North carolina scenery waterways9/22/2023 ![]() ![]() Wildlife Resources Commission typically stocks the Hatchery Supported waterways with nearly 960,000 trout - 96% of which average 10 inches in length, with the remaining 4% measuring over 14 inches long. on the first Saturday in April until a half-hour after sunset on the last day of February the following year (and closed for the month of March). Synonymous with what many consider “trout season,” Hatchery Supported trout waters are open from 7 a.m. Marked with green-and-white signage, Hatchery Supported trout waters are frequently stocked during the spring and early summer. There’s no size limit or bait restriction when fishing these, and the creel limit is seven trout per day. Not included in the Delayed Harvest groups of streams are highly popular Hatchery Supported trout waters. To determine the best places and times for your fishing trip, plan your visits around the 2021 Delayed Harvest stocking schedule. At that point, standard trout rules go back into effect, allowing fish to be caught and kept - thus giving the season its namesake. Officially, the Delayed Harvest season runs from October 1 until the first Saturday in June. It also helps them hone their skills without pressure or competition from those fishing with live bait. ![]() Those regulations, along with dense stocking, make trout fishing fun for everyone, no matter their level of expertise. Also, all trout caught must be returned to the water immediately. The rules require that anglers only use artificial bait and single hook lures. ![]() The Delayed Harvest trout waters are managed under a set of rules that help sustain optimal fishing conditions throughout the season. The waterways (designated with black and white signage) are heavily stocked in October and November and then again from March through May. It starts in early October when the water temperatures are typically lower, creating a more comfortable habitat for the trout to thrive. ![]() It’s a time when 34 specially designated streams are managed to boost angler success. The Delayed Harvest season is one of the most anticipated fishing seasons of the year. The timeframes are mainly due to two popular fish stocking seasons: Delayed Harvest and Hatchery Supported. He believes that trout fishing is best in Western North Carolina two times a year - from October through December, then again from March through May. Jay also proudly serves as Trout Unlimited Conservation Chair for six counties in Western North Carolina, on the Board of the Mills River Partnership, as well as on the N.C. He’s highly involved with native brook trout restoration, especially in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Jay is a locally knowledgeable resource when it comes to trout fishing in and around the Asheville area. According to French Broad Crossing resident Jay Hawthorne, “It’s not a stretch to say that no one would be able to fish all the trout streams in Western North Carolina in their lifetime.” Aside from the renowned French Broad River, there are countless other scenic streams, rivers, and lakes full of feisty brook, brown, and rainbow trout - making Western North Carolina a veritable fishing paradise. If you’re looking for the best times to go trout fishing in Western North Carolina, the time is now! Situated in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains with 3,000+ miles of waterways, it’s a trout angler’s dream. ![]()
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