Clay County NC Trout Fishing
Clay County
Trout Fishing
Clay County is one of the smallest and least-visited counties in Western NC — and that's exactly why it fishes well. Tucked into the southwestern corner of the state along the Georgia border, the county's trout program is anchored by Fires Creek, which carries both a Delayed Harvest designation in its upper reach and a separate hatchery-supported section immediately downstream. Tusquitee Creek and Buck Creek round out the program with April and June stocking events. 6,900 fish stocked across four waters in 2026 — light crowds, national forest setting, and a stocking calendar that stretches from March through October.
| Stream / Section | Miles | GPS |
|---|---|---|
| Fires Creek — Delayed Harvest (USFS Road 340A to Picnic Area Footbridge) 2.2 miles of Delayed Harvest water from USFS Road 340A at the upper boundary downstream to the footbridge in the USFS Fires Creek Picnic Area. The entire DH section runs through Nantahala National Forest — canopied, remote, and cold well into spring. Three stocking events annually: March, May, and October. The fall October window is the standout; DH regulations have protected the fish through the summer and the population builds ahead of the stocking. 3,300 fish annually across all three events — a significant program for a 2.2-mile section. The USFS picnic area footbridge is the hard downstream boundary — DH regulations end there. | 2.2 mi | 35.0600, -84.0400 ↗ |
| Stocking Event | Brook Trout | Rainbow Trout | Brown Trout | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 520 | 520 | 260 | 1,300 |
| May | 280 | 280 | 140 | 700 |
| October | 520 | 520 | 260 | 1,300 |
| Annual Total | 1,320 | 1,320 | 660 | 3,300 |
Source: NCWRC 2026 Master Trout Stocking List — Clay County District 9 · NCWRC 2026 Delayed Harvest Stocking Weeks schedule. All three stocking weeks confirmed. Dates subject to change — verify at ncwildlife.gov before your trip.
Built for National Forest Freestone — The Depth Charge
Fires Creek's DH section runs cold, clear, and deep through the Nantahala National Forest. The fish here have seen pressure and they're holding in structure. Our Depth Charge box puts 72 tungsten bead nymphs in your hands — the patterns that get down to where pressured DH trout actually are. No guessing. Just fish.
| Stream / Section | Miles | GPS |
|---|---|---|
| Fires Creek — Hatchery Supported (Picnic Area Footbridge to SR 1300) One mile from the USFS Fires Creek Picnic Area footbridge downstream to SR 1300. Standard HS regulations apply — all legal tackle, creel limit in effect. Two stocking events: March and May, with 500 fish per event. All three species. The footbridge upper boundary is the same landmark that marks the lower end of the DH section directly above — if you're fishing the HS section, stay downstream of the footbridge. SR 1300 provides the lower access point. A compact one-mile section that fishes best immediately post-stocking. | 1.0 mi | 35.0550, -84.0350 ↗ |
| Stocking Event | Brook Trout | Rainbow Trout | Brown Trout | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 200 | 200 | 100 | 500 |
| May | 200 | 200 | 100 | 500 |
| Annual Total | 400 | 400 | 200 | 1,000 |
Source: NCWRC 2026 Master Trout Stocking List — Clay County District 9 · NCWRC 2026 Weekly Hatchery Supported Stocking Schedule. March stocking week unconfirmed — May stocking confirmed week of May 3–9. Dates subject to change — verify at ncwildlife.gov before your trip.
Tusquitee Creek stocks in April and June — not in the March window like Fires Creek. The June stocking makes it one of the later-running HS streams in the county, giving anglers a fresh option well into early summer when most other waters have wrapped up their spring programs.
| Stream / Section | Miles | GPS |
|---|---|---|
| Tusquitee Creek — Compass Creek to SR 1300 Eight miles from the Compass Creek confluence at the upper boundary downstream to SR 1300. Tusquitee Creek is the longest hatchery-supported stream in Clay County and the second most productive at 1,800 fish annually. All three species in equal April and June events. The Compass Creek confluence provides a clear upper boundary landmark. SR 1300 at the lower end ties into the same road corridor as Fires Creek HS — a natural multi-water day trip pairing two distinct streams on the same road. | 8.0 mi | 35.0800, -84.0700 ↗ |
| Stocking Event | Brook Trout | Rainbow Trout | Brown Trout | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | 360 | 360 | 180 | 900 |
| June | 360 | 360 | 180 | 900 |
| Annual Total | 720 | 720 | 360 | 1,800 |
Source: NCWRC 2026 Master Trout Stocking List — Clay County District 9 · NCWRC 2026 Weekly Hatchery Supported Stocking Schedule. Both stocking weeks confirmed: Apr 12–18 and Jun 14–20. Dates subject to change — verify at ncwildlife.gov before your trip.
The downstream boundary of the stocked section is the gate at a private inholding — not a road bridge or stream confluence. This is private property beyond that gate. Do not fish past it. The US 64 Bridge at the upper end and the private inholding gate at the lower end are the hard boundaries of the stocked section.
| Stream / Section | Miles | GPS |
|---|---|---|
| Buck Creek — US 64 Bridge to Gate at Private Inholding 2.4 miles from the US 64 Bridge downstream to the gate at a private inholding. Buck Creek runs through public land between these two boundaries — the US 64 Bridge provides clear upper access and the private inholding gate is the hard downstream limit. 800 fish annually across equal April and June events. All three species. The June stocking makes Buck Creek a later-season option that pairs naturally with nearby Tusquitee Creek, which shares the same April and June stocking schedule. | 2.4 mi | 35.0400, -84.0200 ↗ |
| Stocking Event | Brook Trout | Rainbow Trout | Brown Trout | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | 160 | 160 | 80 | 400 |
| June | 160 | 160 | 80 | 400 |
| Annual Total | 320 | 320 | 160 | 800 |
Source: NCWRC 2026 Master Trout Stocking List — Clay County District 9 · NCWRC 2026 Weekly Hatchery Supported Stocking Schedule. Both stocking weeks confirmed: Apr 12–18 and Jun 14–20. Dates subject to change — verify at ncwildlife.gov before your trip.
One Box. Every Water in Clay County.
From the Fires Creek DH section to Tusquitee and Buck Creek — Clay County demands versatility across freestone mountain streams. Our All-Water Arsenal covers 74 guide-approved patterns across dries, nymphs, and soft hackles. Everything you need from the first March stocking through the October DH window.
| Stream | Type | Stocking Month(s) | Total Fish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fires Creek (DH) | DH | March · May · October | 3,300 |
| Tusquitee Creek | HS | April · June | 1,800 |
| Fires Creek (HS) | HS | March · May | 1,000 |
| Buck Creek | HS | April · June | 800 |
| County Total | — | — | 6,900 |
Clay County borders some excellent trout fishing counties — each with their own stocking schedules and stream character.