Season runs through Feb. 2024
The NCWRC will open approximately 1000 miles of Hatchery Supported Trout Waters at 7 a.m. on April 1, 2023. The season will run through Feb. 29, 2024.
Hatchery Supported Trout Waters, which are marked by green-and-white signs, have been closed since Feb. 28 for stocking. Most trout are stocked April through June, with a few streams selectively stocked in July. Overall, staff will stock almost a million trout, with 96 percent averaging 10 inches in length, with the other four percent exceeding 14 inches long.
Hatchery Supported Trout Waters are open to public fishing, however, many of those miles are privately owned, so officials with the NCWRC urge anglers to respect the property they are fishing on, and remember that landowners can take away access if they feel their property is being misused.
Anglers can help prevent the loss of public access to fishing by respecting private property and landowners at all times, removing all trash and litter from fishing and parking areas, parking only in designated areas and leaving driveways open for traffic, closing and/or locking gates after use and reporting wildlife violations by calling 800-662-7137.
NCWRC has posted the full Hatchery Supported Trout Waters stocking schedule on its website to give trout anglers opportunities to plan fishing trips in advance. The schedule is searchable by county and month, and provides information on what days each water is being stocked.
For a complete list of all Hatchery Supported Trout Waters, as well as trout maps, the complete stocking schedule, and daily stocking updates on these waters, visit the Wildlife Commission’s trout fishing page at ncwildlife.org/learning/species/fish/trout/trout-fishing.
Pay close attention to the signs posted where you are fishing. Hatchery Supported signs are green and white, and state “Hatchery Supported” across the middle of the sign.
These waters have no lure restrictions during the season, have no minimum size, and a daily limit of seven fish per angler.
Be the first to comment