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 N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has teamed up with various cities, counties, state parks and other organizations so that North Carolinians (and visitors) may borrow rods, reels and other fishing gear free of charge. The NCWRC created the program in the 1990s 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 NCWRC regularly stocks catfish.
NO TLP IN YOUR AREA?
The NCWRC is always looking to bring the Tackle Loaner Program 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.
How to Sign Up for the Tackle Loaner Program
NC Wildlife Fishing Access Map Tutorial
CURRENT TLP SITES
| SITE LOCATION | COUNTY (A-Z) | TLP PARTNER | ADAPTIVE GEAR AVAILABLE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| South Mountains State Park | Burke | NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Res. | |
| 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 |
| SITE LOCATION | COUNTY (A-Z) | TLP PARTNER | ADAPTIVE GEAR AVAILABLE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| 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 Park | 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 | Yes |
| McDowell Nature Center (serves Lake Wylie) | Mecklenburg | Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation | |
| Reedy Creek Nature Center (onsite pond) | Mecklenburg | Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation | Yes |
| 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 | Yes |
| 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. | Yes |
| 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 | Yes |
| 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 | Yes |
| 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 | Yes |
| Poole Family YMCA (serves Lake Benson) | Wake | Poole Family YMCA in Garner | Yes |
| SITE LOCATION | COUNTY (A-Z) | TLP PARTNER | ADAPTIVE GEAR AVAILABLE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hazel W. Guilford Memorial Library (serves Pamlico River) | Beaufort | BHM Regional Library System | Yes |
| Roanoke/Cashie River Center | Bertie | Roanoke/Cashie River Center | |
| Jones Lake State Park | Bladen | NC Dept. of Natural & Cultural Resources | |
| Creekside Park (serves Brice’s Creek) | Craven | Craven County Parks and Recreation | Yes |
| Lake Rim Park | Cumberland | Fayetteville-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. |