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For up-to-date information on North Carolina licenses, regulations and other wildlife resources, please visit the agency’s website NCWildlife.org.
RALEIGH, N.C. (May 29, 2014) — The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will open approximately 64 miles of trout streams and two lakes classified as delayed-harvest trout waters under hatchery-supported regulations on June 7.
From 6 a.m. until 11:59 a.m. on June 7, waters are open only to anglers 15 years old and younger. At noon, waters open to all anglers. Delayed-harvest waters will stay open under hatchery-supported regulations through Sept. 30. During this time, anglers can keep up to seven trout per day — with no bait restrictions or minimum size limits.
The Commission stocks delayed-harvest trout waters from fall through spring with high densities of trout to increase anglers’ chances of catching trout. Once summer arrives, waters become too warm for trout to survive so the Commission opens delayed-harvest streams and lakes to harvest. Delayed-harvest trout waters are posted with diamond-shaped, black-and-white signs.
The Commission established the youth-only fishing time frame on the morning of June 7 to promote trout fishing among young anglers and to provide special opportunities for young anglers to catch and keep fish.
“The Wildlife Commission wants to do everything it can to make sure kids have an enjoyable time fishing, particularly if it’s their first time fishing,” said Kyle Briggs, a program manager with the agency’s Division of Inland Fisheries. “In addition to providing this youth-only trout fishing opportunity, the Commission, along with the U.S. Forest Service, Neuse Sport Shop of Kinston and Trout Unlimited, is supporting nearly 40 kids’ fishing events this month and in June, as part of National Fishing and Boating Week 2014.”
Anglers ages 16 and older need an inland fishing license and a special trout fishing privilege, which is included in the comprehensive and sportsman licenses, to fish in all public mountain trout waters, including delayed-harvest waters. Purchase licenses by:
For more information on trout fishing, including a list of delayed-harvest trout waters, regulation information and trout maps, visit www.ncwildlife.org/fishing/trout.