Macon County NC Trout Fishing

NC Trout Streams → Macon County
NC Trout Streams · District 9

Macon County
Trout Fishing

6 Hatchery Streams
1 Delayed Harvest
16,300 Fish Stocked (2026)
3,200' Avg. Elevation

Macon County is home to one of the most recognizable trout fisheries in the Southeast — the Nantahala River. Fed by cold, deep releases from Nantahala Lake, the river runs cold year-round and draws anglers from across the country. But Macon County is more than just the Nantahala. The Cullasaja River gorge, Cartoogechaye Creek, Burningtown Creek, Cliffside Lake, and Queens Creek Reservoir round out a county that consistently produces trout from March through early summer. Here's everything you need to fish Macon County in 2026.

Catch & Release Best Practices

  • Use barbless hooks — or pinch down your barbs before you fish
  • Wet your hands before handling fish; dry skin strips protective slime
  • Keep fish in the water as much as possible — no flopping on the bank
  • Use rubber-mesh nets; they're far gentler on fins, gills, and eyes
  • Hold the fish facing the current until it swims out of your hands on its own
  • Quick photo, quick release — the fish thanks you, so does the next angler
🔵 Delayed Harvest Streams
Heavily stocked · Catch & Release only Oct 1 – June 5 · Artificial lures/flies with single hook only · Harvest opens June 6, 2026 · Always verify current dates at ncwildlife.gov
Delayed Harvest Nantahala River White Oak Creek to Powerhouse · 4 miles · 7,700 fish annually · Brook, Rainbow, Brown
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Stream / Section Miles GPS
Nantahala River — Delayed Harvest Section White Oak Creek to the Powerhouse. The Nantahala River DH section runs through the Nantahala Gorge — a dramatic, steep-walled canyon in the Nantahala National Forest. The river is a regulated tailwater, with cold bottom releases from Nantahala Lake keeping water temperatures fishable year-round. Classic pocket water, deep runs along the canyon walls, and foam-line feeding lanes that reward technical presentation. The Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) area serves as the primary access hub with parking, amenities, and easy wading access. 4.0 mi 35.3468, -83.6418 ↗
Stocking Event Brook Trout Rainbow Trout Brown Trout Total
March 1,240 1,240 620 3,100
May 600 600 300 1,500
October (fall) 1,240 1,240 620 3,100
Annual Total 3,080 3,080 1,540 7,700
2026 Spring Stocking Weeks
Mar 30 – Apr 3 Apr 6 – Apr 10 Apr 27 – May 1
2026 Fall Stocking Weeks
Sep 28 – Oct 2 Oct 5 – Oct 9 Oct 12 – Oct 16

Source: NCWRC 2026 Master Trout Stocking List & Delayed Harvest Stocking Schedule — Macon County District 9. The Nantahala River DH section receives 6 stocking events in 2026 — 3 spring and 3 fall. Dates subject to change — always verify at ncwildlife.gov before your trip.

Nantahala River — Tailwater Fishing Notes

The Nantahala is a tailwater — water temperatures are driven by cold bottom releases from Nantahala Lake, not air temperature. This means the river fishes well even in summer when surrounding streams have warmed beyond trout comfort. However, whitewater release schedules affect water levels significantly. The Nantahala Gorge is a major whitewater destination and releases can raise the river quickly. Check release schedules at Duke Energy's lake information line before wading — high-release periods push fish to the edges and make wading dangerous in sections.

Cross-County Note

The Nantahala River continues into Swain County where it operates as an additional Delayed Harvest fishery. A multi-day trip combining the Macon and Swain County sections gives you access to one of the longest DH river systems in NC.

Built for the Nantahala — Loaded & Ready

The Nantahala's tailwater character means fish see a lot of pressure and get selective fast. After a fresh stocking, egg patterns and San Juan Worms work near the bottom. Within a week, switch to smaller nymphs, soft hackles, and caddis dries matching the gorge's natural insects. Our loaded fly boxes cover the full progression.

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🟢 Hatchery Supported Streams
Open to all legal tackle · 7 trout/day creel limit · No size limit · Stocked March–May 2026 · Always verify at ncwildlife.gov
Hatchery Burningtown Creek Stocked March & May · 11 miles · 1,600 fish annually · Brook, Rainbow, Brown
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Stream / Section Miles GPS
Burningtown Creek Left Prong to the Little Tennessee River. At 11 miles, Burningtown Creek is the longest hatchery-supported stream in Macon County. It drains the Burningtown community northwest of Franklin and flows down to the Little Tennessee River. A long, productive stretch with good access along much of its lower run — less pressure than the more well-known county streams makes this a reliable option in both March and May stocking windows. 11.0 mi 35.2600, -83.4800 ↗
Stocking Event Brook Trout Rainbow Trout Brown Trout Total
March 320 320 160 800
May 320 320 160 800
Annual Total 640 640 320 1,600

Source: NCWRC 2026 Master Trout Stocking List — Macon County District 9. Dates subject to change — verify at ncwildlife.gov.

Hatchery Cartoogechaye Creek Stocked March & May · 8 miles · 1,200 fish annually · Brook, Rainbow, Brown
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Stream / Section Miles GPS
Cartoogechaye Creek From US 64 to the Little Tennessee River. Cartoogechaye Creek (pronounced car-TOO-ga-chay) flows through the Franklin area of Macon County. An 8-mile stretch with a mix of open meadow sections near town and tighter wooded runs upstream. The open sections near Franklin provide easy roadside access and are popular with local anglers immediately after stocking. 8.0 mi 35.1800, -83.3900 ↗
Stocking Event Brook Trout Rainbow Trout Brown Trout Total
March 240 240 120 600
May 240 240 120 600
Annual Total 480 480 240 1,200

Source: NCWRC 2026 Master Trout Stocking List — Macon County District 9. Dates subject to change — verify at ncwildlife.gov.

Hatchery Cliffside Lake Stocked March & May · 8 acres · 4,000 fish annually · Rainbow only
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Water / Location Size GPS
Cliffside Lake Entire lake — 8 acres. A small USFS recreation area lake in the Nantahala National Forest near the community of Wayah. Stocked with Rainbow Trout only in March and May. At 4,000 fish annually it's the most heavily stocked water in Macon County by far, making it an excellent option right after stocking. The Cliffside Lake Recreation Area offers a developed campground, picnic area, and easy bank fishing access. Indicator nymphing and small streamers are effective post-stocking. 8 ac 35.1650, -83.5800 ↗
Stocking Event Brook Trout Rainbow Trout Brown Trout Total
March — 1,000 — 1,000
May — 1,000 — 1,000
Annual Total — 2,000 — 2,000

Source: NCWRC 2026 Master Trout Stocking List — Macon County District 9. Cliffside Lake is stocked with Rainbow Trout only — no brook or brown trout per the 2026 master list. Dates subject to change — verify at ncwildlife.gov.

Hatchery Cullasaja River Stocked March & May · 13 miles · 2,200 fish annually · Brook, Rainbow, Brown
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Stream / Section Miles GPS
Cullasaja River Sequoyah Dam to US 64 Bridge near the junction with SR 1672. At 13 miles, the Cullasaja is Macon County's longest stocked stream. The river flows through a dramatic gorge between Highlands and Franklin along US-64 — one of the more scenic drives in Western NC. The gorge features high-gradient pocket water, waterfalls (including Bridal Veil Falls and Dry Falls), and roadside access at multiple pulloffs. The lower section near Franklin opens up into more accessible wading water. 13.0 mi 35.0500, -83.2400 ↗
Stocking Event Brook Trout Rainbow Trout Brown Trout Total
March 440 440 220 1,100
May 440 440 220 1,100
Annual Total 880 880 440 2,200
Access Note

The Cullasaja Gorge section along US-64 has limited pulloff parking and some sections require a short scramble down to the water. The lower river near Franklin is more easily accessed. If you're bringing younger anglers or prefer easier wading, start with the Franklin section and work upstream.

Source: NCWRC 2026 Master Trout Stocking List — Macon County District 9. Dates subject to change — verify at ncwildlife.gov.

Hatchery Nantahala River — Hatchery Section Nantahala Dam to White Oak Creek · 3 miles · 800 fish annually · Brook, Rainbow, Brown
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Stream / Section Miles GPS
Nantahala River — Hatchery Supported Nantahala Dam to White Oak Creek. A 3-mile section upstream of the DH boundary, stocked in March and May. This section operates under standard hatchery regulations — open to all legal tackle with a 7 trout/day creel limit — rather than the single-hook artificial-only restriction of the DH section. 3.0 mi 35.3900, -83.6600 ↗
Stocking Event Brook Trout Rainbow Trout Brown Trout Total
March 160 160 80 400
May 160 160 80 400
Annual Total 320 320 160 800

Source: NCWRC 2026 Master Trout Stocking List — Macon County District 9. Important: The Nantahala River has both a Delayed Harvest section and a separate hatchery-supported section. Regulations differ between the two — single hook artificial lures/flies only on the DH section; all legal tackle permitted on the HS section. Always confirm which section you're fishing and apply the correct regulations. Verify boundaries at ncwildlife.gov.

Hatchery Queens Creek Reservoir Stocked March & May · 15 acres · 1,600 fish annually · Rainbow only
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Water / Location Size GPS
Queens Creek Reservoir Entire lake — 15 acres. A small impoundment in Macon County stocked with Rainbow Trout only in March and May. Stillwater fishing — indicator nymphing and slow-stripped streamers produce consistently after stocking. At 15 acres it's the largest stillwater option in the county's HS program. 15 ac 35.3200, -83.5200 ↗
Stocking Event Brook Trout Rainbow Trout Brown Trout Total
March — 400 — 400
May — 400 — 400
Annual Total — 800 — 800

Source: NCWRC 2026 Master Trout Stocking List — Macon County District 9. Queens Creek Reservoir is stocked with Rainbow Trout only — no brook or brown trout per the 2026 master list. Dates subject to change — verify at ncwildlife.gov.

The Depth Charge for the Nantahala Gorge

The Nantahala's pocket water and deep runs are made for tungsten nymphs fished tight to the bottom. Our Depth Charge box loads you up with 72 tungsten bead nymphs — the foundation of any serious subsurface rig on technical tailwater like the Nantahala.

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📅 2026 Stocking Calendar — Macon County
Verify all dates at ncwildlife.gov before your trip · Source: NCWRC 2026 Master Trout Stocking List, District 9
Stream Type Miles/Acres Stocking Month(s) Total Fish
Nantahala River DH DH 4.0 mi March · May · October 7,700
Cliffside Lake HS 8 ac March · May 2,000
Cullasaja River HS 13.0 mi March · May 2,200
Burningtown Creek HS 11.0 mi March · May 1,600
Queens Creek Reservoir HS 15 ac March · May 800
Cartoogechaye Creek HS 8.0 mi March · May 1,200
Nantahala River HS HS 3.0 mi March · May 800
County Total — — — 16,300
Also Fishing Nearby?

Macon County borders some excellent trout fishing counties — each with their own stocking schedules and stream character.

About Macon County trout fishing: Macon County, NC is home to the Nantahala River Delayed Harvest (4 miles, 7,700 fish annually) — one of the most popular trout fisheries in the Southeast — plus 6 hatchery-supported waters including Cullasaja River (13 miles), Burningtown Creek (11 miles), Cliffside Lake, Queens Creek Reservoir, Cartoogechaye Creek, and Nantahala River HS section. Total NCWRC stocking: 16,300 fish in 2026. Located in District 9. Streams stocked March through May. A valid NC fishing license is required. All information reflects the 2026 NCWRC Master Trout Stocking List — verify current regulations at ncwildlife.gov before fishing.