Trout Waters Assessment
In January 2025, mountain region fisheries management and production staff began assessing all Hatchery Supported and Delayed Harvest locations across the region to determine if they could be safely accessed by hatchery staff and anglers in 2025. Those assessments consider whether each location is in an active disaster recovery area, has major stream damage impacts, has parking and access infrastructure damage, and whether the location can safely be accessed by stocking trucks and anglers. We are working closely with local and county governments to ensure that they are open to visitors and anglers. The assessment information will be used to develop a list of Hatchery Supported and Delayed Harvest locations that are fully open, partially open, or fully closed for the 2025 season. We will also continue to assess locations that become open during the year.
- 2025 Stocking Protocol
- Setzer Hatchery Renovation Updates
- Trout Regulations
- Public Mountain Trout Waters Search
- Trout Fishing Maps
- 2024 Delayed Harvest Trout Waters Stocking Schedule
- 2024 Winter Trout Stocking Schedule
- Daily Trout Stocking Update
- Trout Stocking by County: this map has been temporarily disabled while we update it with new information. Thank you for your patience at this time.
The Bobby N. Setzer State Fish Hatchery will undergo a major renovation beginning in 2026. Setzer produces over 75% of trout for the agency’s trout stocking program. There will be a reduction in trout stockings during the 2026, 2027 and potentially 2028 trout stocking seasons. We will continue to update the public during this important process, which ultimately ensures the sport of trout fishing will robustly continue in North Carolina for future generations.
Support Conservation and Management of Native Brook Trout
Motorists can help support the conservation and management of Brook Trout by purchasing a new conservation license plate that depicts North Carolina’s only native trout.