Archived Outdoors

Delayed Harvest waters open

An angler reels in a brook trout. Thomas Harvey/NCWRC photo An angler reels in a brook trout. Thomas Harvey/NCWRC photo

On June 4, 34 trout streams and two lakes in North Carolina will reopen to trout harvest through Sept. 30. 

From 6 a.m. to noon on opening day, these Delayed Harvest waters will be open only to youth under 18 years old. The water will then open to all anglers. 

Anglers can keep up to seven trout per day with no gear or bait restrictions and no minimum size limits. Delayed Harvest waters are posted with diamond-shaped, black-and-white signs. 

Anglers can help prevent spread of nuisance species like gill lice, whirling disease and didymo by cleaning all equipment of plants, animals and mud; draining water from boats, live wells and equipment; drying equipment thoroughly; and never moving organisms from one body of water to another. 

A list of Delayed Harvest waters, regulation information and trout maps are available at ncwildlife.org/trout

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