Striper
Eli Austin’s striped bass
13-year-old Eli Austin caught a nice striped bass from Lake Rhodhiss on April 1, 2025. It was a nice April Fools Day surprise. […]
Western NC
Fishing Reports
Tyler Clark’s western NC walleye
Tyler Clark with Foothills Guided Adventures caught this nice fish in western NC. […]
Fishing Hotspots
Get lost for trout
Get off the beaten path for some great trout fishing at Lost Cove Creek. […]
Mountain Trout
NC modifies 2025 mountain trout stocking program
NC has modified its mountain trout stocking program for 2025 due to hurricane damage. […]
Fishing Hotspots
Going dry for trout
Don’t overlook dry flies when chasing western NC’s trout during March. […]
Columns
Will Kokanee salmon thrive In NC’s mountain lakes?
Nantahala Lake in the far-western North Carolina counties of Clay and Macon contains the usual assortment of gamefish — bass, walleye, trout and bream — but one exception makes it unique. Nantahala is the only lake in the Southeast with Kokanee salmon, a species more identified with far western and northern states. […]
Columns
Nantahala National Forest
Some remote camping in Nantahala National Forest is perfect for a little squirrel hunting. […]
Fishing Hotspots
Solitude and big fish
Western North Carolina’s rivers offer great fishing and lots of solitude in the winter. […]
Fishing Hotspots
Go slow for WNC trout
February is a great month to catch big trout in the mountains of North Carolina, but you have to slow your presentation. […]
Bear
“Selfie Bear” cub released into wild
NCWRC officials released an orphaned black bear cub into the wild this past November. […]