Rule: On National Forest land, the licence of the state in which the water sits is the controlling document — there is no Forest Service fishing permit.
- All National Forest waters defer to the state agency's fishing regulations: state season windows, state bag limits, state stamps.
- Site-specific use fees (boat launch, day-use parking) may apply at developed recreation sites — these are use fees, not fishing permits.
- Wilderness areas inside a National Forest may have additional restrictions on motorized boats, bait, or stocking — check the local Ranger District before a trip.
National Forests fishing page →·Official source: fs.usda.gov
Rule: Fishing in the Allegheny National Forest runs on a Pennsylvania fishing licence — the US Forest Service does not sell a fishing permit. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission sets the seasons, limits, and trout-stocking schedule inside the forest.
- The Allegheny Reservoir (Kinzua) holds walleye, muskellunge, smallmouth bass, and panfish; the Allegheny River and Tionesta Creek add trout and smallmouth.
- A Pennsylvania trout permit is required in addition to the fishing licence to fish for or keep trout on stocked and Class A waters.
- The upper reservoir extends into New York; a New York licence is required on the New York portion — check the line before fishing the upper pool.
Allegheny NF fishing page →·Official source: fishandboat.com
Rule: Fishing in the Angeles National Forest runs on a California fishing licence — the US Forest Service does not sell a fishing permit. The California Department of Fish & Wildlife sets the seasons, limits, and special-regulation reaches inside the forest.
- The West Fork of the San Gabriel River above Cogswell Dam is a designated Wild Trout water with catch-and-release, barbless artificial-only rules set by CDFW.
- Lower-elevation reaches and Crystal Lake are stocked with rainbow trout and fished under the general California licence and statewide trout rules.
- A National Forest Adventure Pass may be required to park at developed trailheads — that is a parking fee, not a fishing permit.
Angeles NF fishing page →·Official source: wildlife.ca.gov
Rule: Fishing in the Bridger-Teton National Forest runs on a Wyoming fishing licence — the US Forest Service does not sell a fishing permit. The Wyoming Game & Fish Department sets the seasons, limits, and any river-specific special regulations inside the forest.
- The Snake River through Jackson Hole holds the prized Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat; the Greys, Hoback, and Salt rivers add native cutthroat and whitefish.
- Some reaches carry catch-and-release or artificial-only rules to protect native cutthroat — read the current Wyoming regulations for the specific river.
- High alpine lakes in the Wind River and Gros Ventre ranges hold golden, brook, and cutthroat trout, reached on foot and fished under the standard Wyoming licence.
Bridger-Teton NF fishing page →·Official source: wgfd.wyo.gov
Rule: Fishing in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest runs on a Georgia fishing licence — the US Forest Service does not sell a fishing permit. Georgia's Wildlife Resources Division sets the trout seasons, limits, and special-regulation streams inside the forest.
- The headwaters of the Chattahoochee River and the Chattooga Wild & Scenic River hold wild and stocked trout; Dukes Creek is a well-known artificial-lure, catch-and-release trophy stream.
- A Georgia trout licence (in addition to the base fishing licence) is required to fish for or possess trout; some streams are seasonal.
- Mountain lakes such as Lake Winfield Scott and Lake Conasauga add stocked trout and panfish under the standard Georgia licence.
Chattahoochee NF fishing page →·Official source: georgiawildlife.com
Rule: Fishing in the Coconino National Forest runs on an Arizona fishing licence — the US Forest Service does not sell a fishing permit. The Arizona Game & Fish Department sets the seasons, limits, and stocking schedule for the forest's streams and lakes.
- Oak Creek and its West Fork hold wild and stocked trout in a deep red-rock canyon; AZGFD stocks rainbow trout seasonally.
- High-country lakes near Flagstaff — Upper and Lower Lake Mary, Ashurst Lake, and Mormon Lake — add stocked trout, northern pike, and warmwater species under the standard Arizona licence.
- Some waters are AZGFD-stocked seasonal fisheries with their own rules; check the current Arizona regulations for the specific water before you fish.
Coconino NF fishing page →·Official source: azgfd.com
Rule: Fishing in the Green Mountain National Forest runs on a Vermont fishing licence — the US Forest Service does not sell a fishing permit. Vermont Fish & Wildlife sets the seasons, limits, and any special-regulation reaches inside the forest.
- The White River and its tributaries hold wild brook, brown, and rainbow trout; the Battenkill headwaters near the forest are a storied wild-trout fishery.
- Vermont's general trout season and a handful of special-regulation (artificial-only / catch-and-release) reaches apply — read the current Vermont regulations for your stream.
- High-elevation ponds reachable from forest trails can hold stocked brook trout and are covered by the standard Vermont licence.
Green Mountain NF fishing page →·Official source: vtfishandwildlife.com
Rule: Fishing in the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests runs on the host state's licence — Virginia on the Virginia side, West Virginia on the West Virginia side — because the US Forest Service does not sell a fishing permit.
- The forests hold extensive native brook-trout headwaters; Virginia and West Virginia each set their own wild-trout and special-regulation (catch-and-release, single-hook artificial) stream rules.
- A trout licence or stamp is required in addition to the base fishing licence on most stocked and designated trout waters — check the host state's regulations.
- Larger rivers bordering the forests (the James, Jackson, and South Fork Shenandoah) add smallmouth bass under the standard state licence.
GW-Jefferson NF fishing page →·Official source: dwr.virginia.gov
Rule: Fishing in Nantahala National Forest runs on a North Carolina fishing licence — the US Forest Service does not sell a fishing permit. The NC Wildlife Resources Commission sets the seasons, limits, and trout-water classifications inside the forest.
- The Nantahala River below the powerhouse holds a popular Delayed Harvest trout section with seasonal Catch-and-Release, Artificial-Only rules set by North Carolina.
- Standing Indian and the upper Nantahala drainage hold wild trout; Lake Nantahala and Lake Santeetlah add reservoir bass, walleye, and panfish under the standard NC licence.
- The inland trout privilege is required on classified trout waters; confirm the current classification for your exact stream reach in the NC trout regulations.
Nantahala NF fishing page →·Official source: ncwildlife.org
Rule: Fishing in Pisgah National Forest runs on a North Carolina fishing licence — the US Forest Service does not sell a fishing permit. The NC Wildlife Resources Commission sets the trout seasons and the Hatchery Supported, Wild Trout, and Catch-and-Release stream classifications inside the forest.
- The Davidson River is one of the Southeast's best-known wild and stocked trout streams; sections carry Catch-and-Release, Artificial-Lures-Only special regulations set by North Carolina.
- Trout-water classifications (Hatchery Supported, Wild, Delayed Harvest) change the season and tackle rules stream-by-stream — read the NC trout regulations for the exact reach before you fish.
- A North Carolina fishing licence with the inland trout privilege is required on classified trout waters; there is no separate Forest Service fishing fee.
Pisgah NF fishing page →·Official source: ncwildlife.org
Rule: Fishing in the Superior National Forest — home to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness — runs on a Minnesota fishing licence. The US Forest Service does not sell a fishing permit; the Minnesota DNR sets the seasons, limits, and any lake-specific special regulations.
- The Boundary Waters' thousands of lakes hold walleye, lake trout, smallmouth bass, and northern pike; the Minnesota DNR sets statewide and some lake-specific limits.
- A BWCAW overnight or day-use permit (reserved separately through recreation.gov) is required to enter the wilderness — it is an access permit, not a fishing licence.
- Some border-water lakes shared with Ontario carry special licence and limit rules; check both the Minnesota regulations and any Canadian-water requirements before crossing.
Superior NF fishing page →·Official source: dnr.state.mn.us
Rule: Fishing in the Tongass National Forest — the largest national forest in the United States — runs on an Alaska fishing licence. The US Forest Service does not sell a fishing permit; the Alaska Department of Fish & Game sets the seasons, bag limits, and any emergency in-season orders.
- Southeast Alaska's Tongass holds all five Pacific salmon, steelhead, cutthroat and Dolly Varden, plus saltwater access to halibut and rockfish; ADF&G manages each by area and run.
- King salmon and steelhead are tightly regulated and subject to emergency closures — always check the current ADF&G area regulations and emergency orders before fishing.
- Many famous streams are reached only by floatplane or boat; a nonresident Alaska licence (and king-salmon stamp where required) is needed on top of any lodge or guide arrangement.
Tongass NF fishing page →·Official source: adfg.alaska.gov
Rule: Fishing in the White Mountain National Forest runs on the host state's licence — New Hampshire on the NH side, Maine on the small Maine portion — because the US Forest Service does not sell a fishing permit.
- Most of the forest is in New Hampshire; the Maine portion (around the Wild River and Evans Notch) is fished on a Maine licence — check which side of the state line your water sits on.
- The Swift, Saco, Pemigewasset, and Ammonoosuc rivers hold stocked and wild brook, brown, and rainbow trout; New Hampshire sets the seasons and limits.
- Remote backcountry ponds in the forest can carry special fly-fishing-only or reduced-limit rules — read the host state's regulations for the specific water.
White Mountain NF fishing page →·Official source: wildlife.state.nh.us