Hatchery-supported waters are marked with green and white signs. Asheville-area fishing spots include:
Ivy Creek/Ivy River 
(Dillingham Creek to U.S. 19-23 bridge)
Dillingham Creek 
(Corner Rock Creek to Ivy Creek)
Stony Creek
Mineral Creek
Corner Rock Creek
Reems Creek 
(Sugar Camp Fork to U.S. 19-23 bridge, except where posted against trespassing)
Swannanoa River 
(S.R. 2702 bridge near Ridgecrest to Wood Avenue bridge, except where posted against trespassing)
Bent Creek 
(headwaters to NC Arboretum boundary line)
Cane Creek 
(headwaters to S.R. 3138 bridge)
Lake Powhatan

Public Fishing Areas (PFAs) have been created throughout the state to provide free fishing opportunities from the banks of North Carolina’s lakes, rivers, streams and reservoirs. The Wildlife Resources Commission has enhanced fishing opportunities at PFAs by clearing banks of underbrush, and in some cases, by constructing universally accessible fishing piers, creating graveled or paved parking lots, installing fish attractors, or baiting the areas with grain or fish feed.

NC FISHING RIVERS-trout, bass, sunfish, catfish, perch

• Three Top Mountain Game Land in Ashe County

• Nantahala National Forest Game Land in Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, Swain and Transylvania counties

• Pisgah National Forest Game Lands in Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Transylvania and Yancey counties

• Dupont State forest Game Lands in Henderson and Transylvania counties

• Thurmond Chatham Game Land in Wilkes County

• Toxaway Game Land in Transylvania County

*unless otherwise posted

Alleghany County
Little River (Whitehead to McCann dam): Bledsoe Creek, Big Glade Creek, Big Pine Creek, Brush Creek, Crab Creek, Cranberry Creek, Laurel Branch, Meadow Fork, Pine Swamp Creek, Piney Fork, Prather Creek
Ashe County
North Fork New River (Watauga County line to Sharpe dam)
Big Horse Creek (Mud Creek at SR 1363 bridge to Tuckerdale), Big Laurel Creek, Buffalo Creek (Headwaters to junction of NC 194-88 and SR 1131), Cranberry Creek (Alleghany County line to South Fork New River), Hoskins Fork (Watauga County line to North Fork New River), Old Fields Creek, Mill Creek, North Beaver Creek, 
Peak Creek (headwaters to Trout Lake except Blue Ridge Parkway waters), Pine Swamp Creek (all forks), Roan Creek, Three Top Creek (except game land portion)
Avery County
North Toe River (headwaters to Mitchell County line)
Archie Coffey Lake, Boyde Coffey Lake, Elk River (SR 1306 crossing to the Tennessee state line), Linville River (Land Harbor line (below dam) to Blue Ridge Parkway boundary line, except where posted against trespass), Milltimber Creek, Squirrel Creek
Buncombe County
Big Ivy Creek (Ivy River)(Dillingham Creek to US 19-23 bridge), Dillingham Creek (Corner Rock Creek to Big Ivy Creek), Stony Creek, Mineral Creek, Corner Rock Creek, Reems Creek (Sugar Camp Fork to US 19-23 bridge), Swannanoa River (SR 2702 bridge near Ridgecrest to Sayles Bleachery in Asheville), Bent Creek (headwaters to NC, Arboretum boundary line), Cane Creek (headwaters to SR 3138 bridge), Lake Powhatan
Burke County
Henry Fork (lower South Mountains State Park line downstream to SR 1919 at Ivy Creek), Carroll Creek (game lands above SR 1405), Linville River (game lands portion below the Blue Ridge Parkway and from first bridge on SR 1223 below Lake James powerhouse to Muddy Creek)