News Flash

Wilkesboro and North Wilkesboro Join Mountain Heritage Trout Waters Program

NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. (Aug. 1, 2019) – Wilkesboro and North Wilkesboro have joined the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s Mountain Heritage Waters (MHTW) Program, providing quality trout fishing opportunities for residents and visitors to the Wilkes County towns.

The 1-mile Wilkesboro Mountain Heritage Trout Water, located on Cub Creek, is classified as a Hatchery Supported Trout Water with an open season that runs from 7 a.m., on the first Saturday of April until the last day of February. It is closed to fishing from March 1 until the first Saturday in April. Anglers fishing on this portion of Cub Creek have no bait, lure or size limit restrictions and can keep up to seven trout per day.

A 1-mile stretch on the Reddies River is classified as the North Wilkesboro Mountain Heritage Trout Water and is a Delayed Harvest Trout Water with the following regulations from Oct. 1 until the first Saturday in June:

• No trout may be harvested or possessed;

• Fishing is restricted to artificial lures having one single hook; and

• Natural bait may not be used or possessed.

On the first Saturday in June, Delayed Harvest Trout Waters open under hatchery-supported regulations. From 6 a.m. until 12 p.m., fishing is restricted to youth under 18 years old, and waters open to all anglers at noon under the following regulations:

• No bait or lure restriction;

• No size limit restriction; and

• Seven (7) trout per day creel limit.

To fish the MHTW sections, North Carolina residents and non-residents can purchase a special MHTW license for $5. This special license is valid for three consecutive days and only for the portions of streams designated as MHTW, which are clearly marked with green and black signs. Anglers who currently hold a valid resident or non-resident North Carolina license that allows fishing in Public Mountain Trout Waters can fish MHTW without purchasing the special license.

The MHTW license is available only from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission by calling 1-888-248-6834 or visiting ncwildlife.org. For more information on the program or to download Mountain Heritage Trout Waters maps, visit the Commission’s trout fishing webpage.

The MHTW program is a cooperative effort between the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and local governments to encourage trout fishing as a heritage tourism activity in western North Carolina cities that are designated as a “Mountain Heritage Trout Water City.” The addition of Wilkesboro and North Wilkesboro to the program brings the number of cities participating in the program to 17. Each of these cities provides public access to a trout stream that runs through or is adjacent to the city.

For more information on the program and to see maps of other MHTW locations, visit the Commission’s Mountain Heritage Trout Waters Program page.