Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
March 29, 2007 issue
Trout Bout 2007
28th Annual Blowing Rock Trout Derby Makes a Splash April 7 and 8
Story by Sam Calhoun
Long before the April sun can sparkle off the first trout scale, local fisherman will do their best to beat Mother Nature to the punch. In the pre-dawn hours of April 7, hundreds of rugged and determined High Country anglers will take to the rivers, streams, creeks, lakes and ponds of Watauga County, marking the start of another season of trout fishing and of a local competition that has been a tradition in Blowing Rock for 28 years. 
While it’s not a good weekend to be a trout, the 28th annual Blowing Rock Trout Derby is a cornerstone of High Country tradition and fun for the whole family. The derby will take place from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 7, and from noon to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 8. No entry fees are required and no preregistration is necessary, but fish caught must be of legal size and the person catching the fish must have a valid fishing license.
“The derby is good family interaction and it’s fun,” said Charles Hardin, executive director of the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce. “It’s designed to teach the younger generation about fishing. It’s all about getting fathers out with their kids to fish. It’s a good father-child event. But it’s also a lot of fun for the whole family.”
For most Appalachian anglers, the start of a new fishing season is reason enough to be out of bed at 5:00 a.m. on April 7, but to also compete in a Trout Derby, well that’s comparable to Christmas morning, except with waders and poles.
Sponsored by the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce, Jenkins Realty and Rentals, Chetola Resort and Mountain View Realty, the derby is open to all High Country residents and visitors within casting distance. During the two-day derby, all local anglers—men, women or children—with a valid North Carolina fishing license (see sidebar for how to obtain a fishing license) can compete, free of charge.
Last year, around 200 children and 50 to 75 adults took part in the derby, said Hardin.
Only trout from public waters in Watauga County qualify, with trout from private ponds and pay-and-catch ponds off limits. Children 11 and under and persons with disabilities may fish at Broyhill Park’s Mayview Lake, but the limit is three fish per person.
Derby headquarters is located at the American Legion Building in Blowing Rock at the intersection of Park Avenue and Wallingford Street. The headquarters will be the site of registration, trout measurement and prize giveaways. All trout must be six inches or above—North Carolina’s legal size.
Awards and prizes—provided by derby officials and local merchants—will be given out at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday at the American Legion Building. Winners will be determined by length, not weight.
Awards and prizes are offered for fish in the small fry division (11 and under), largest trout caught and winners in each age division—boys 12 to 14, girls 12 to 14, men and women.
Another highlight of the derby is the children’s art contest that runs all day Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Blowing Rock American Legion Building. The winner’s artwork will be featured on next year’s poster and T-shirt.
Before the 28th annual Blowing Rock Trout Derby gets underway on Saturday, an old-fashioned trout derby fish fry will be held at the Blowing Rock Emergency Services complex on Park Avenue from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sponsored by Blowing Rock Fire and Rescue, the fish fry includes saltwater fish with all the trimmings for $8 per person. Tickets may be purchased on the day of the event at the door. All proceeds support the Blowing Rock Emergency Services Department. For more information, call 828-295-5220.
For more information about the 28th annual Blowing Rock Trout Derby, call the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce at 828-295-7851 or stop by the Tourism Development Authority Visitor’s Center.
Want To Go?
What: Old Fashioned Trout Derby Fish Fry
Date: Friday, April 6
Time: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Blowing Rock Emergency Services, Park Avenue
Cost: $8
Want To Go?
What: 28th Annual Blowing Rock Trout Derby
Date: Saturday and Sunday, April 7 and 8
Time: 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday/12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Sunday
Location: Mayview Lake and public ponds, rivers and lakes in the High Country
Cost: No preregistration, valid fishing permit required
Trout Key
Brook Trout
Light, worm-like markings on dark upper body. White leading edge on lower fins. Usually found in clear cold water at altitudes above 3,000 feet and water temperatures below 68 degrees.
Brown Trout
Brown body with large dark spots and reddish dots, many having halos. Square tail. Found in moderately to steeply sloped cold water streams, reservoirs and rivers where water temperatures remain between 33 and 75 degrees.
Rainbow Trout
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Pink stripes and small black dots that extend throughout the body and into the tail. Usually found in cold water rivers and streams where water temperatures remain below 70 degrees.
Classifications of Watauga County Trout Streams
Below are classifications of Watauga County trout streams so anglers can better decide their plan of attack during the Trout Derby. For maps of how to get to all Watauga County trout streams, click to www.flyfishingnc.com/a/stream_watauga_county.php.
1. Catch and Release, Artificial Flies Only Waters. You must release fish and can only use artificial flies with a single hook. Season is open year-round. No natural bait is permitted.
2. Delayed Harvest Waters. These are stocked trout waters open to fishing year-round, but trout caught between October 1 and the first Saturday in June must be released. From October 1 to June 2, you may only use single-hook artificial lures. From June 3 to September 30, there are no bait restrictions but the minimum length limit is still observed.
3. Hatchery Supported Waters. These waters make up over half of all trout waters in North Carolina, covering approximately 1,100 miles of streams. There is no bait or lure restriction as well as no size limit restriction. They may be fished beginning April 7.
4. Wild Waters. You may only use a single hook artificial lure and only keep four fish that must be at least 7 inches long. No natural bait is permitted. Season is open year-round.
5. Catch and Release, Artificial Lures Only Waters. Fish must be released and you can only use artificial lures. Season is open year-round. No natural bait is permitted.
6. Wild Trout, Natural Bait Waters. Season is open year-round. You can use a single hook artificial lure or a single hook with natural bait. These waters have a four fish limit, and all must be at least 7 inches long.
Getting a Fishing License in the High Country: 4 Options
1. Online. Click to www.wildlife.state.nc.us/pg01_License/pg1a.asp, and follow the directions.
2. Call 1-888-2HUNTFISH. Call 1-888-248-6834 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and have your Visa or MasterCard ready.
3. View License Types and Fees Online, Print Application and Mail In. For residents, click to www.wildlife.state.nc.us/pg01_License/pg1a1_view&print.htm. For non-residents, click to www.wildlife.state.nc.us/pg01_License/pg1a2_view&print.htm.
4. Visit a Wildlife Service Agent. See regional listing of agents below.
Wildlife Service Agents: Find the Fishing Licensing Agent Nearest You…
Watauga County
APPALACHIAN ANGLER
174 Old Shulls Mill Road
Boone, NC 28607
828-963-5050
DONNELLY'S GROCERY
22166 NC Highway 88 west
Zionville, NC 28698
336-385-6159
K MART #9547
1620 Blowing Rock Road
Boone, NC 286076144
828-264-1901
License Agent
MAST GENERAL STORE
Highway 194
Valle Crucis, NC 28691
828-963-6511
VILLAGE HARDWARE/BLOWING RK
312 Green Street
Blowing Rock, NC 28605
828-295-9023
WAL-MART
200 Watauga Village Drive
Boone, NC 28607
828-262-0383
Avery County
AVERY TRUE VALUE HARDWARE
110 Estatoa Avenue
Newland, NC 28657
828-733-2612
BRINKLEY HARDWARE
167 Main Street
Elk Park, NC 28622
828-733-2107
FOSCOE FISHING COMPANY
4533 #5 Tynecastle Highway
Banner Elk, NC 28604
828-898-7555
FREDS GENERAL MERCANTILE
501 Beech Mountain Parkway
Beech Mountain, NC 28604
828-387-4838
Ashe County
BUFFALO HUNTING AND FISHING
2233 West Buffalo Road
West Jefferson, NC 28694
336-877-3119
NATHANS CREEK GEN STORE
4778 US Highway 221 North
Jefferson, NC 28640
336-982-2226
License Agent
W J HARDWARE
04 Main Street
West Jefferson, NC 28694
336-246-3421
WAL-MART #3289
1489 Mount Jefferson Road
West Jefferson, NC 28694
336-246-3920
Need a Local Guide?
Give one of these High Country establishments a try.
Appalachian Angler Fly Shop
174 Old Shulls Mill Road, Boone, NC 28607
828-963-5050
Elk Creek Outfitters
1560 NC Highway 105, Boone, NC 28607
828-264-6497
Foscoe Fishing Company & Outfitters
4533 #5 Tynecastle Highway, Banner Elk, NC 28604
828-898-7555
Grandfather Trout Ponds
10767 NC Highway 105, Banner Elk, NC 29604
828-963-5098
North Carolina Trout Facts
*North Carolina ranks second in the nation in trout sales, preceded by Idaho.
*North Carolina’s 49 commercial trout growers sold 4.5 million pounds of trout in 2005, with a value of sales totaling $6.6 million, up 12 percent from 2004.
* North Carolina contains more streams capable of supporting brook, brown and rainbow trout than any other state in the Southeast.
*North Carolina has roughly 4,000 miles of trout streams, with about 2,000 miles of them public. All of these streams are located in the state’s 25 westernmost counties.