NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.
Camp TN Spencer Park Office	Cabarrus	Cabarrus Co. Active Living & Parks
Frank Liske Park Office	Cabarrus	Cabarrus Co. Active Living & Parks
Broad River Greenway Office	Cleveland	Broad River Greenway
Lake Rim Park Office	Cumberland	Fayettevile-Cumberland Co. Parks & Recreation
Little River Reservoir	Durham	Durham Parks & Recreation
Lake Michie Recreation Area	Durham	Durham Parks & Recreation
Eno River State Park Office	Durham	NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.
Rankin Lake Park Office	Gaston	Gastonia Parks & Recreation
Dallas Park	Gaston	Gaston County Parks & Recreation
Lake Devin	Granville	Oxford Parks & Recreation
Lake Rogers Park Office	Granville	Creedmoor Parks & Recreation Dept.
Oka T. Hester Complex	Guilford	Greensboro Parks & Recreation Dept.
Bur-Mil Park Office (serves Bur-Mil Park and Lake Brandt)	Guilford	Guilford County Parks and Recreation
High Point City Lake Office	Guilford	High Point Parks & Recreation
Oak Hollow City Lake Office	Guilford	High Point Parks & Recreation
Haywood County Tourism Development Authority (serves Jonathan Creek in Maggie Valley and Richland Creek)	Haywood	Haywood County Tourism Development Authority
Glenville Recreation Center (serves Jackson County Parks & Recreation Pond)	Jackson	Jackson County Parks & Recreation Dept.
San-Lee Park Office	Lee	Lee County Parks & Recreation
Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center (serves Mill Creek)	McDowell	Mountain Gateway Museum
Matthews Community Center (serves Squirrel Lake)	Mecklenburg	Matthews Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources
Latta Plantation Nature Preserve Office	Mecklenburg	Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation
McDowell Nature Preserve Office	Mecklenburg	Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation
Reedy Creek Nature Preserve Office	Mecklenburg	Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation
Campbell House, 2nd Floor at Southern Pines Recreation and Parks Dept. (serves Southern Pines Reservoir)	Moore	Southern Pines Recreation and Parks
Southern Pines Recreation and Parks Dept. - 2nd Floor at Campbell House (serves Reservoir Park)	Moore	Southern Pines Recreation and Parks
Century Center (serves Anderson Community Park)	Orange	Carrboro Recreation, Parks & Cultural Resources
Mayo Park Office	Person	Person County Parks and Recreation
River Park North Complex	Pitt	Greenville Recreation & Parks
Lake Lucas Park Office	Randolph	Asheboro Cultural & Recreation Res.
Haw River State Park Office (serves park's Robins Nest Lake)	Rockingham	NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.
Mayo River State Park Office	Rockingham	NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.
City Park Office	Rowan	Salisbury Parks & Recreation
Salisbury Community Park Office	Rowan	Salisbury Parks & Recreation
Morrow Mountain State Park Office	Stanly	NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.
Elkin Municipal Park Office (serves Big Elkin Creek)	Surry	Elkin Recreation & Parks Department
Tumbling Rock Reservoir at Westwood Park Office	Surry	Mount Airy Parks & Recreation
Cane Creek Lake Marina	Union	Union County Parks & Recreation
Aycock Recreation Center (serves Fox Pond)	Vance	Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks
Apex Park Office (serves Apex Community Park)	Wake	Apex Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources
Bass Lake Park Office	Wake	Holly Springs Parks & Recreation
Falls Lake State Recreational Area Visitor's Center	Wake	NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.
Wheeler Lake Complex (serves Simpkins Pond & Lake Wheeler	Wake	Raleigh Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources
Harris Lake County Park Office	Wake	Wake Co. Parks, Rec. & Open Space
Lake Crabtree County Office	Wake	Wake Co. Parks, Rec. & Open Space
Poole Family YMCA (serves Lake Benson)	Wake	Poole Family YMCA in Garner
Buckeye Recreation Center (serves Buckeye Creek Reservoir and Coffey Lake	Watauga	Beech Mountain Parks and Recreation
Cliffs of the Neuse State Park Office	Wayne	NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.
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