13 Top-Rated Rivers for Trout Fishing in North Carolina

As one of the oldest rivers in the world, the French Broad River watershed gives anglers a range of trout fishing opportunities that can net beautiful wild rainbow trout, sizable brown trout, and brook trout.

Helton Creek is one of North Carolina's hidden treasures when it comes to trout fisheries.

Fishing on the Oconaluftee River in the Cherokee Indian Reservation is one of the most enjoyable trout fishing experiences you can have in North Carolina.

The Nantahala River in western North Carolina is a popular go-to trout water, especially in the lower sections, because of its healthy populations of rainbow and brown trout. It is also heavily stocked.

The South Mills River is located in the Pisgah National Forest in Transylvania County and is close to Asheville and Hendersonville.

Wilson Creek is a beautiful trout stream, which runs through the Pisgah National Forest. The clear water of Wilson Creek runs from the Blue Ridge Parkway to Edgemont in Caldwell County.

The Toe River in Avery County is a preferred trout stream because it is wild trout water that is not frequently fished. While there are sections with stocked trout, you can also catch wild trout, including brook trout, in its headwaters.

"The rig works so well because it gives the trout a choice of two flies, and I believe that even on days when the attractor fly is seldom taken by the fish, it does draw their attention to the natural imitation.

Fishing on the Mitchell River near Dobson is like being in a scene from a movie, with the iconic and pristine North Carolina mountain landscapes and near-perfect stream conditions for fly fishing.

The Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail in Jackson County is a network of 15 trout streams anchored by the Tuckaseigee River. It is the first fly fishing trail in the United States, with more than 4,600 miles of streams that have wild and stocked rainbow, and brown and brook trout.

Fly fishing anglers enjoy the Davidson River in the Pisgah National Forest for its wild and stocked trout opportunities and its easy accessibility.

Another notable river system for trout is the Linville River. It is unique for its moderate flow of water in higher elevations. It is a mid-sized waterway with both wild and stocked trout.