15A NCAC 10D .0104      FISHING ON GAME LANDS

(a)  Game lands are open to public fishing except:

(1)           restocked ponds when posted against fishing;

(2)           Hunting Creek Swamp Waterfowl Refuge;

(3)           Cedar Rock Creek, Grogan Creek, and John Rock Branch, in Transylvania County; and

(4)           private ponds where fishing is prohibited by the owners.

(b)  No trotline, set-hook, net, trap, gig, or other special fishing device mentioned in 15A NCAC 10C .0404(b),(c),(d), and (f) may be used in impounded waters located entirely on game lands.

(c)  Archery equipment may be used to take nongame fishes in impounded waters located entirely on game lands except for those waters mentioned in 15A NCAC 10C .0404(a).

(d)  Waters located on the game lands listed in this Subparagraph are designated public mountain trout waters except as noted.

(1)           Cold Mountain Game Land in Haywood County.

(2)           DuPont State Forest Game Lands in Henderson and Transylvania counties, except:

(A)          Little River from 100 yards downstream of Hooker Falls downstream to the DuPont State Forest boundary;

(B)          Lake Imaging;

(C)          Lake Dense;

(D)          Lake Alfred;

(E)           Lake Julia; and

(F)           Fawn Lake.

(3)           Green River Game Land in Henderson and Polk counties, except Green River downstream of the natural gas pipeline crossing.

(4)           Headwaters Game Land in Transylvania County.

(5)           Nantahala National Forest Game Lands in Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, Swain, and Transylvania counties, except Cheoah River downstream of Santeetlah Reservoir and Cherokee Lake.

(6)           Pisgah National Forest Game Lands in Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Transylvania, Watauga, and Yancey counties, except:

(A)          Cedar Rock Creek, Grogan Creek, and John Rock Branch;

(B)          North Fork Catawba River downstream of the mouth of Armstrong Creek;

(C)          Big Laurel Creek downstream from the US 25-70 bridge to the French Broad River;

(D)          Mill Ridge Pond;

(E)           Nolichucky River;

(F)           Pigeon River downstream of Waterville Reservoir to the Tennessee state line; and

(G)          Spring Creek below US Forest Service road 223.

(7)           Pond Mountain Game Land in Ashe County.

(8)           Little Fork State Forest Game Land in Wilkes County.

(9)           South Mountains Game Land in Cleveland and Rutherford counties.

(10)         Three Top Mountain Game Land in Ashe County.

(11)         Thurmond Chatham Game Land in Wilkes County.

(12)         Toxaway Game Land in Transylvania County.

(13)         William H. Silvers Game Land in Haywood County.

(e) The designated public mountain trout waters located on the game lands listed in Paragraph (d) of this Rule are Wild Trout Waters unless classified otherwise in 15A NCAC 10C .0205(d).

History Note:        Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-264; 113-272; 113-292; 113-305;

Eff. February 1, 1976;

Amended Eff. July 1, 2000; July 1, 1998; July 1, 1996; July 1, 1995; July 1, 1994; July 1, 1993; July 1, 1992;

Temporary Amendment Eff. July 1, 2002; July 1, 2001;

Amended Eff. August 1, 2002 (approved by RRC on 06/21/01 and 04/18/02);

Temporary Amendment Eff. June 1, 2003;

Amended Eff. August 1, 2018; August 1, 2017; August 1, 2015; August 1, 2014; August 1, 2010; May 1, 2009; August 1, 2004;

Readopted Eff. August 1, 2023.