Ashe County Trout Streams

Ashe County Trout Streams &

Fishing Tips for Catch & Release:

• Use barbless hooks. If you use a net, use one made of rubber. It is less harmful to fish scales, gills and eyes. Only net your fish if it is the only way to control it.

• Wet your hands when handling fish. Dry hands and gloves will remove its protective mucous (slime) coating and scales. These protective layers help prevent infection by waterborne disease. Do not beach a fish or let it flop around the deck of the boat.

• Try not to remove the fish from the water. If you must, be quick and gentle, do not squeeze the fish. Needle nose pliers, hemostats, de-hookers etc., will speed up the removal of a deep set hook.

• To revive the fish, hold it under the belly and by the tail, keep it in an upright position underwater, do not move the fish back and forth (this is also a good time to get a measurement and take a photo). If you are fishing in a river or stream, hold the fish facing the current. Be patient and give the fish as much time as it needs to recover and swim away on its own.

Hatchery Supported (Ashe County):

Big Horse Creek-Mud creek at SR 1363 bridge to Tuckerdale
Big Laurel Creek
Buffalo Creek-Head waters to junction of NC 194-88 & SR 1131
Cranberry Creek-Alleghany Co. line to South Fork New River
Hoskins Fork-Watauga Co. line to North Fork New River
North Fork New River- Watauga county line to sharp dam
Mill Creek
Nathans Creek
North Beaver Creek
Old Fields Creek
Peak Creek-Headwaters to trout lake, except Blueridge parkway waters
Pine Swamp Creek-All forks
Roan Creek
Three Top Creek-Except game land portion

DELAYED HARVEST (Ashe County):
Helton Creek-Virginia state line to New River
Trout Lake-Shows Peak Creek on map but it is where trout lake is at
C&R Artificial Lures Only
Big Horse Creek-Virginia state line to SR 1361 bridge excluding tributaries
Three Top Creek-game land portion

C&R Artificial Lures Only (Ashe County):
Big Horse Creek-Virginia state line to SR 1361 bridge excluding tributaries
Three Top Creek-game land portion