Spring is here and trout season has begun. Now is the time to grab the kids, get your gear and head off to the river. Our local trout waters have been generously stocked and are ready to be fished.

Details from Asheville Citizen-Times:

“This year, staff with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will stock more than 818,000 trout, with 96 percent of the stocked fish averaging 10 inches in length and the other four percent exceeding 14 inches in length.

When fishing on hatchery-supported trout waters, anglers can harvest a maximum of seven trout per day, with no minimum size limits or bait restrictions. These harvest regulations, combined with the generous stocking numbers, can result in some fantastic fishing opportunities. “         

Another item of interest for the 2009 fishing season is the first official fly fishing trail! According the the Highland News:

"The trail features some of the best trout waters in the Great Smoky Mountains and encompasses 15 prime spots for catching brook, brown and rainbow trout. The trail includes portions of four rivers, the Tuckasegee, Chattooga, Whitewater and Horsepasture."  

This is the perfect chance to take your loved ones out and nature and capture some perfect memories of spring days on the river. Not to mention bringing home some grub.

"A companion Web site, www.flyfishingtrail.com, allows fly fishermen to access trail information online, and post pictures of their catches. GPS coordinates of each stream will be posted by April 4, which is opening day for trout season in the hatchery-supported waters of western North Carolina."

For more information on fishing in public, inland waters, visit www.ncwildlife.org or call the Division of Inland Fisheries, (919) 707-0220.

Comment (0)