The Cabin

Fishing Information




Short-Term Licenses
State Fishing-Basic

RESIDENT NON-RESIDENT
1 Day $5.00 $10.00
3 Days ----- $15.00



Annual License
Valid 12 months from date of purchase

RESIDENT NON-RESIDENT
County $10.00 -----
State-wide $15.00 $30.00
Sportsman $40.00 -----
Comprehensive Fishing, Trout, & Game Lands $20.00 -----



To obtain a fishing license by telephone using Master Card or Visa call 1.800.2HUNTFISH (1.800.248.6834). For more information go online at NC Wildlife.


Local Fishing License Agents

  • WalMart Supercenter
    1149 Mt. Jefferson Rd
    West Jefferson
    336.246.3920
  • WJ Hardware
    Main Street
    West Jefferson
    336.246.3421
  • Nathans Creek General Store
    Hwy 221N
    Jefferson
    336.982.2226



Exceptions to Licenses

  • Persons under age 16 are exempt
  • A landowner, his/her spouse & dependents under 18 may hunt, trap & fish on their land without a license
  • A fishing license is not required to fish in a private pond
  • A resident may fish within his county with natural bait without a license
  • Please consult the North Carolina Fishing, Hunting, & Trapping Regulations Digest for complete information on exceptions. To obtain a copy of the NC Inland Fishing, Hunting, & Trapping Regulations Digest call the NC Wildlife Resources Commission at 919.662.4377.


Good Smallmouth Bass Fishing Waters

  • 221 Access to Rivercamp USA
  • Twin Rivers Campground to Mouth of Wilson, VA
  • Daniels Daughter (Hwy 163) to Elk Shoals Methodist Church
  • Boggs Bridge to Hwy 88 Bridge
  • Wagoner Access to Gentry Bridge


Lures for Bass
Best in Fall

  • Rapala Minnows-small, natural � and 1/8 ounce, less than 3�"
  • Rapala Brokenback Minnow-small dainty, natural not over 2�
  • Rebel Crayfish-small and medium

Best in Spring

  • Beetle Spins-grub type lure
  • Meppes Spinners
  • Little Lucy's-worm type
  • Four inch rubber worms-lizard or salamander type
  • The best live baits for smallmouth bass are live minnows, crayfish, salamanders, & nightcrawlers


Local Places to Buy Nightcrawlers
  • New River Outfitters
    Hwy 221
    Scottville
  • Rivercamp USA
    Kings Creek Road
    Piney Creek
  • Nathan's Creek General Store
    Hwy 221N
    Crumpler


Trout Lures

  • Hellgramites
  • Leeches
  • Crayfish
  • Wooly Boogers
  • Nymphs
  • Topwater Popping Bug
  • Bullet shaped Popping Bugs (tapered nose)
  • Use 10-12 hook size, 12 for popping bugs


Hatchery Supported Trout Waters

Ashe County

  • Beaver Creek (entire creek--8 miles)
  • Big Horse Creek (SR 1361 Bridge to Tuckerdale--6 miles)
  • Big Laurel Creek (entire creek--9 miles)
  • Buffalo Creek (Headwaters to Junction of NC 194-88 & SR 1131--6 miles)
  • Cranberry Creek (Alleghany Co. line to South Fork New River--12 miles)
  • Helton Creek (Valine to the New River--11 miles)
  • Hoskins Fork (Watauga County line to North Fork New River--2 miles)
  • Mill Creek (except as posted--3 miles)
  • Nathans Creek (entire creek--4 miles)
  • North Fork New River (Watauga line to Sharp's Dam)
  • Old Fields Creek (entire creek--6 miles)
  • Peak Creek (headwaters to Trout Lake except Blue Ridge Parkway waters--5 miles)
  • Pine Swamp Creek (all forks--4 miles)
  • Roan Creek (entire creek--4 miles)
  • South Beaver Creek (Headwaters to Ashe Lake--4 miles)
  • Three Top Creek (except game lands--10 miles)

Alleghany County

  • Prather Creek
  • Cranberry Creek
  • Piney Fork


Special Regulated Trout Waters

Ashe County

Special Regulated Trout Waters and their tributaries, except as noted, may be fished only with artificial lures having one single hook and all fish must be released. No fish may be harvested or possessed while fishing these streams. These streams are marked with purple and gold signs.

  • Big Horse Creek (Virginia state line to SR 1361 bridge, excluding tributaries--2 miles)
  • Three Top Creek (game land portion--2 miles)


Public Mountain Trout Waters

Ashe County
All designated trout waters are classified as Wild Trout Waters unless otherwise classified. Wild Trout Waters are high quality waters which sustain trout populations by natural reproduction. Public mountain trout waters are managed by the Wildlife Commission.

  • Three Top Mountain Game Land


Delayed Harvest Trout Waters

Ashe County
The following trout waters may be fished only with artificial lures with one single hook, no natural bait may be possessed and no fish may be harvested or possesed while fishing these waters between October 1st and June 5th. These waters are marked with black and white signs.

  • Helton Creek (Virginia state line to New River)
  • Trout Lake





Daily Creel Limits

SPECIES MINIMUM SIZE LIMIT
Smallmouth Bass 12 inch 5
Muskellunge 30 inch 2
Hatchery Supported Trout
July-Feb		 None 7
Wild Trout Waters
Year Round		 7 inch 4
Special Regulated Trout Waters
Wild Trout/Natural Bait		 7 inch 4


    NOTE:
  • For smallmouth bass 2 fish in the creel may be less than the minimum size.
  • Wild Trout Waters: artificial lure having one single hook
  • Wild Trout/Natural bait: artificial lures having one single hook or natural baits with one single hook. No live fish as bait.



New River State Park
PO Box 48
Jefferson, North Carolina
336.982.2587
Email: [email protected]


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