Delayed Harvest Trout Waters in North Carolina will wait until November for fall stocking after heat, drought and Hurricane Helene damage sharply reduced the supply of hatchery fish. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission announced the postponement as its mountain hatcheries struggled with water temperatures dangerous to trout.
For Asheville-area anglers, the stocking delay comes as seasonal fishing restrictions take effect. From Oct. 1st, 2026, through June 5th, 2027, trout fishing in Delayed Harvest Trout Waters is catch-and-release only, and anglers may use only artificial lures with one single hook.
Natural bait may not be possessed while fishing these waters. Under the program’s rules, artificial lures also cannot contain or be treated with substances that attract fish through taste or smell, a distinction anglers should check when choosing tackle…