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East Fork South Fork New River

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

North Carolina, United States

5.0·21 catches

Top fish species at East Fork South Fork New River

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East Fork South Fork New River fishing reports

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River chub

length · weight

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Brown trout

length · weight

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Brook trout

length · weight

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Rainbow trout

12 in · 1 lb

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Fallfish

length · weight

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Brook trout

length · weight

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General info

East Fork South Fork New River is a stream located in Watauga County, North Carolina, United States. It is most popular for fishing Brook trout, Brown trout, and Rainbow trout.

Location

36°11′30.7″N 81°37′51″W
Directions

Amenities

When are Brown trout biting on East Fork South Fork New River?

Learn what time of year and day to go fishing at East Fork South Fork New River. Download Fishbrain today to look for new fishing spots, scout new fishing access, or prep for your next trip.

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Fishing regulations at East Fork South Fork New River, NC

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in North Carolina can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Brook trout as of April 11th, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

Brook trout

Seasons

Open

Bag limit

7

Aggregate

7
A license that provides trout fishing privileges may be used to fish on Mountain Heritage Trout Waters. Resident and nonresident anglers may instead purchase a three-day Mountain Heritage Trout Waters license valid only on Mountain Heritage Trout Waters.

Mountain waters that support trout and are open to public fishing are designated as "Public Mountain Trout Waters" by the Wildlife Resources Commission and are managed for public trout fishing. 

Maps of trout water and their classifications may be viewed at ncwildlife.org/trout.


UNDESIGNATED TROUT WATERS

No closed season; No size limit; daily creel limit 7; no lures/ bait restriction


All other Public Mountain Trout Waters are as follows:


HATCHERY SUPPORTED TROUT WATERS

Season: Aug. 1, 2023 – Feb. 29, 2024; 7 a.m. April 6, 2024 – July 31, 2024

No size limit; daily creel limit 7; no lures/ bait restriction

No fishing allowed: March 1, 2024 – April 5, 2024

Linville River and tributaries within Linville Gorge Wilderness Area

Power reservoirs and municipal water supply reservoirs

No closed season; No size limit; daily creel limit 7 No lures /bait restriction

DELAYED HARVEST TROUT WATERS

Oct. 1, 2023 – May 31, 2024

No trout may be possessed

No fishing allowed from 1⁄2 hour after sunset on May 31, 2024, to 6 a.m. on June 1, 2024

Artificial lures with a single hook. Natural bait may not be possessed.

No size limit; daily creek limit 7

Aug. 1, 2023 – Sept. 30, 2023

June 1, 2024 – July 31, 2024

(Note: youth under 18 years old only fishing from 6 a.m. until noon on June 1, 2024)

No size limit; daily creel limit 7; no lures /bait restriction

WILD TROUT WATERS

No closed season; 7 inches minimum size; daily creel limit 4; Artificial lures with a single hook.

WILD TROUT NATURAL BAIT WATERS

No closed season; 7 inches minimum size; daily creel limit 4; Artificial lures or natural bait with a single hook. No live fish allowed as bait.

CATCH AND RELEASE / ARTIFICIAL FLIES AND LURES ONLY TROUT WATERS

No closed season; No trout may be possessed; Artificial flies and lures with a single hook. Natural bait may not be possessed.

SPECIAL REGULATION TROUT WATERS

Catawba River from Muddy Creek to Morganton water intake dam

No closed season; 14 inches minimum size; daily creel limit 2; No lures /bait restriction

Apalachia Reservoir

No size limit but only one trout may be greater than 14 inches; daily creel limit 3 including only one trout greater than 14 inches; No lures /bait restriction


For more information please see https://www.ncwildlife.org/licensing/regulations

Salvelinus fontinalis, brookie, coaster, speckled trout

Regulations for

36°11′30.7″N 81°37′51″W
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Reviews of East Fork South Fork New River

5.0
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Cities nearby

Boone

2.4 miles away

Lenoir

20.4 miles away

North Wilkesboro

27.5 miles away

Morganton

31.4 miles away

Elizabethton

35.2 miles away

Hickory

35.5 miles away

Marion

41.1 miles away

Bristol

41.2 miles away

Bristol

41.6 miles away

Newton

42.8 miles away

Johnson City

43.0 miles away

Statesville

50.9 miles away

Lincolnton

54.2 miles away

Kingsport

55.8 miles away

Mount Airy

60.6 miles away

Forest City

60.8 miles away

Mooresville

61.5 miles away

Shelby

62.5 miles away

Cornelius

65.1 miles away

Greeneville

66.3 miles away

Davidson

66.5 miles away

Asheville

67.2 miles away

Lewisville

68.0 miles away

Huntersville

68.9 miles away

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FAQ about East Fork South Fork New River fishing

the East Fork South Fork New River is a stream located in Watauga County, North Carolina, United States. Its coordinates are:
36°11′30.7″N 81°37′51″W
.
Find the best fishing spots on the East Fork South Fork New River by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
The most common species in the East Fork South Fork New River are:
The latest East Fork South Fork New River fishing reports are:
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