FISHING NFNC 

Davidson River Area   Map of Davidson River Area (112kb)
	click photo to enlarge

The Davidson River area is located in Transylvania County, and is close to Brevard and Hendersonville.  The area is easily accessible by car.  Rivers and streams within the Davidson River area support a variety of fishing opportunities including backcountry trout fishing on Cove Creek, more accessible stream fishing on Avery and Looking Glass Creeks, and trophy brown and rainbow trout fishing on the Davidson River proper.   

 Map of Davidson River Area

Access:  From Asheville, follow Interstate 26 East to Exit 9 (Asheville Regional Airport) (or from South Carolina, follow Interstate 26 West to Exit 9).  At Exit 9, follow SR 1419 past the airport, to the intersection with Highway 191.  Turn left onto Highway 191, and follow to the intersection with Highway 280.  Bear right onto Highway 280 and follow to intersection with Highway 276.  Turn right onto Highway 276.  This road follows the Davidson River upstream to the intersection with FS 475.  Look for signs to the Pisgah Forest Fish Hatchery. 

From the Blue Ridge Parkway, south of Mount Pisgah, turn onto Highway 276 and follow east towards Brevard.  This portion of Highway 276 follows Looking Glass Creek to the intersection with FS 475.

Following FS 475 (from the intersection of Highway 276) accesses the upper Davidson River and Cove Creek.  The Cove Creek Group Camp is located along this road, and the road to the camp also accesses upper Cove Creek.  Unless you are camping at the group camp, you will need to park along FS 475 (there are several small parking areas) and walk up the road or creek.  To access the upper Davidson River, simply follow FS 475 to the top of the mountain—the road follows the creek to its headwaters. 

Turning onto FS 477 from Highway 276 accesses Avery Creek.  FS 477 is the first gravel road on the right after you pass the Pisgah Ranger Station on Highway 276 (coming from Brevard).  The White Pines Group Camp, and Avery Creek Horse Stables are located along this road.  Once you reach the horse stables, it may be necessary to park in the small parking area and continue along Avery Creek on foot.  

Camping:   The Davidson River Campground offers overnight camping for trailers and tents.  Restroom facilities, drinking water, tent pads, grills, and a trailer dump station are available.  Sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and there is a fee required to camp here.

The Cove Creek and White Pines Group Camps are available for larger groups through a reservation system (1-877-457-4023, Cradle of Forestry in America).  These facilities offer restrooms and drinking water.  There is a fee and minimum group size required to camp here.

Primitive camping is allowed on Forest Service lands throughout the Davidson River area, except where signed “no camping”.  Exceptions to this rule may occur along major Forest Service roads, where primitive campsites have been designated and signed to protect water quality and other natural resources.

Comments:  This area is extremely popular among local anglers because of the diversity of fishing opportunities available.  It is also extremely popular among mountain bikers, horseback riders, kayakers (high water only), hikers, and picnickers, so be aware that you will probably not be the only one using the area.

For more information:  Contact the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission at http://www.ncwildlife.org/fs_index_03_fishing.htm  for more information on local fishing regulations and license requirements.  Trail and local topographic maps are available from:

Pisgah Ranger District
1001 Pisgah Highway
Pisgah Forest, North Carolina 28768
(828) 877-3350

Lower Davidson River

The lower Davidson River (below the confluence with Avery Creek) is managed under the NCWRC’s Hatchery Supported regulations.  There are no bait or size restrictions in this section of the River.  The lower Davidson River flows through the Davidson River Campground. 

Species Present:  brook trout (hatchery-raised), and brown and rainbow trout (hatchery-raised and wild).

Seasons:  The lower Davidson River is closed to harvest from the last day of February through the first Saturday in April.  All other days, seven trout may be harvested per angler per day, with no size limit.  This section of the river is posted with green and white diamond-shaped signs stating local fishing regulations.

Middle and Upper Davidson River

Species Present:  rainbow and brown trout (wild), occasional brook trout (wild).  In the middle Davidson River (between Avery Creek and the Pisgah Forest Fish Hatchery), is it not uncommon to find trophy-sized brown and rainbow trout, although they have proven to be pretty wily.  The upper Davidson River (above the Pisgah Forest Fish Hatchery) supports higher numbers of smaller rainbow trout and brook trout, although an occasional large rainbow is not uncommon. 

Seasons:  The middle and upper Davidson River (above t Avery Creek, excluding Looking Glass Creek) is managed under the NCWRC’s Catch and Release, Fly-Fishing Only regulations and are open to fishing year-round.  These waters may be fished with artificial flies having one single hook.  No fish may be harvested or possessed while fishing the middle and upper  

Davidson River. These areas are posted with red and yellow diamond-shaped signs stating local fishing regulations.

Avery Creek	Looking Glass Creek	Cove Creek
click photo to enlarge

Avery Creek and Looking Glass Creek

Avery Creek and Looking Glass Creek are easily accessible by car, although the headwaters may require short hikes into the forest.

Species Present:  rainbow trout (wild), and occasional brown and brook trout (wild).

Seasons:  Avery Creek and Looking Glass Creek are managed under the NCWRC’s Wild Trout regulations, and may be fished year-round with artificial lures having one single hook.  No natural bait is allowed.  Four trout at least 7 inches in length may be harvested per angler per day.  These areas are posted with blue and yellow diamond-shaped signs stating local fishing regulations.

Cove Creek

Cove Creek is a picturesque high-gradient stream, with numerous small falls and big pools.  There is no vehicle access beyond FS 475 unless you are staying at the Cove Creek Group Camp, so bring sturdy shoes!

Species Present:  Rainbow trout (wild), and occasional brown and brook trout (wild).

Seasons:  Cove Creek is managed under the NCWRC’s Wild Trout regulations, and may be fished year-round with artificial lures having one single hook.  No natural bait is allowed.  Four trout at least 7 inches in length may be harvested per angler per day.  The stream is posted with blue and yellow signs stating local fishing regulations.