North Carolina counties
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Fishing in Madison County, North Carolina
Seat: Marshall. NCWRC District 9.
- 1lakes
- 6launches
- 87trout streams
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Madison County, North Carolina
Groundwork on Madison County
The Commission files Madison County under District 9; the seat is Marshall. The Census puts 450 square miles of land and 1.9 of water inside Madison County.
The county holds 1 lake with pages here; Max Patch Pond is the biggest. Launch records count 6 launches across the county (6 inland, 0 coastal or joint). The trout layer lists 87 streams in Madison County. 1 water, 216 fish: the 2026 warmwater plan here. Trout trucks are scheduled for 11 county waters in 2026.
1lake pages
6mapped launches
87trout streams
2shops
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Fishing water in Madison County on a map
NCWRC access areas, USACE, USFS, OpenStreetMap and NC DCM, checked October 2026.
Lakes
Madison County reservoirs and ponds
- Max Patch Pondpond
Streams
River pages, Madison County
- French Broad Riverriver, Hatchery Supported and Wild Trout, 8 launches
- Big Creekcreek, Wild Trout
- Shelton Laurel Creekcreek, Delayed Harvest and Hatchery Supported
- Big Laurel Creek near Mars Hill, Madison Countycreek, Hatchery Supported
- Roaring Forkfork, Hatchery Supported and Wild Trout
- Spring Creek near Hot Springs, Madison Countycreek, Hatchery Supported
- Big Pine Creek, Madison Countycreek, Hatchery Supported
- Meadow Fork, Madison Countyfork, Hatchery Supported
- Little Ivy Creekcreek, Hatchery Supported
- Shut-In Creekcreek, Hatchery Supported
- Puncheon Forkfork, Hatchery Supported
- Spillcorn Creekcreek, Hatchery Supported
- Mill Creek, McDowell Countycreek, Delayed Harvest and Wild Trout
- West Fork Shut-In Creekcreek, Hatchery Supported and Wild Trout
- Spring Creek near Hot Springs, Madison County, 1.7 micreek, Delayed Harvest
- Blood Riverriver, Wild Trout
- Big Laurel Creek near Hot Springs, Madison Countycreek, Delayed Harvest
Designated trout water in Madison County
The county holds 70 more Wild Trout streams; NCWRC allows 4 trout of 7 inches on single-hook artificials.
- Allen Creek1 mi, Wild Trout
- Amos Creek1.5 mi, Wild Trout
- Baxter Branch1.2 mi, Wild Trout
- Bear Branch2.6 mi, Wild Trout
- Bear Creek7 mi, Wild Trout
- Bearpen Branch2.8 mi, Wild Trout
- Beck Branch0.4 mi, Wild Trout
- Big Hurricane Creek2.9 mi, Wild Trout
- Big Rocky Branch1.3 mi, Wild Trout
- Billy King Branch0.5 mi, Wild Trout
- Calvin Creek0.9 mi, Wild Trout
- Cascade Branch2.3 mi, Wild Trout
- Catpen Branch0.8 mi, Wild Trout
- Charley Branch0.8 mi, Wild Trout
- Chimney Creek2.2 mi, Wild Trout
- Clear Branch0.6 mi, Wild Trout
- Cook Branch1.4 mi, Wild Trout
- Coonpatch Branch1.1 mi, Wild Trout
- Davis Branch2 mi, Wild Trout
- Doe Branch1.8 mi, Wild Trout
- Dry Branch2.7 mi, Wild Trout
- Dry Creek2 mi, Wild Trout
- East Fork Little Creek0.2 mi, Wild Trout
- East Fork Shut-In Creek2.3 mi, Wild Trout
- East Prong Hickey Fork3.4 mi, Wild Trout
- Fall Branch1.9 mi, Wild Trout
- Flint Level Branch1.9 mi, Wild Trout
- Foster Creek1.3 mi, Wild Trout
- Grass Creek1.2 mi, Wild Trout
- Hampton Creek1.1 mi, Wild Trout
- Hensley Branch1.1 mi, Wild Trout
- Hickory Ridge Branch0.9 mi, Wild Trout
- Hickorylog Branch1.6 mi, Wild Trout
- Hopis Branch0.1 mi, Wild Trout
- Horse Branch2 mi, Wild Trout
- Jack Branch1.9 mi, Wild Trout
- Jones Branch1.2 mi, Wild Trout
- Little Bottom Branch1.3 mi, Wild Trout
- Little Creek1.8 mi, Wild Trout
- Little Hurricane Creek2.8 mi, Wild Trout
- Little Laurel Creek3.7 mi, Wild Trout
- Little Prong1.6 mi, Wild Trout
- Long Mountain Branch1.4 mi, Wild Trout
- Maple Spring Branch1.3 mi, Wild Trout
- Meadow Fork0.2 mi, Wild Trout
- Mountain Island Branch2.2 mi, Wild Trout
- Murray Branch2.9 mi, Wild Trout
- Peter Cove Creek1.6 mi, Wild Trout
- Pounding Mill Branch2.9 mi, Wild Trout
- Pump Branch1.3 mi, Wild Trout
- Puncheon Camp Branch2.1 mi, Wild Trout
- Puncheon Fork0.1 mi, Wild Trout
- Raccoon Branch0.9 mi, Wild Trout
- Reservoir Branch0.8 mi, Wild Trout
- Rock Branch2.9 mi, Wild Trout
- Rocky Branch2.3 mi, Wild Trout
- Sawmill Branch2.2 mi, Wild Trout
- Shade Branch1.2 mi, Wild Trout
- Shelton Branch0.4 mi, Wild Trout
- Silver Mine Creek3.4 mi, Wild Trout
- Skiffly Branch0.3 mi, Wild Trout
- Squirrel Branch1.1 mi, Wild Trout
- Steve Branch0.1 mi, Wild Trout
- Sugartree Branch0.2 mi, Wild Trout
- Trent Branch1 mi, Wild Trout
- West Fork Little Creek1.2 mi, Wild Trout
- West Prong Hickey Fork2.7 mi, Wild Trout
- Whiteoak Flats Branch1.5 mi, Wild Trout
- Woodson Branch0.4 mi, Wild Trout
- Woolsey Branch0.5 mi, Wild Trout
Gauges in Madison County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| French Broad River At Hot Springs, Nc | 1,300 cfs, 2.83 ft gage height | Nov 10 12:15 am |
| French Broad River At Marshall, Nc | 1,230 cfs, 1.60 ft gage height | Nov 10 12:00 am |
| Ivy River Near Marshall, Nc | 38 cfs, 2.02 ft gage height | Nov 9 11:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 10, 2026 12:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
NCWRC Public Mountain Trout Waters 2026.
Launches
Where to put in, Madison County
Ramps on lakes and rivers of Madison County (6)
- Murray BranchFrench Broad River, paddle access, 25 trailer spaces, restrooms
- Stackhouse Boat Launch, boat ramp
- Barnard Park Boat Ramp, boat ramp
- Barnard Park Raft Launch, boat ramp
- Nantahala Outdoor Center Boat Launch, boat ramp
- Redmon Dam River Access, boat ramp
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and Public Fishing Areas, USACE, USFS and OpenStreetMap slipways.
Stocking
Stocking and records in Madison County
Hatchery fish across Madison County
| Water | Species | Number |
|---|---|---|
| French Broad River | Muskellunge | 216 |
Trout schedule in Madison County
| Water | Dates | First |
|---|---|---|
| Big Laurel Creek | 2 | 2026-04-16 |
| Big Laurel Creek | 3 | 2026-04-01 |
| Big Pine Creek | 2 | 2026-04-16 |
| Little Ivy River | 2 | 2026-04-08 |
| Max Patch Pond | 1 | 2026-05-12 |
| Meadow Fork Creek | 1 | 2026-05-18 |
| Puncheon Fork Creek | 1 | 2026-05-20 |
| Roaring Fork Creek | 1 | 2026-05-18 |
| Shelton Laurel Creek | 2 | 2026-04-14 |
| Shelton Laurel Creek | 3 | 2026-04-01 |
| Shut-In Creek | 1 | 2026-05-12 |
| Spillcorn Creek | 2 | 2026-04-14 |
| Spring Creek | 1 | 2026-05-18 |
| Spring Creek | 3 | 2026-04-06 |
NCWRC 2026 warmwater list, live trout report and freshwater state records.
Limits
Harvest rules in Madison County
| Species | Daily creel | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 5 a day | 14 in minimum | No closed season |
| Crappie | 20 a day | 8 in minimum | No closed season |
| Sunfish | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
| Striped and Bodie bass | 4 a day | 20 in minimum | No closed season |
| White bass | 10 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
| Walleye | 8 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
| Blue, channel and flathead catfish | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
| Trout (undesignated waters) | 7 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
NCWRC 2026-27 inland regulations; rows chosen by the county seat position against I-95 and I-77.
Local help
Gear and guides across Madison County
Bait for sale in Madison County
- C & H Fishing Suppliesbait and tackle shop, Hot Springs
- Bluff Mountain Outfitterssporting goods store, Hot Springs
Nearby
Neighbors of Madison County on the map
Madison County communities
- Mars Hillpop. 2,007
- Marshallpop. 777
- Hot Springspop. 520
Counties ringing Madison County
- Buncombe County20 miles southeast
- Yancey County23 miles east
- Haywood County26 miles southwest
- Mitchell County32 miles east
Pictures
Scenes from waters by Madison County
Photo: Daniel Hass, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Nicholas Hartmann, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Mark Clifton, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: -ted, CC BY 2.0
Answers
Before fishing in Madison County
How much boating access does Madison County have?
The county has 6 launches (6 inland, 0 coastal or joint).
Which lakes are in Madison County?
Max Patch Pond.
Which part of Madison County reaches salt water?
No coast; it is inland.
Which NCWRC district covers Madison County?
NCWRC District 9.
Does Madison County have a tackle counter?
2 shops, among them C & H Fishing Supplies.
Which guides work Madison County?
No listing for the county.
Which waters get fish in Madison County?
Stocking reaches 12 waters: 216 fish plus 11 trout waters.
Which town is the Madison County seat?
The county seat is Marshall.
Is a fishing license required in Madison County?
Inland waters take an NCWRC inland fishing license from age 16 ($32 resident, $56 nonresident).
Explore Madison County
Each lake, ramp and pier above has its own page.