ASHEVILLE – Over the next few months, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission will stock Western North Carolina’s streams and rivers with thousands of trout for the beginning of 2024’s delayed harvest season.
Starting in March, delayed harvest streams across WNC will see the periodic restocking of rivers and streams until May, where anglers will be able to fish, but not harvest, additional trout.
Hundreds of thousands of anglers travel to fish in mountain trout streams every year, adding an estimated $1.38 billion to the North Carolina economy in 2022, according to the NCWRC.
Until June 1, anglers will only be able to fish delayed harvest streams with artificial lures with a single hook. Natural bait may be not possessed, and no trout can be harvested.
The stocking of delayed harvest waters coincides with the Feb. 29 closure of hatchery supported streams and rivers in WNC. In the coming years, hatchery supported waters could see more trout as discussion of expanding the Bobby N. Setzer State Fish Hatchery in Transylvania continues. The hatchery is the state’s largest trout hatchery.