Tell
Me About The Delayed Harvest Program
Q: What
is the Delayed Harvest Program?
A: The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission's delayed harvest program is one of the more popular trout programs in the state. By delaying harvest of trout stocked in certain bodies of water, the Commission provides anglers with high quality, catch-and-release fishing opportunities in the spring and fall.
Q: How did delayed harvest trout fishing originate?
A: This is a program that was instituted through the regulations process with substantial public input in the early 1990s. Four streams were opened for the delayed harvest program for spring fishing only in 1992. The program was then expanded to fall and spring fishing in 1996. The number of streams in the program has continued to grow through the regulations process, primarily due to strong public interest and support.
Q: Who makes the decisions about which streams and rivers are designated as delayed harvest waters?
A: Proposals for changing fishing regulations, including putting new streams in the delayed harvest program, are accepted from the public by letter or at public hearings. The Commission's fish biologists also can make proposals where they see opportunities or biological needs. All of the proposals are given consideration and public input is solicited at the annual public hearings. The Commissioners make the final determination on regulations proposals after considering the input.
Q: How does stocking differ for a delayed harvest stream versus a hatchery supported stream?
A: We stock delayed harvest program streams in the fall and spring, but we stock hatchery supported streams in the spring and summer. Also, we stock delayed harvest streams with higher densities of trout than the hatchery supported streams. This effectively provides anglers places to fish where they have greater chances of catching stocked trout. During March, delayed harvest streams provide fishing opportunities for stocked trout when hatchery supported streams are closed, emphasizing catch-and-release fishing for trout instead of trout harvest.
Q: Why is delayed harvest scheduled so the harvest occurs in the summer?
A: In early summer, when some streams begin to get too warm for the trout to survive, the Commission opens the streams to harvest under hatchery supported regulations. This keeps fish populations more in line with stream conditions and allows for better population management from year to year.
Q: Has the delayed harvest program been well received and is it expanding?
A: The popularity of delayed harvest is evidenced by the program's growth to include 18 waters covering more than 50 miles of streams. About 25 percent of North Carolina's trout hatchery production is now dedicated to the delayed harvest program. The expanded trout stocking program was made possible through increased production capabilities at the Commission's three coldwater hatcheries - Armstrong, Marion and Pisgah Forest.
Q: What are fishing regulations for delayed harvest waters?
A: Delayed harvest waters, which are marked with black-and-white signs, may be fished only with artificial lures with one single hook. Anglers fishing delayed harvest waters may not possess natural bait and may not harvest or possess fish while fishing these waters between October 1, 2002 and one-half hour after sunset on June 6, 2003. These waters are closed to fishing between one-half hour after sunset on June 6 and 6 a.m. on June 7. At 6 a.m. on June 7, these waters open to fishing under hatchery supported regulations, which means no bait restrictions, no minimum length limit, and seven trout per day creel limit. Hatchery supported regulations remain in force until October 1 each year.
Q: Have new delayed harvest waters been added for 2002-2003?
A: Yes. Three new additions include West Fork Pigeon River in Haywood County (from Queen Creek to the first game land boundary upstream of Lake Logan); East Fork French Broad River in Transylvania County (from Glady Fork to the French Broad River); and, an additional section of the Watauga River in Watauga County (from SR 1114 bridge to NC 194 bridge at Valle Crucis).
Q: Where are delayed harvest waters located for 2002-2003?
A: The following list of delayed harvest waters is organized by county:
Ashe County
- Trout Lake
- Helton Creek (Virginia
state line to New River)
Burke County
- Jacobs Fork (Shinny
Creek to lower South Mountains State Park boundary)
Haywood County
- Richland Creek (Russ Avenue bridge to US 19A-23 bridge)
- West Fork Pigeon
River (Queen Creek to the first game land boundary upstream of Lake
Logan)
Henderson County
- North Fork Mills
River (game land portion below the Hendersonville watershed dam)
Jackson County
- Tuckasegee River
(NC 107 bridge at Love Field to the Dillsboro dam)
Macon County
- Nantahala River
(Whiteoak Creek to NP&L powerhouse discharge canal)
Madison County
- Big Laurel Creek (NC 208 bridge to the US 25-70 bridge)
- Shelton Laurel
Creek (NC 208 bridge at Belva to the confluence with Big Laurel Creek)
McDowell County
- Curtis Creek (game
land portion downstream of the U.S. Forest Service boundary at Deep
Branch to US 70)
Mitchell County
- Cane Creek (NC
226 bridge to NC 80 bridge)
Polk County
- Green River (Fishtop
Falls access area to the confluence with Cove Creek)
Surry County
- Mitchell River
(0.6 mile upstream of the end of SR 1333 to the SR 1330 bridge below
Kapps Mill Dam)
- East Fork French
Broad River (Glady Fork to the French Broad River)
Watauga County
- Watauga River (SR
1557 bridge to NC 105 bridge, and SR 1114 bridge to NC 194 bridge at
Valle Crucis)
Wilkes County
- East Prong Roaring
River (mouth of Bullhead Creek downstream to Stone Mountain State Park
boundary line)
- Stone Mountain
Creek (from falls at Alleghany Co. line to confluence with East Prong
Roaring River and Bullhead Creek)
See the latest trout maps with regulation information