Tuckasegee Set to Receive 19,600 Trout

Sylva, NC - The delayed harvest section of the Tuckasegee River, a main stop on the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail, will be stocked with 19,600 trout this fall.

The stocking will be conducted by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission in two segments – 9,800 trout the first week of October, and 9,800 trout the first week of November.

Brook and rainbow trout account for 80 percent of the fish placed in the river, with brown trout making up the remaining 20 percent.

Anglers are allowed to fish the delayed harvest section of the Tuckasegee River year round. However, any fish caught between Oct. 1 and the first Saturday in June must be released immediately. The delayed harvest section of the Tuck runs from the N.C. Hwy 107 bridge in the Lovesfield community to Dillsboro.

“Your catch percentage goes up greatly when the delayed harvest waters of the Tuck are stocked in October and November,” said Alex Bell, a fly fishing guide in Sylva. “This provides a great chance to accomplish the ‘Tuckasegee Slam’ which is catching a brook, rainbow and brown all on the same day.”

Other good autumn places to fish along the WNC Fly Fishing Trail are: Scott Creek, Panthertown Creek, Savannah Creek and the Chattooga River.

Scott Creek, which flows through Sylva and Dillsboro, received a total of 3,000 brook, rainbow and brown trout in July and August.