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Fishing in Asheville, NC

North Carolina, United States

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Want trophy-size catches? These Asheville spots deliver

Top fish species in Asheville

Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Rainbow trout
Rainbow trout
Smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass
Brook trout
Brook trout
Brown trout
Brown trout

Latest Asheville fishing reports

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Yellow bullhead

Lake Louise

length · weight

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Largemouth bass

Azalea Park

length · weight

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Channel catfish

Lake Louise

length · weight

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Channel catfish

Lake Louise

length · weight

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Yellow bullhead

Lake Louise

length · weight

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Blue catfish

Lake Louise

length · weight

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Largemouth bass

Highland Lake

length · weight

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Black crappie

Highland Lake

length · weight

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Black crappie

Highland Lake

length · weight

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Largemouth bass

Kanuga Lake

16 in · 2 lb

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About Asheville fishing

Check out the best fishing spots in and around Asheville, North Carolina. Anglers using Fishbrain have logged: 3,464 catches for Largemouth bass, 1,327 catches for Rainbow trout, and 934 catches for Smallmouth bass.

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Fishing regulations in Asheville

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in North Carolina can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Largemouth bass as of April 1st, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

Largemouth bass

Seasons

Open

Bag limit

5

Min size

14"

Measurement

Total Length

14-inch minimum, except 2 may be less than 14 inches

For more information please see https://www.ncwildlife.org/licensing/regulations


Size and daily creel limit exceptions to state waters regulations:

Lake Santeetlah (Graham Co.)

No minimum size limit, and only 5 large- mouth bass and smallmouth bass in combination may be greater than 14 inches

No daily creel limit for large- mouth bass and smallmouth bass less than 14 inches, and only 5 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass in combination may be greater than 14 inches

Lake Cammack (Alamance Co.) and Lake Holt (Granville Co.)

No minimum size limit, and only 2 may be greater than 14 inches

10, including only 2 greater than 14 inches

New River (Alleghany Co. portion downstream of Fields Dam in Grayson Co., VA)

No minimum size, none between 14-22 inches may be possessed, and only 1 large- mouth bass, smallmouth bass, or spotted bass may be greater than 22 inches

5 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and spotted bass in combination, including only 1 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, or spotted bass greater than 22 inches

Lake Chatuge (Clay Co.)

12-inch minimum

10 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, Alabama bass, and spotted bass in combination

In the following waters and their tributaries:

  • Albemarle, Croatan, Currituck, and Roanoke Sounds
  • Alligator River (including the Alligator/Pungo Canal (Intra- coastal Waterway) east of the U.S. 264/N.C. 45 bridge)
  • Big Flatty Creek (Pasquotank Co.)
  • Chowan River (including the Meherrin River)
  • Little River (Pasquotank and Perquimans counties)
  • North River (Camden and Currituck counties)
  • Northwest River (Currituck Co.)
  • Pasquotank River
  • Perquimans River
  • Roanoke River downstream of Roanoke Rapids Dam
  • Scuppernong River
  • Yeopim River
  • All other associated tributaries and canals to the waters listed above

14-inch minimum; limit 5

New Lake (Hyde Co.)

14-inch minimum; limit 5

Pungo Lake (Hyde and Washington counties)

14-inch minimum; limit 5

Lake Raleigh (Wake Co.)

14-inch minimum; limit 5

Sutton Lake (New Hanover Co.)

14-inch minimum; limit 5

Lake Hampton (Yadkin Co.) and Shearon Harris Reservoir (Chatham and Wake counties)

14-inch minimum, except 2 may be less than 14 inches and none between 16-20 inches may be possessed 5, including only 2 less than 14 inches

Lake Phelps

14-inch minimum and none between 16-20 inches may be possessed; limit 5

Buckhorn Reservoir (Nash and Wilson counties) and Cane Creek Lake (Union Co.)

16-inch minimum; limit 5

Lake Mattamuskeet and associated canals (Hyde Co.)

16-inch minimum, and only 1 may be greater than 20 inches; limit 5, including only 1 greater than 20 inches

Lake Thom-A-Lex (Davidson Co.)

18-inch minimum; limit 5

Jean Guite Creek and assoicated canals within the Town of Southern Shores (Dare Co.) and Ponds associated with Martin Marietta Park (Craven Co.)

No largemouth bass may be possessed

For more information please see https://www.ncwildlife.org/licensing/regulations

Micropterus nigricans

Regulations for

35°34′13.4″N 82°33′13″W
Regulations in the map
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FAQ about Asheville fishing

Anglers in Asheville, NC recommend these top fishing spots: French Broad River (West), Beaver Lake, Lake Julian, Lake Louise, and Swannanoa River.
Most commonly caught species around Asheville, NC:
The latest Asheville, NC fishing reports are:
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Other cities near Asheville

Hendersonville

17.8 miles away

Brevard

24.6 miles away

Marion

31.9 miles away

Forest City

41.8 miles away

Greeneville

43.9 miles away

Newport

45.1 miles away

Taylors

47.2 miles away

Greer

47.7 miles away

Berea

47.9 miles away

Wade Hampton

49.1 miles away

Morganton

49.3 miles away

Parker

50.0 miles away

Greenville

51.9 miles away

Easley

51.9 miles away

Johnson City

54.1 miles away

Gantt

55.0 miles away

Elizabethton

55.8 miles away

Five Forks

55.9 miles away

Spartanburg

55.9 miles away

Mauldin

56.1 miles away

Shelby

60.0 miles away

Simpsonville

60.5 miles away

Morristown

60.6 miles away

Sevierville

60.9 miles away