Delayed Harvest is a 2 Designation stocked trout stream as per the regulation of the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission (NCWRC) on certain stocked trout streams. The designation allows for Catch & Release Only during 8 months then Catch & Keep these trout for 4 months.

During the 8 months for Catch & Release Only these streams use only artificial flies/lures having one single hook and all fish must be released. This is where most fly fisherman go to fly fishing and catch trout during the spring and fall seasons. These streams are stocked for fisherman 5 times during the year. Stocking will be done March, April, May, for spring seasonn and October, November for fall season.

During the 4 months of summer you can Catch & Keep these trout. From June thru September the regulations switch over to No bait restrictions, No minimum length limit. These trout will die so the NCWRC wants you to keep them and take them home. This is why they call is DELAYED Harvest.

Delayed Harvest is from October till the last week of May. These streams are stocked the first week of the month only during March, April, May, for spring season and October, November for fall season. During the summer months of June thru September you can Catch & Keep these trout because they will die due to the water temperature being to hot in the summer for trout to survive. Trout need cool waters to survive.

Season is open from October 1, 2021 to June 3, 2022

• No trout may be harvested or possessed
• Only artificial lures having one single hook may be used
• No fishing allowed at all between 1/2 hour after sunset on June 3, 2022 and 6:00 a.m. on June 4, 2022
• At 6:00 a.m. on June 4, 2022 these waters open to fishing for youths under 18 years old under Hatchery Supported Trout Waters regulations
• No bait restrictions
• No minimum length limit
• Seven (7) trout per day creel limit
• At 12:00 p.m. on June 4, 2022 these waters open for all anglers under Hatchery Supported Trout Waters regulations
• Stocking Schedule Delayed Harvest

FISHING LICENSE

1. Choose here License Types & Fees. *All State Inland Fishing licenses in North Carolina include fresh water trout fishing everywhere in the state
2. Order online NCWRC Online License Center

CATCH & RELEASE TIPS:

• Use barbless hooks. If you use a net, use one made of rubber. It is less harmful to fish scales, gills and eyes. Only net your fish if it is the only way to control it.
• Wet your hands when handling fish. Dry hands and gloves will remove its protective mucous (slime) coating and scales. These protective layers help prevent infection by waterborne disease. Do not beach a fish or let it flop around the deck of the boat.
• Try not to remove the fish from the water. If you must, be quick and gentle, do not squeeze the fish. Needle nose pliers, hemostats, de-hookers etc., will speed up the removal of a deep set hook.
• To revive the fish, hold it under the belly and by the tail, keep it in an upright position underwater, do not move the fish back and forth (this is also a good time to get a measurement and take a photo). If you are fishing in a river or stream, hold the fish facing the current. Be patient and give the fish as much time as it needs to recover and swim away on its own.