What anglers should know
North Carolina publishes hatchery-supported and delayed-harvest trout schedules alongside annual warmwater stocking lists. The program spans Appalachian streams, Piedmont reservoirs, Coastal Plain rivers, and community waters.
Most catchable trout work is west of the Blue Ridge escarpment, with regulation classes that change how and when fish may be kept. Warmwater hatcheries support bass, stripers, walleye, catfish, sunfish, and river restoration well beyond the mountain region.
Check the official North Carolina report
North Carolina public-water stocking schedules is the source of record. Agency schedules can change for weather, water conditions, hatchery operations, or access, so confirm there before driving.
Open North Carolina public-water stocking schedulesStocking report snapshot
Showing 25 of 117 normalized public records. Records with published quantities total 2,299,435 fish.
| Date | Water | Species | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Aberdeen Lake Moore County · District 6 | Channel Catfish 8-12" · CFP · Priority 1 | 1,000 |
| 2026 | Apex Lake Wake County · District 3 | Channel Catfish 8-12" · CFP · Priority 1 | 4,000 |
| 2026 | Badin Lake Stanly County · District 6 | Striped Bass 1-2" · MGT · Priority 1 | 64,000 |
| 2026 | Bass Lake (Mills Pond) Wake County · District 3 | Channel Catfish 8-12" · CFP · Priority 1 | 4,500 |
| 2026 | Bond Park Pond Wake County · District 3 | Channel Catfish 8-12" · CFP · Priority 1 | 4,000 |
| 2026 | Broughton Ponds Burke County · District 8 | Channel Catfish 8-12" · MGT · Priority 2 | 3,000 |
| 2026 | Buckeye Reservoir Watauga County · District 7 | Channel Catfish 8-12" · MGT · Priority 2 | 400 |
| 2026 | Bur-Mil Park Guilford County · District 5 | Channel Catfish 8-12" · CFP · Priority 1 | 1,200 |
| 2026 | Carrboro Park Pond Orange County · District 5 | Channel Catfish 8-12" · CFP · Priority 1 | 2,400 |
| 2026 | Cashiers Public Pond Jackson County · District 9 | Channel Catfish 8-12" · CFP · Priority 1 | 600 |
| 2026 | Cedarock Park Alamance County · District 5 | Channel Catfish 8-12" · CFP · Priority 1 | 900 |
| 2026 | Cg Hill Lake Forsyth County · District 7 | Channel Catfish 8-12" · CFP · Priority 1 | 1,200 |
| 2026 | Country Park Pond Guilford County · District 5 | Channel Catfish 8-12" · CFP · Priority 1 | 2,100 |
| 2026 | Dan Nicholas Park Pond Rowan County · District 6 | Channel Catfish 8-12" · CFP · Priority 1 | 700 |
| 2026 | Devin Lake Granville County · District 5 | Channel Catfish 8-12" · CFP · Priority 1 | 4,500 |
| 2026 | Dogwood Park Lake Union County · District 6 | Channel Catfish 8-12" · CFP · Priority 1 | 1,200 |
| 2026 | Elkin River (Big Elkin Creek) Surry County · District 7 | Channel Catfish 8-12" · CFP · Priority 1 | 1,000 |
| 2026 | Ellendale Pond Alexander County · District 7 | Channel Catfish 8-12" · CFP · Priority 1 | 1,800 |
| 2026 | Ellerbe Community Park Richmond County · District 6 | Channel Catfish 8-12" · CFP · Priority 1 | 1,500 |
| 2026 | Elon Holmes Park Pond Mecklenburg County · District 6 | Channel Catfish 8-12" · CFP · Priority 2 | 1,100 |
| 2026 | Etheridge Pond Edgecombe County · District 3 | Channel Catfish 8-12" · MGT · Priority 1 | 1,500 |
| 2026 | Fontana Reservoir Swain County · District 9 | Walleye 1-2" · MGT · Priority 1 | 100,000 |
| 2026 | Fox Reservoir Vance County · District 3 | Channel Catfish 8-12" · CFP · Priority 1 | 1,600 |
| 2026 | Frank Liske Pond Cabarrus County · District 6 | Channel Catfish 8-12" · CFP · Priority 1 | 2,400 |
| 2026 | Freedom Park Mecklenburg County · District 6 | Channel Catfish 8-12" · CFP · Priority 1 | 3,000 |
NCWRC's 2026 warmwater list normalized with district, county, water, species, size class, designation, priority, and planned quantity; timing is annual unless the agency supplies a month in the location field. This is a dated research snapshot. The official agency page above controls if a row changes.
When stocking happens in North Carolina
Trout schedules concentrate in spring with delayed-harvest work again in fall. Hatchery renovation is reducing some trout stockings in 2026 and potentially the following seasons, so current notices matter.
Reading tip
Match the water to its regulation class and current hatchery notice; a schedule mark does not by itself tell you whether harvest is allowed.
Fish stocked in North Carolina
NCWRC stocks about six million fish annually across trout, warmwater, and restoration programs. Trout schedules and warmwater request summaries are published separately.
- Rainbow Trout
- Brown Trout
- Brook Trout
- Largemouth Bass
- Striped Bass
- Hybrid Striped Bass
- Walleye
- Muskellunge
- Channel Catfish
- Bluegill
- Redear Sunfish
- White Crappie
- Blueback Herring
- American Shad
Where to start looking
These are useful geographic starting points, not a promise that every water is stocked this season.
- Appalachian mountain trout waters
- Piedmont reservoirs
- Charlotte-area community waters
- Coastal Plain rivers
- delayed-harvest streams
North Carolina stocking questions
Where can I find the latest North Carolina fish stocking report?
Use the North Carolina public-water stocking schedules published by North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. This page links directly to that official source and labels our own records as a dated snapshot, not a live feed.
What fish are stocked in North Carolina?
North Carolina stocking sources and program materials identify Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass, Walleye, Muskellunge, Channel Catfish, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, White Crappie, Blueback Herring, and American Shad. NCWRC stocks about six million fish annually across trout, warmwater, and restoration programs. Trout schedules and warmwater request summaries are published separately.
When does North Carolina stock fish?
Trout schedules concentrate in spring with delayed-harvest work again in fall. Hatchery renovation is reducing some trout stockings in 2026 and potentially the following seasons, so current notices matter.