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North Carolina's delayed harvest trout stocking is scheduled to start Monday, Nov. 2, after the usual early-October start was pushed back this year. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission said the delay came from environmental factors including an unusually hot summer, ongoing drought conditions and damage from Hurricane Helene, which sent warm water into the Armstrong State Fish Hatchery and reduced the number of fish available. About 70 percent of the fish at Armstrong were lost.

Since the Bobby N. Setzer State Fish Hatchery is closed for renovations, Armstrong is the commission's primary state hatchery, producing trout since late 2025. Hatchery Supervisor David Deaton called the loss unfortunate at a time when Armstrong was being used at full capacity. Construction at Setzer is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

Anglers should be aware that stocking locations along streams may have changed because of Helene damage, which could affect some stocking and angler access. In Surry County, stocking is scheduled for Nov. 6 at the Mitchell River and Nov. 12 at the Ararat River, and Wilkes County dates include Nov. 2 at the East Prong Roaring River and Stone Mountain Creek.

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Source note: Star News TV · Oct 28, 2026 12:26 AM.