Trout are traditionally the domain of cold mountain waters in western North Carolina. But this winter the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is stocking ponds as far east as Rocky Mount and Tarboro.
Through December, the state has stocked ponds around Charlotte, the Triad and the Triangle.
“The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is expanding seasonal angling opportunities by stocking surplus trout in select impoundments across central and western North Carolina,” the notice reads.
State officials are spreading out all those extra trout from hatcheries to ponds across central North Carolina, including popular spots like Lake Wheeler in Raleigh and the City Park Lake in Salisbury.
The ponds are open to any tackle, including fly fishing and the traditional worm on a hook. People need a fishing license and can take up to seven fish a day. There is no size limit.
Trout can only survive in cold water, so anglers east of the mountains don’t typically get to catch trout without making the drive west.
The state runs four hatcheries for trout in western North Carolina. The trout are grown in the hatcheries and then released into the state’s stocked trout waters in the mountains.
Here's where the state is stocking the surplus trout in December:
Alexander County, Ellendale Park Pond, 12/16
Ashe County, Ashe Park Pond, 12/5
Buncombe County, Azalea Pond, 12/1
Buncombe County, Charles D. Owen (lower), 12/6
Buncombe County, Charles D. Owen (upper), 12/6
Buncombe County, Lake Louise, 12/2
Buncombe County, Lake Powhatan, 11/30
Buncombe County, Tomahawk Lake, 12/16
Burke County, Broughton Pond, 12/12
Cabarrus County, Frank Liske Pond, 12/8
Caswell County, High Rock Pond, 12/19
Caswell County, Rabbit Shuffle, 12/19
Durham County, Twin Lakes Park, 12/20
Edgecombe County, Indian Lake, 12/19
Forsyth County, CG Hill Park Pond, 12/6
Forsyth County, Village Point, 12/12
Franklin County, Owens Park Pond, 12/21
Gaston County, Dallas Park Pond, 12/5
Gaston County, Poston Park Pond, 12/5
Guilford County, Gibson Park, 12/14
Jackson County, Cashiers Public Pond, 11/29
Macon, Harris Lake, 11/29
McDowell County, Universal Pond, 12/12
Mecklenburg County, Hornet’s Nest Park, 12/14
Mecklenburg County, McAlpine Pond, 12/8
Moore County, Luke Marion Pond, 12/7
Nash, Rocky Mount City Lake, 12/19
Orange County, Lake Michael, 12/20
Polk County, Laughter Pond, 12/9
Richmond County, Indian Camp Lake, 12/7
Rowan County, Salisbury City Lake, 12/14
Rowan County, Salisbury Community Park, 12/14
Surry County, Tumbling Rock Reservoir, 12/7
Transylvania County, Lake Imaging, 12/9
Vance County, Fox Pond, 12/13
Wake County, Bass Lake, 12/20
Wake County, Bond Park, 12/28
Wake County, Harris Park Pond, 12/20
Wake County, Simpkins Pond, 12/21
Watauga County, Mayview Lake, 12/5
