15A NCAC 10C .0316      Mountain trout

(a)  The daily creel limit for trout in Hatchery-Supported Trout Waters is seven fish. There is no minimum size limit for these fish. The open season is from 7 a.m. on the first Saturday in April until March 1, except for waters designated in Paragraph (g) of this Rule.

(b)  The daily creel limit for trout in Wild Trout Waters and Wild Trout/Natural Bait Trout Waters is four fish. The minimum size limit for these fish is seven inches. There is no closed season.

(c)  No trout may be harvested from Catch and Release/Artificial Flies and Lures Only Trout Waters. Trout may not be possessed while fishing these waters.

(d)  The daily creel limit for trout in Delayed Harvest Trout Waters is seven fish. There is no minimum size limit for these fish. The Youth-only Delayed Harvest Trout Water Season is from 6 a.m. on the first Saturday in June until 12 p.m. that same day. During this season only individuals under the age of 18 may fish. From 12 p.m. on the first Saturday in June until September 30, the Delayed Harvest Trout Waters Season is open for all anglers. From October 1 to one-half hour after sunset on the Friday before the first Saturday in June, trout may not be harvested or possessed while fishing these waters. Delayed Harvest Trout Waters are closed to all fishing from one-half hour after sunset on the Friday before the first Saturday in June to 6 a.m. on the first Saturday in June.

(e)  The daily creel limits, size limits, and seasons for trout in Special Regulation Trout Waters are as follows:

(1)           Apalachia Reservoir (Cherokee County) the daily creel limit is three trout. There is no minimum size limit, but only one may be greater than 14 inches. There is no closed season.

(2)           Catawba River (Burke County) from Muddy Creek to the City of Morganton water intake dam the daily creel limit is two fish. The minimum size limit is 14 inches. There is no closed season.

(f)  The daily creel limit for trout in undesignated trout waters is seven fish. There is no minimum size limit for these fish.

(g)  There is no closed season on taking trout from Linville River within Linville Gorge Wilderness Area and the impounded waters of the following power reservoirs and municipally-owned water supply reservoirs open to the public for fishing.

(1)           Bear Creek Lake;

(2)           Buckeye Creek Reservoir;

(3)           Calderwood Reservoir;

(4)           Cedar Cliff Lake;

(5)           Cheoah Reservoir;

(6)           Cliffside Lake;

(7)           Tanassee Creek Lake;

(8)           Queens Creek Lake; and

(9)           Wolf Lake.

(h)  In designated Public Mountain Trout Waters the season for taking all species of fish is the same as the trout fishing season.

(i)  All trout water designations and manners of take are set forth in 15A NCAC 10C .0205.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-292;

Eff. November 1, 2013;

Amended Eff. August 1, 2018; August 1, 2017; August 1, 2015;

Readopted Eff. August 1, 2019;

Amended Eff. August 1, 2021; August 1, 2020.