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- Trout fishing in North Carolina
Types of Trout in North Carolina
Trout fishing spots in North Carolina
Best baits and lures for Trout in North Carolina
According to catch data from over 20 million anglers on Fishbrain, these are the best baits used to catch Trout.
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Biggest Trout catches
Latest Trout fishing reports in North Carolina
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Regulations for Trout in North Carolina
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 Rainbow trout as of May 17th, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.
Seasons
Bag limit
Aggregate
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
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Regulations for
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FAQ
These species can be found in many lakes, rivers and streams, coastal waters throughout the area. If you are targeting a specific species, you can use the to filter catches by species and see where anglers are catching them and which baits they are using.
The allows anglers to see exact catch locations shared by other members, helping you discover productive fishing spots where Trout have recently been caught.