SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 ISSUE
Delayed Harvest Trout Season Opens
Season Attracts Visitors and Boosts Area Economy
Fishermen, guides and local merchants happily anticipate the upcoming Delayed Harvest trout water catch and release season, beginning Thursday, October 1, on two local sections of the Watauga River.
The highly successful fishing program not only brings joy to fishermen, it helps fill the coffers of areas businesses, too.
Trout streams and rivers considered for the Delayed Harvest program first undergo ecological studies and must demonstrate that stocking the water with fishery-raised trout does not damage native fish or the ecosystem. “The two sections of Delayed Harvest on the Watauga River don’t support native fish, the water gets too warm in the summer,” said Doug Besler, mountain region fisheries supervisor for the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC). “Over the years as we’ve added new Delayed Harvest sections in the mountains, I’ve witnessed the opening of new fly shops and guide services along or near the designated waters.”
The same is true in Watauga County as several fly shops are located along Highway 105, adjacent or in close proximity to the designated waterways. One of those shops is Foscoe Fly Fishing Company and its owner Scott Farfone said, “The Watauga River sections are flat, easily accessed and wide open enough for novice anglers, especially good for beginning fly fishermen. It’s a wonderful resource for us.
“Timing of the opening couldn’t be more perfect. People are coming to the mountains to enjoy the fall colors. They book guide trips and stop in to purchase flies and equipment,” continued Farfone. “These people utilize the area motels, restaurants and merchants. Often a group of people come by, the fishermen are dropped off and the rest go shopping or to other area attractions. I hope the community realizes how important trout fishing is to our economy.”
Farfone is right. According to a new study by Responsive Management and Southwick Associates and commissioned by NCWRC, “Trout fishing opportunities provided and managed by the NCWRC have a substantial positive impact to the local economies of western North Carolina and to the state as a whole.
The study, “The Economic Impacts of Mountain Trout Fishing in North Carolina,” found that nearly 93,000 anglers fishing in North Carolina spent an estimated $146 million on mountain trout fishing trips and equipment in 2008. When the secondary (multiplier) effects of these dollars spent were factored in, the total economic output of the commission’s trout management program in North Carolina exceeded $174 million.
Money spent on mountain trout fishing in 2008 supported a total of 1,997 jobs and provided an estimated $56 million in income, much of it to workers in western North Carolina.
An estimated 92,765 resident and non-resident anglers fished for trout 1.42 million days in North Carolina in 2008, with Transylvania, Watauga, Haywood, Cherokee, Henderson, Jackson and Ashe counties seeing the most fishing activity.
A typical resident trout angler fished nearly 10 days in 2008, spending $65 per day on trip expenses while a typical non-resident angler fished five days in 2008 and spent $158 per day on trip expenses. The average resident trout angler spent $502.92 per year on equipment.
Other survey findings included: hatchery supported waters were the most frequently fished waters (625,147 days), followed by wild trout waters (422,671 days); and delayed harvest waters (374,611 days). Total economic impact of hatchery-supported waters measured $72.7 million, $55.2 million for wild trout waters and $46.5 million for delayed harvest.
Kyle Briggs, planning and operations director for NCWRC fisheries in Raleigh, said that he didn’t anticipate any significant budget cuts. A state program spending $1 million to stock 830,000 trout in western North Carolina streams and delivering a $174 million return hopefully is immune to future budget axes. In fact, Besler said that his team of biologists is actively pursuing more opportunities for Delayed Harvest streams.
The good news for the local community is that ecological studies by NCWRC are underway on two potential sections of the South Fork of the New River flowing through the Town of Boone. “These are great locations that would be an asset to Boone,” Besler said.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was in the process of restoring the South Fork near the Greenway Trail before the War in Iraq, dredging and planting riparian growth. The funding for Boone and other similar projects across the country was apparently diverted around 2003 to the war.
Jim Byrne, assistant to Boone’s town manager, said that the town has a request for funding in the works to continue the South Fork restoration project. Byrne was not aware of the NCWRC’s Delayed Harvest study, but he was supportive and alluded with pleasure to Winkler’s Creek’s new designation.
Not many communities can boast that they have a wild trout stream flowing between Wal-Mart and Kmart, but Boone can. In July of this year, Winkler’s Creek, from the lower bridge of SR1549 to the confluence of the South Fork, was designated Wild Trout Waters by NCWRC.
Throughout this year, 2,464 Brook, 2,464 Rainbow and 1,232 Brown trout will be stocked in the upper section of Delayed Harvest on the Watauga River that flows alongside Hound Ears Golf Course. On the section running through Valle Crucis, 2,783 Brook, 2783 Rainbow and 1,391 Brown trout are scheduled for stocking.
Ninety-four percent of the stocked fish are approximately ten inches in length; the other four percent average more than 14 inches. Good fishing.
Delayed Harvest Waters
Delayed Harvest waters are stocked trout waters open to fishing year-round, but trout caught between October 1 and the first Saturday in June must be immediately released. Fishermen cannot keep or have in their possession any trout while fishing these waters during this time. Single-hook, artificial lures or flies are required during the October through June period. Beginning the first Saturday in June, harvest of trout from these waters is allowed, and anglers can use natural bait. “Hatchery Supported” trout regulations apply during this time. Beginning Thursday, October 1, these waters revert back to Delayed Harvest trout regulations. Harvest of trout is again prohibited and anglers must use single hook artificial lures or flies.
Delayed Harvest Regulations (from October 1 to June 4):
-You may only use single hook artificial lures
-No fish may be harvested or possessed
-No fishing allowed at all between 1/2 hour after sunset on June 4, 2010, and 6:00 a.m. on June 5, 2010
-At 6:00 a.m., June 5, 2010, waters are open to fishing for youths under 16 years old under Hatchery Supported regulations
-At 12:00 p.m. on June 5, 2010, waters are open for all anglers under Hatchery Supported regulations
-No bait restrictions
-No minimum length limit
-Seven (7) trout per day creel limit
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