Fall is in the air and for fly-fishers in the area that can mean only one thing: Delayed Harvest. For those of you not yet familiar with North Carolina’s trout stocking programs, here is a quick overview. During the Delayed Harvest season, which stretches from October to the first Saturday in the following June, trout are stocked in our Delayed Harvest streams on a monthly basis during October and November, and then again in March, April, and May. During the season (October till the first Saturday in June), the fishing is catch-and-release, single-hook artificial lures only, making Delayed Harvest a great time to land lots of fish and to hone one’s angling skills and eye for identifying insects. Because of the length of Delayed Harvest, anglers get to catch fish on a variety of flies and during the many different weather conditions we have here in the mountains in the fall, winter, and spring.

If you are considering a trip in the near future, be sure to check out our Fly Fishing Asheville page for all of the latest Stream Report information.

If you have any interest helping stock your local river, please contact your local Trout Unlimited chapter and they will be happy to have you as a volunteer.

As far as flies go, there is a wide range of possibilities, ranging from eggs and nymphs, to large streamers and stoneflies. Feel free to stop by the shop and talk with our guides about some good fly options for your next fly fishing outing in the Asheville area. A full list of North Carolina’s Delayed Harvest streams, which are posted with a black and white diamond, is available at www.ncwildlife.org. A few favorite rivers in the area include the North Mills, the Tuckasegee, and the East Fork of the French Broad.

Delayed Harvest is a great time to explore a new river you’ve been itching to check out, or to practice on your home water. It also provides a great opportunity for beginning anglers to work on their skills and gives the more experienced angler a chance to try out some new tactics.

 We’ll look forward to seeing you in the shop and out on the river. If we can be of any assistance, feel free to give us a call at one of our three area shops or just stop on by.  Best, Nick / Fly-fishing Guide / Curtis Wright Outfitters