Proposed Changes in Fishing
Regulations for 2008–2009
The following changes in the statewide fishing regulations are proposed by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
Game Fish
Trout
F1. Define artificial lure and natural bait for Designated Public Mountain
Trout Waters.
Justification: This proposal defines an artificial lure as one that neither
contains, nor has had applied, any substance that attracts fish by the
sense of taste or smell. Natural bait is defined as any living or dead organism
(plant or animal), or part of, or prepared substance designed to attract
fish by the sense of taste or smell. Artificial lures having one single hook
are required while fishing on Wild, Catch-and-Release/Artificial Lure
Only, and Delayed-Harvest Trout waters. Natural bait may be used while
fishing on Hatchery-Supported and Wild Trout/Natural Bait Trout waters.

F2. Change the time that trout fishing may begin on Hatchery-Supported
Trout Waters on the first Saturday in April from 6:00 to 7:00 a.m.
Justification: This proposal will change the opening time to adjust to the
recent change in Daylight Savings Time.

F3. Allow only youths under 16 years old to fish from 6:00 a.m. to 11:59 a.m.
on the first Saturday in June on Delayed-Harvest Trout Waters, when these waters
convert to Hatchery-Supported rules.
Justification: This proposal will promote trout fishing for young anglers,
while allowing all anglers to fish these waters beginning at 12:00 p.m.

F4. North Toe River (Mitchell County)—Classify 2.3 miles of this river within
the Town of Spruce Pine as Delayed-Harvest Trout Waters.

F5. Reddies River (Wilkes County)—Classify 1 mile of this river within the
Town of North Wilkesboro as Delayed-Harvest Trout Waters.
Justification: Proposals F4 and F5 provide additional public mountain
trout fishing opportunities under the delayed-harvest program.

F6. Dugger Creek (Watauga and Wilkes counties)—Classify portions of this
creek as Catch-and-Release/Artificial Lure Only Trout Waters.

F7. Laurel Creek (Watauga County)—Classify portions of this creek as Catchand-
Release/Artificial Lure Only Trout Waters.
Justification: Proposals F6 and F7 provide additional public mountain
trout fishing opportunities through agreement with the landowner.

F8. West Fork Tuckasegee (Jackson County)—Reclassify from Hatchery-Supported
to Wild Trout/Natural Bait Trout waters.

F9. Shoal Creek (Jackson County)—Reclassify from Hatchery-Supported to
Wild Trout/Natural Bait Trout waters.

F10. Buff Creek (Jackson County)—Reclassify from Hatchery-Supported to
Wild Trout/Natural Bait Trout waters.

F11. Big Creek (Macon County)—Reclassify from Hatchery-Supported to
Wild Trout waters.

Justification: Proposals F8 – F11 will eliminate stocking of these streams,
which contain reproducing wild trout populations.

F12. Persimmon Creek (Cherokee County)—Remove the Public Mountain
Trout Waters designation for this creek.
F13. Beaver Dam Creek (Cherokee County)—Remove the Public Mountain
Trout Waters designation for this creek.
Justification: Proposals F12 and F13 remove posted waters from Public
Mountain Trout Waters designation. Portions of Beaver Dam Creek on
game lands will automatically convert to Wild Trout Waters.

F14. Shuler Creek (Cherokee County)—Identify the upper boundary of
Hatchery-Supported Trout Waters as “Joe Brown Highway (SR 1325) bridge.”
Justification: Proposal clarifies the section that is stocked with trout.
Tributaries on game lands will be managed as Wild Trout Waters.

F15. Pigeon River (Haywood County)—Identify the lower boundary of
Hatchery-Supported Trout Waters as the upstream (northbound) bridge.

F16. Nantahala River (Macon County)—Identify the lower boundary of Delayed-
Harvest Trout Waters as the “Nantahala hydropower discharge canal.”
Justification: Proposals F15 and F16 will clarify boundary line locations.

F17. Glade Creek (Alleghany County)—Change its name from Big Glade
Creek to Glade Creek.
Justification: This proposal will identify the creek to be consistent with
U.S. Geological Survey maps.

F18. Allow non-trout species to be harvested from Delayed-Harvest Trout Waters
during the catch-and-release trout season.
Justification: This proposal will allow other fish species, such as smallmouth
bass, to be harvested during this period.