• Jeremy, of Kinston, holds up his 3-lb American Shad
  • This 4-pound striped bass was captured by Patrick, 14.
  • David, of Wilkes County, caught this 2-pound brown trout from the New River.
  • Cameron, from Elizabeth City, shows off the 8-pound channel catfish caught from a private pond
  • Kurtis, from Wayne County, with a 3-pound largemouth bass.

Mountains

SITE LOCATION

COUNTY (A-Z)

TLP PARTNER

New River State Park

Alleghany

NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.

Stone Mountain State Park

Alleghany

NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.

Ashe Park Pond

Ashe

Ashe County Parks & Recreation

Asheville Parks and Recreation Office (serves Swannanoa River)

Buncombe

Asheville Parks & Recreation

South Mountains State Park

Burke

NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.

Haywood County Tourism Development Authority (serves Jonathan Creek in Maggie Valley and Richland Creek)

Haywood

Haywood County Tourism Development Authority

Cashiers-Glenville Recreation Center (onsite pond)

Jackson

Jackson County Parks & Recreation Dept.

Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center (serves Mill Creek)

McDowell

Mountain Gateway Museum

Buckeye Recreation Center (serves Buckeye Creek Reservoir and Coffey Lake

Watauga

Beech Mountain Parks and Recreation

Wilkes County Library (serves Reddies River, Cub Creek & Yadkin Greenway Pier)

Wilkes 

Town of Wilkesboro/Wilkes County Partnership

Patience Park Office (serves Yancey County Toe River Campground)

Yancey

Yancey County Parks & Recreation

 

Piedmont

SITE LOCATION

COUNTY (A-Z)

TLP PARTNER

Graham-Mebane Lake

Alamance

Graham Recreation and Parks

Camp TN Spencer Park (onsite pond)

Cabarrus

Cabarrus Co. Active Living & Parks

Frank Liske Park (onsite lake)

Cabarrus

Cabarrus Co. Active Living & Parks

Broad River Greenway

Cleveland

Broad River Greenway 

Little River Reservoir

Durham

Durham Parks & Recreation

Lake Michie Recreation Area

Durham

Durham Parks & Recreation

Eno River State Park

Durham

NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.

Rankin Lake Park

Gaston

Gastonia Parks & Recreation

Dallas Park (onsite ponds)

Gaston

Gaston County Parks & Recreation

Lake Devin

Granville

Oxford Parks & Recreation

Lake Rogers Park

Granville

Creedmoor Parks & Recreation Dept.

Oka T. Hester Complex (onsite pond)

Guilford

Greensboro Parks & Recreation Dept.

Bur-Mil Park (serves Bur-Mil Park and Lake Brandt)

Guilford

Guilford County Parks and Recreation

High Point City Lake

Guilford

High Point Parks & Recreation

Oak Hollow City Lake

Guilford

High Point Parks & Recreation

San-Lee Park (onsite pond)

Lee

Lee County Parks & Recreation

Matthews Community Center (serves Squirrel Lake)

Mecklenburg

Matthews Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources

Quest Nature Center (serves Mountain Island Lake)

Mecklenburg

Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation

McDowell Nature Center (serves Lake Wylie)

Mecklenburg

Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation

Reedy Creek Nature Center (onsite pond)

Mecklenburg

Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation

Aberdeen Lake Park

Moore

Aberdeen Parks and Recreations

Southern Pines Recreation and Parks Dept. - 2nd Floor at Campbell House (serves Reservoir Park)

Moore

Southern Pines Recreation and Parks

Century Center (serves Anderson Community Park)

Orange

Carrboro Recreation, Parks & Cultural Resources

Mayo Park (serves Mayo Lake)

Person

Person County Parks and Recreation

Lake Lucas Park

Randolph

Asheboro Cultural & Recreation Res.

Haw River State Park (serves Robins Nest Lake)

Rockingham

NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.

Mayo River State Park

Rockingham

NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.

City Park (onsite pond)

Rowan

Salisbury Parks & Recreation

Salisbury Community Park (onsite pond)

Rowan

Salisbury Parks & Recreation

Morrow Mountain State Park

Stanly

NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.

Elkin Municipal Park (serves Big Elkin Creek)

Surry

Elkin Recreation & Parks Department

Tumbling Rock Reservoir at Westwood Park

Surry 

Mount Airy Parks & Recreation

Cane Creek Park

Union

Union County Parks & Recreation

Aycock Recreation Center (serves Fox Pond)

Vance

Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks

Apex Community Park (serves Apex Lake)

Wake

Apex Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources

Bass Lake Park

Wake

Holly Springs Parks & Recreation

Falls Lake Information Center

Wake

NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.

Lake Wheeler Park (Simpkins Pond)

Wake

Raleigh Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources

Harris Lake County Park

Wake

Wake Co. Parks, Rec. & Open Space

Lake Crabtree County Park

Wake

Wake Co. Parks, Rec. & Open Space

Poole Family YMCA (serves Lake Benson)

Wake

Poole Family YMCA in Garner

 

Coastal Plains (Eastern NC and Coast)

SITE LOCATION

COUNTY (A-Z)

TLP PARTNER

Hazel W. Guilford Memorial Library (serves Pamlico River)

Beaufort

BHM Regional Library System

Creekside Park (serves Brice’s Creek)

Craven

Craven County Parks and Recreation

Lake Rim Park

Cumberland

Fayettevile-Cumberland Co. Parks & Recreation

River Park North

Pitt

Greenville Recreation & Parks

Lumber River State Park (in Orrum)

Robeson

NC Dept. of Natural and Cultural Resources

Lumber River State Park (in Wagram)

Scotland

NC Dept. of Natural and Cultural Resources

Cliffs of the Neuse State Park

Wayne

NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.

Tackle Loaner Program (TLP)

Looking to try fishing for the first time? Still fine-tuning your angling skills? Or perhaps you forgot your gear at home? The Tackle Loaner Program is here for you! The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has teamed up with various cities, counties, state parks and other organizations so that North Carolinians (and visitors) are able to borrow rods, reels and other fishing gear free of charge. The Commission created the program back in the 90’s to introduce new anglers, especially children, to the wonderful pastime of fishing and encourage novice anglers to develop their skills. The program is funded by the federal Sport Fish Restoration program.

 

HOW TLP WORKS


The Tackle Loaner Program operates just like a library system. Anglers of all ages register at any participating site, then receive a TLP ID card, which allows them to check out fishing gear. Participants can then use their ID card again and again to loan out gear at any of NC’s TLP sites. All gear must be returned to the site from which it was originally loaned out, however.

First-time TLP participants under 16 years of age will receive a free mini-tackle box loaded with basic fishing essentials.

 

ANGLERS WITH DISABILITIES


Adaptive fishing gear can be loaned to anglers with disabilities at some TLP sites. This gear includes a Velcro reeling system and assistive arm or hand pole holders/grips for those with limited or no hand function. We also offer wheelchair pole holders. If you are visiting or plan to visit a TLP site that does not have this gear readily available, please contact tackleloaner@ncwildlife.org so that we may assist.

 

HOW TO FIND A TLP SITE

 

A list of Tackle Loaner Program sites is below, sorted by county A-Z. You can also use the N.C. Fishing Access Map to find your nearest TLP site. A tutorial on how to filter the map for TLP sites can be found here.

 

Many of the 50+ TLP sites are also Community Fishing Program sites, where the Commission regularly stocks catfish.

 

NO TLP IN YOUR AREA?

 

The NCWRC is always looking to bring the Tackle Loaner Programs to more communities, because we believe everyone should have access to fishing! If your city or county does not have a TLP site, but you’d like to see one, please let us know by reaching out to tackleloaner@ncwildlife.org. Agencies interested in becoming a TLP partner are encouraged to reach out as well.

 

Current NC Tackle Loaner Program Sites

SITE LOCATION

COUNTY (A-Z)

TLP PARTNER

Graham-Mebane Lake Office

Alamance

Graham Recreation and Parks

New River State Park Office Alleghany NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.
Stone Mountain State Park Office Alleghany NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.

Ashe Park Pond Office

Ashe

Ashe County Parks & Recreation

Hazel W. Guilford Memorial Library Beaufort BHM Regional Library System
Goose Creek State Park Office Beaufort NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.
Asheville Parks and Recreation Office Buncombe Asheville Parks & Recreation
South Mountains State Park Office Burke NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.

Camp TN Spencer Park Office

Cabarrus

Cabarrus Co. Active Living & Parks

Frank Liske Park Office Cabarrus Cabarrus Co. Active Living & Parks
Broad River Greenway Office Cleveland Broad River Greenway 

Lake Rim Park Office

Cumberland

Fayettevile-Cumberland Co. Parks & Recreation

Little River Reservoir Durham Durham Parks & Recreation
Lake Michie Recreation Area Durham Durham Parks & Recreation
Eno River State Park Office Durham NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.

Rankin Lake Park Office

Gaston

Gastonia Parks & Recreation

Dallas Park Gaston Gaston County Parks & Recreation
Lake Devin Granville Oxford Parks & Recreation

Lake Rogers Park Office

Granville

Creedmoor Parks & Recreation Dept.

Oka T. Hester Complex Guilford Greensboro Parks & Recreation Dept.
Bur-Mil Park Office (serves Bur-Mil Park and Lake Brandt) Guilford Guilford County Parks and Recreation
High Point City Lake Office Guilford High Point Parks & Recreation
Oak Hollow City Lake Office Guilford High Point Parks & Recreation

Haywood County Tourism Development Authority (serves Jonathan Creek in Maggie Valley and Richland Creek)

Haywood

Haywood County Tourism Development Authority

Glenville Recreation Center (serves Jackson County Parks & Recreation Pond)

Jackson

Jackson County Parks & Recreation Dept.

San-Lee Park Office

Lee

Lee County Parks & Recreation

Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center (serves Mill Creek)

McDowell

Mountain Gateway Museum

Matthews Community Center (serves Squirrel Lake) Mecklenburg Matthews Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources

Latta Plantation Nature Preserve Office

Mecklenburg

Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation

McDowell Nature Preserve Office

Mecklenburg

Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation

Reedy Creek Nature Preserve Office

Mecklenburg

Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation

Campbell House, 2nd Floor at Southern Pines Recreation and Parks Dept. (serves Southern Pines Reservoir) Moore Southern Pines Recreation and Parks
Southern Pines Recreation and Parks Dept. - 2nd Floor at Campbell House (serves Reservoir Park) Moore Southern Pines Recreation and Parks

Century Center (serves Anderson Community Park)

Orange

Carrboro Recreation, Parks & Cultural Resources

Mayo Park Office Person Person County Parks and Recreation

River Park North Complex

Pitt

Greenville Recreation & Parks

Lake Lucas Park Office Randolph Asheboro Cultural & Recreation Res.
Haw River State Park Office (serves park's Robins Nest Lake) Rockingham NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.

Mayo River State Park Office

Rockingham

NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.

City Park Office

Rowan

Salisbury Parks & Recreation

Salisbury Community Park Office

Rowan

Salisbury Parks & Recreation

Morrow Mountain State Park Office

Stanly

NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.

Elkin Municipal Park Office (serves Big Elkin Creek)

Surry

Elkin Recreation & Parks Department

Tumbling Rock Reservoir at Westwood Park Office

Surry 

Mount Airy Parks & Recreation

Cane Creek Lake Marina

Union

Union County Parks & Recreation

Aycock Recreation Center (serves Fox Pond)

Vance

Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks

Apex Park Office (serves Apex Community Park)

Wake

Apex Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources

Bass Lake Park Office

Wake

Holly Springs Parks & Recreation

Falls Lake State Recreational Area Visitor's Center Wake NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.

Wheeler Lake Complex (serves Simpkins Pond & Lake Wheeler

Wake

Raleigh Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources

Harris Lake County Park Office

Wake

Wake Co. Parks, Rec. & Open Space

Lake Crabtree County Office

Wake

Wake Co. Parks, Rec. & Open Space

Poole Family YMCA (serves Lake Benson) Wake Poole Family YMCA in Garner
Buckeye Recreation Center (serves Buckeye Creek Reservoir and Coffey Lake Watauga Beech Mountain Parks and Recreation

Cliffs of the Neuse State Park Office

Wayne

NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res.

Wilkes County Library (serves Reddies River, Cub Creek & Yadkin Greenway Pier)

Wilkes 

Town of Wilkesboro/Wilkes County Partnership

Patience Park Office (serves Yancey County Toe River Campground) Yancey Yancey County Parks & Recreation

Fishing Access Map Tutorial