North Carolina posts its fall Delayed Harvest trout schedule, with stocking starting Nov. 2

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission published its fall 2026 Delayed Harvest mountain trout stocking schedule on Oct. 22. Stocking will start Nov. 2 in Ashe and Wilkes counties and then move on to the other Delayed Harvest waters.

This fall's stockings will be lighter than usual. Water temperatures in the upper 70s killed about 70% of the trout at the agency's Armstrong hatchery earlier this year. To spread out what was left, the commission says every Delayed Harvest stream will get at least 35% of its normal stocking. It is adding about 50,000 catchable trout bought from a private hatchery, along with some spent broodfish longer than 14 inches.

Delayed Harvest rules are already in effect and run from Oct. 1, 2026, through June 5, 2027. During that time anglers must release all trout, may not use natural bait and may fish only with single-hook artificial lures. The agency also warns that some stocking locations may have changed because of hurricane damage.

The commission says renovation of the Setzer hatchery is still on track to be finished in December 2027.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission — Wildlife Agency Posts Delayed Harvest Fall 2026 Mountain Trout Stocking Schedule (Oct. 22, 2026).