Dan River Fishing
Stokes County, Rockingham County and Caswell County, Hatchery Supported.
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The Dan River, sized up
The river called the Dan River flows across Stokes County, Rockingham County and Caswell County. Its North Carolina length on the map is about 106 miles. About 11 miles separate it from Pilot Mountain.
NCWRC classes 5.6 miles of it as Public Mountain Trout Water: Hatchery Supported 5.6 mi. 3 active gauges report from the channel. Access records list 8 launches. Hatchery trout arrive on 2 scheduled dates.
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| Class | Reach (NCWRC description) | Miles | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hatchery Supported | Virginia state line downstream to a point 200 yards below the end of S.R. 1421 | 5.6 | Stokes |
| Class | Daily creel | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hatchery Supported | 7 a day | no size limit | Aug. 1, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 and 7 a.m. April 3, 2027 – July 31, 2027 |
For the classes on the Dan River, NCWRC says: No size limit or bait restriction; creel limit 7 trout per day. Marked with green-and-white signs.
NCWRC Public Mountain Trout Waters 2026 layer and the 2026-27 trout regulations. All trout waters.
The Dan River right now
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Dan River Near Francisco, Nc | 65 cfs, 1.27 ft gage height | Nov 14 7:30 am |
| Dan River At Pine Hall, Nc | 129 cfs, 1.53 ft gage height | Nov 14 8:15 am |
| Dan River Near Wentworth, Nc | 290 cfs, 1.15 ft gage height | Nov 14 7:45 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 14, 2026 8:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Put-ins along the Dan River
- Milton1 lane, 80 trailer spaces, 1 dock, Caswell County, inland waters
- Jessup Millpaddle access, 11 trailer spaces, Stokes County, inland waters
- Hart's1 lane, 1 trailer spaces, Stokes County, inland waters
- Draper Landing1 lane, 8 trailer spaces, Rockingham County, inland waters
- Leaksville1 lane, 30 trailer spaces, 1 dock, Rockingham County, inland waters
- Dan Riverboat ramp, 11 trailer spaces, Rockingham County, inland waters
- Pitzer Roadpaddle access, 12 trailer spaces, Stokes County, inland waters
- Hemlock Golf Coursepaddle access, Stokes County, inland waters
NCWRC Boating Access Areas, USACE, USFS and OpenStreetMap; midpoint from the NCWRC trout layer or USGS NHDPlus lines.
Stocked fish in the Dan River
Scheduled 2026 dates: 2026-04-13, 2026-06-09.
NCWRC live trout stocking report, 2026 Delayed Harvest weeks and the 2026 warmwater list. NCWRC notes that fall 2026 Delayed Harvest stockings wait until November.
Regulations on the Dan River
On the Dan River, these rules replace the statewide rows:
| Species | Size limit | Daily creel |
|---|---|---|
| Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) | 20-inch minimum, and no fish may be greater than 26 inches (Oct. 1 – May 31)No minimum size limit (June 1 – Sept. 30) | 2 in combination (Oct. 1 – May 31) 4 in combination (June 1 – Sept. 30) |
| 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 |
| 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. All North Carolina limits.
Out from Dan River
Lakes within a drive of Dan River
- Hanging Rock Park Lake11 miles
- Tumbling Rock Reservoir14 miles
- C G Hill Pond24 miles
- Belews Lake25 miles
Pick up bait near Dan River
- Handmade Tackle Incbait and tackle shop, Mount Airy, 14 miles
- Ricks Reloading Tacklebait and tackle shop, Ararat, 15 miles
Where to sleep near Dan River
- Pilot Mountain11 miles
- Danbury12 miles
- Mount Airy14 miles
- King17 miles
Other rivers by the Dan River
- Ararat River14 miles
- Lovills Creek14 miles
- Pauls Creek16 miles
- Little Fisher River22 miles
Dan River, county by county
- Stokes County
- Rockingham County
- Caswell County
Piscifun reels for this water
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The Dan River, the common questions
Which counties does the Dan River flow through?
Its mapped course crosses Stokes County, Rockingham County and Caswell County.
Is the Dan River Public Mountain Trout Water?
About 5.6 miles, classed Hatchery Supported.
Are trout stocked in the Dan River?
Trout on 2 dates from 2026-04-13.
Is the Dan River up today?
3 USGS gauges post readings above.
Which access points reach the Dan River?
8 launches; Leaksville is one.
Does the Dan River have special limits?
Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid): 20-inch minimum, and no fish may be greater than 26 inches (Oct. 1 – May 31)No minimum size limit (June 1 – Sept. 30), 2 in combination (Oct. 1 – May 31) 4 in combination (June 1 – Sept. 30.
What paperwork does the Dan River need?
Inland waters take an NCWRC inland fishing license from age 16 ($32 resident, $56 nonresident).
Which counter sits nearest the Dan River?
Drive 14 miles to reach Handmade Tackle Inc.
Which town makes a base for the Dan River?
Pilot Mountain, some 11 miles off.
Wet a line in the Dan River
Classes, limits and flow are on this page.