Fishing in Stokes County, North Carolina
Seat: Danbury. NCWRC District 7.
- 2lakes
- 8launches
- 1trout streams
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Getting oriented in Stokes County
With Danbury as the seat, Stokes County belongs to NCWRC District 7. Stokes County covers 449 land square miles and 6.8 water square miles.
There are 2 lake pages for the county, topped by Belews Lake. Access records show 8 launches in the county, 8 inland and 0 on coastal or joint water. Mountain trout rules cover 1 stream in the county. Hatchery trout go into 2 county waters in 2026.
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NCWRC access areas, USACE, USFS, OpenStreetMap and NC DCM, checked October 2026.
Ponds and lakes of Stokes County
- Belews Lakelake, 3,863 acres, 2 launches
- Hanging Rock Park Lakelake, 11.9 acres
Stokes County moving water
- Dan Riverriver, Hatchery Supported, 8 launches
USGS sites in Stokes County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Dan River At Pine Hall, Nc | 129 cfs, 1.53 ft gage height | Nov 14 8:15 am |
| Dan River Near Francisco, Nc | 65 cfs, 1.27 ft gage height | Nov 14 7:30 am |
| Little Yadkin River At Dalton, Nc | 10 cfs, 0.54 ft gage height | Nov 14 8:15 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 14, 2026 8:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Stokes County ramps
Freshwater access in Stokes County (8)
- Hart'sDan River, 1 lane, 1 trailer spaces
- Hemlock Golf CourseDan River, paddle access
- Jessup MillDan River, paddle access, 11 trailer spaces
- Pine HallBelews Lake, 2 lanes, 42 trailer spaces, 1 dock
- Pitzer RoadDan River, paddle access, 12 trailer spaces
- Hanging Rock Dan River Access, boat ramp
- Moratock Park Access, boat ramp
- Snow Creek Access, boat ramp
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and Public Fishing Areas, USACE, USFS and OpenStreetMap slipways.
What NCWRC adds to Stokes County waters
Trout trucks in Stokes County
| Water | Dates | First |
|---|---|---|
| Dan River | 2 | 2026-04-13 |
| Hanging Rock Lake | 1 | 2026-04-13 |
NCWRC 2026 warmwater list, live trout report and freshwater state records.
Tackle counters nearest Stokes County
- Carolina Marinamarina, Stokesdale, 13 miles
- Williams Curb Marketcountry store with bait, Madison, 15 miles
- Forsyth Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Winston Salem, 18 miles
- Piedmont Worm Farmbait and tackle shop, Stokesdale, 19 miles
- Ricks Reloading Tacklebait and tackle shop, Ararat, 21 miles
Rules on Stokes County waters
| Species | Daily creel | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 5 a day | 14 in minimum | No closed season |
| Crappie | no creel limit | no size limit | 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 |
| Rock and Roanoke bass | no creel limit | 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.
Where to stock up in Stokes County
Guide services, Stokes County
- B & B Carp Lakefreshwater / lake guide, Walnut Cove, (336) 591-4944
Out from Stokes County
Where people live in Stokes County
- Kingpop. 7,197
- Walnut Covepop. 1,586
- Danburypop. 189
Neighbors of Stokes County
- Forsyth County18 miles south
- Surry County23 miles west
- Rockingham County27 miles east
- Yadkin County27 miles southwest
Species around Stokes County, pictured
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region, Public domain
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Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Stokes County fishing, the common questions
Which ramps serve boaters across Stokes County?
There are 8 launches: 8 inland and 0 coastal or joint.
Which lake leads fishing in Stokes County?
Belews Lake, 3,863 acres.
Does Stokes County touch salt water?
Inland only.
Which fisheries district handles Stokes County?
NCWRC District 7.
Which counters sell fishing gear in Stokes County?
No shop is listed in the county.
Do any fishing guides list Stokes County?
The guide list carries 1 guide or charter here.
Does NCWRC stock Stokes County?
2 county waters, 0 warmwater fish, 2 trout waters.
Which town is the county seat of Stokes County?
County government sits in Danbury.
Which license fits Stokes County waters?
Inland waters take an NCWRC inland fishing license from age 16 ($32 resident, $56 nonresident).
Find water in Stokes County
Open a spot above for its limits.