The Tar Heel State is home to a huge variety of activities that are fun for the whole family. From campgrounds to old-fashioned candy stores, you’ll never run out of attractions in North Carolina where you, too, will feel like a kid all over again. For an adventure most people don’t realize is available, head to Grandfather Mountain Trout Farm & Gem Mine.

The trout farm is an ideal place for a child’s first fishing excursion.

Google/Vv Ss It’s open year-round and routinely stocked to the brim with huge trout.

And the best part??

TripAdvisor/Shelly K You get to keep what you catch. In fact, that’s the point. Catch and release isn’t allowed here; you catch it — you keep it.

Bring your own pole (recommended), or fish with one of theirs.

TripAdvisor/PhilViking The friendly staff will furnish you with a bucket, a towel (an important accessory!), bait and tackle, and a net that’s perfect for securing your catch.

It’s so easy… you don’t even need to know HOW to fish.

TripAdvisor/LostinChina55 Just show up with your “can-do” attitude and they’ll take care of the rest.

Grandfather Trout Farm will also take care of the cleaning duties of your freshly caught prize.

TripAdvisor/James L For a small fee (around 50 cents per fish), they’ll clean and filet all of your fish so you can get down to the business of cooking as soon as you get home.

No fishing license is needed since you’re on private property and fishing in a private pond.

Facebook/Grandfather Trout Farm & Gem Mine Just bring a cooler with ice to carry your fish home and you’re all set.

Ready to have fresh fish for dinner this weekend? Yep. So are we!

Google / maps

Keep what you catch and pay for the fish by the pound. Is it more expensive than going to the grocery store and buying trout from the meat counter? Yes, but going the store isn’t nearly as fun!

Google/Vv Ss

It’s open year-round and routinely stocked to the brim with huge trout.

TripAdvisor/Shelly K

You get to keep what you catch. In fact, that’s the point. Catch and release isn’t allowed here; you catch it — you keep it.

TripAdvisor/PhilViking

The friendly staff will furnish you with a bucket, a towel (an important accessory!), bait and tackle, and a net that’s perfect for securing your catch.

TripAdvisor/LostinChina55

Just show up with your “can-do” attitude and they’ll take care of the rest.

TripAdvisor/James L

For a small fee (around 50 cents per fish), they’ll clean and filet all of your fish so you can get down to the business of cooking as soon as you get home.

Facebook/Grandfather Trout Farm & Gem Mine

Just bring a cooler with ice to carry your fish home and you’re all set.

Google / maps

Grandfather Mountain Trout Farm & Gem Mine is located in Banner Elk, a mere 10 miles west of Boone, 104 miles northwest of Charlotte, and 96 miles west of Winston Salem. Address: 10767 NC-105, Banner Elk, NC 28604. It’s open daily year round from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Learn more from the Facebook page.

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