Wilkes County NC Trout Fishing

NC Trout Streams → Wilkes County
NC Trout Streams

Wilkes County
Trout Fishing

11 Hatchery Streams
4 Delayed Harvest
16,316 Fish Stocked in 2026
Mar–May Peak Season

Wilkes County sits at the foot of the Blue Ridge in the Yadkin River watershed — a quiet corner of western NC that consistently produces quality trout fishing without the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds of more famous rivers. The East Prong Roaring River, the Reddies River system, and Stone Mountain Creek anchor a fishery that sees serious stockings from March through May, and again in October and November. Here's everything you need to plan your trip.

Catch & Release Best Practices

  • Use barbless hooks — or pinch down your barbs before you fish
  • Wet your hands before handling fish; dry skin strips protective slime
  • Keep fish in the water as much as possible — no flopping on the bank
  • Use rubber-mesh nets; they're far gentler on fins, gills, and eyes
  • Hold the fish facing the current until it swims out of your hands on its own
  • Quick photo, quick release — the fish thanks you, so does the next angler
🟢 Hatchery Supported Streams
Open to all legal tackle · Standard size & creel limits · Stocked March–May and October–November
Hatchery East Prong Roaring River 5.0 miles · 3 species
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Stream / Section GPS Spring Stocking Fall Stocking
East Prong Roaring River SR 1737 to SR 1943 Bridge · 5.0 miles
Note: The section upstream of SR 1737 (Bullhead Creek to SR 1737) is a separate Delayed Harvest designation — see DH section below. 		36.2234, -81.0781 ↗ March April May October November
2026 Stocking Counts
Species March April May October November Annual Total
Brook Trout — 150 133 — — 283
Rainbow Trout — 150 133 — — 283
Brown Trout — 75 67 — — 142
Total Fish — 375 333 — — 708

Source: NCWRC 2026 Master Trout Stocking List · Stream Code YAD 1-58-1

Hatchery Middle Prong Roaring River 7.0 miles · 3 species
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Stream / Section GPS Spring Stocking Fall Stocking
Middle Prong Roaring River Basin Creek to SR 1736–1746 · 7.0 miles 36.2100, -81.1200 ↗ MarchAprilMay OctoberNovember
2026 Stocking Counts
Species March April May October November Annual Total
Brook Trout — 141 120 — — 261
Rainbow Trout — 141 120 — — 261
Brown Trout — 71 60 — — 131
Total Fish — 353 300 — — 653

Source: NCWRC 2026 Master Trout Stocking List · Stream Code YAD 1-58-2

Hatchery Gamelands Ponds & Smaller Streams Boundary Line Pond · Bell Branch Pond · Pike Creek · Pike Creek Pond
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Stream / Section GPS Spring Stocking Annual Total (All Species)
Boundary Line PondGamelands · 0.33 acres See NCWRC map April 75 fish (30 Brook / 30 Rainbow / 15 Brown)
Bell Branch PondGamelands · 0.25 acres See NCWRC map April 75 fish (30 Brook / 30 Rainbow / 15 Brown)
Pike CreekGamelands · 2.0 miles See NCWRC map MarchAprilMay 306 fish (122 Brook / 122 Rainbow / 62 Brown)
Pike Creek PondGamelands · 0.25 acres See NCWRC map MarchApril 100 fish (40 Brook / 40 Rainbow / 20 Brown)

Gamelands waters require a valid NC hunting/fishing license and may have additional access rules. Confirm current access at ncwildlife.gov.

Hatchery Reddies River Tributaries Middle Fork · South Fork · North Fork · Darnell Creek · Cub Creek
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Stream / Section Spring Stocking Annual Total (All Species)
Middle Fork Reddies River SR 1562 & 1564 headwaters to SR 1580 Bridge · 5.0 miles · YAD 1-63-2 MarchAprilMay 625 fish (250 Brook / 250 Rainbow / 125 Brown)
South Fork Reddies River Headwaters to confluence with Middle Fork · 7.0 miles · YAD 1-63-2-1 MarchAprilMay 400 fish (160 Brook / 160 Rainbow / 80 Brown)
North Fork Reddies River Headwaters to SR 1559 Bridge · 10.0 miles · YAD 1-63-3 MarchAprilMay 700 fish (280 Brook / 280 Rainbow / 140 Brown)
Darnell Creek 3rd Branch on SR 1569 to North Fork · 3.0 miles · YAD 1-63-3-1 MarchAprilMay 300 fish (120 Brook / 120 Rainbow / 60 Brown)
Cub Creek 0.5 mi upstream SR 2460 Bridge to SR 1001 · 1.0 mile · YAD 1-62 AprilMay 250 fish (100 Brook / 100 Rainbow / 50 Brown)
Hatchery Lewis Fork Creek & Fall Creek 15 miles combined · 1,100 fish stocked annually
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Stream / Section Spring Stocking Annual Total (All Species)
Lewis Fork Creek Headwaters to SR 1155 Bridge · 10.0 miles · YAD 1-68-1-2 MarchAprilMay 1,100 fish (440 Brook / 440 Rainbow / 220 Brown)
Fall Creek Entire stream · 5.0 miles · YAD 1-68-1-2-1 MarchAprilMay 200 fish (80 Brook / 80 Rainbow / 40 Brown)

Built for Hatchery Water — Loaded & Ready to Fish

Wilkes County hatchery streams respond best to attractor dries, egg patterns, soft hackles, and Wooly Buggers — especially right after a fresh stocking. Our loaded fly boxes for NC trout water come pre-rigged with exactly what works on these streams. No guesswork, no fumbling at the tailgate.

Shop Loaded Fly Boxes →
🔵 Delayed Harvest Streams
Heavily stocked · Catch & Release only during stocking weeks · Harvest opens on posted date · Check current NCWRC regs for exact harvest date
Delayed Harvest East Prong Roaring River — Upper DH 3.5 miles · 4,352 fish / year
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Section GPS Miles Annual Fish
East Prong Roaring River — Upper Delayed Harvest Bullhead Creek to SR 1737 · Stream Code YAD 1-58-1-a 36.2350, -81.0900 ↗ 3.5 4,352
2026 Stocking Counts — Each Season
Species April May October November Annual Total
Brook Trout 435 435 435 435 1,740
Rainbow Trout 435 435 435 435 1,740
Brown Trout 218 218 218 218 872
Total Fish 1,088 1,088 1,088 1,088 4,352

Source: NCWRC 2026 Master Trout Stocking List · YAD 1-58-1-a

Spring Stocking Weeks
Mar 30 – Apr 3 Apr 6 – Apr 10 Apr 27 – May 1 May 4 – May 8
Fall Stocking Weeks
Sep 28 – Oct 2 Oct 5 – Oct 9 Oct 12 – Oct 16 Nov 2 – Nov 6
Delayed Harvest Stone Mountain Creek 1.0 mile · 572 fish / year
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Section GPS Miles Annual Fish
Stone Mountain Creek — Delayed Harvest Alleghany County line to East Prong Roaring River · YAD 1-58-1-6
Stone Mountain State Park borders this watershed — some of the most scenic water in Wilkes County. 		36.2000, -81.0500 ↗ 1.0 572
Species April May October November Annual Total
Brook Trout 57 57 57 57 228
Rainbow Trout 57 57 57 57 228
Brown Trout 29 29 29 29 116
Total Fish 143 143 143 143 572

Source: NCWRC 2026 Master Trout Stocking List · YAD 1-58-1-6

Spring Stocking Weeks
Mar 30 – Apr 3 Apr 6 – Apr 10 Apr 27 – May 1 May 4 – May 8
Fall Stocking Weeks
Sep 28 – Oct 2 Oct 5 – Oct 9 Oct 12 – Oct 16 Nov 2 – Nov 6
Delayed Harvest Reddies River 1.0 mile · 2,100 fish / year
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Section GPS Miles Annual Fish
Reddies River — Delayed Harvest N. Wilkesboro Water Intake Dam to Yadkin River · YAD 1-63
Accessible from N. Wilkesboro — one of the more approachable DH sections in the county. 		36.1590, -81.1530 ↗ 1.0 2,100
Species April May October November Annual Total
Brook Trout 210 210 210 210 840
Rainbow Trout 210 210 210 210 840
Brown Trout 105 105 105 105 420
Total Fish 525 525 525 525 2,100

Source: NCWRC 2026 Master Trout Stocking List · YAD 1-63

Spring Stocking Weeks
Mar 30 – Apr 3 Apr 6 – Apr 10 Apr 27 – May 1 May 4 – May 8
Fall Stocking Weeks
Sep 28 – Oct 2 Oct 5 – Oct 9 Oct 12 – Oct 16 Nov 2 – Nov 6
Delayed Harvest Elk Creek 3.0 miles total · 2 sections · 3,960 fish / year
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Section Miles Annual Fish
Elk Creek — Leatherwood Mountains Section Portion on Leatherwood Mountains Development Property · YAD 1-71 1.0 1,620 fish (648 Brook / 648 Rainbow / 324 Brown)
Elk Creek — Reynolds Blue Ridge Section Watauga County line to lower boundary of Reynolds Blue Ridge Development · YAD 1-71 2.0 2,180 fish (872 Brook / 872 Rainbow / 436 Brown)
2026 Combined Stocking — Elk Creek (Both Sections)
Species April May October November Annual Total
Brook Trout 380 380 380 380 1,520
Rainbow Trout 380 380 380 380 1,520
Brown Trout 190 190 190 190 760
Total Fish 950 950 950 950 3,800

Source: NCWRC 2026 Master Trout Stocking List · YAD 1-71 (combined sections)

Spring Stocking Weeks
Mar 30 – Apr 3 Apr 6 – Apr 10 Apr 27 – May 1 May 4 – May 8
Fall Stocking Weeks
Sep 28 – Oct 2 Oct 5 – Oct 9 Oct 12 – Oct 16 Nov 2 – Nov 6
2026 Wilkes County — Total Fish Stocked
6,524
Brook Trout
6,524
Rainbow Trout
3,268
Brown Trout
16,316
Total Fish

Source: NCWRC 2026 Master Trout Stocking List, Wilkes County District 7. Stocking dates are subject to change — always verify at ncwildlife.org before your trip.

🟤 Wild Trout Waters
Naturally reproducing fish · Not stocked · Reduced size limits & creel limits apply

Wild Trout

Wild Trout Waters in Wilkes County support naturally reproducing fish — primarily native brook trout in the higher-elevation tributaries of the Roaring River and Reddies River systems. These streams are not stocked. What's there earned its place through survival, and the fish are warier and more beautiful for it.

Regulations on Wild Trout Waters are more restrictive than hatchery streams: size limits are smaller and creel limits are reduced to protect the fishery. Approach these streams with a light touch — small dries, precise casts, and careful C&R technique.

For exact stream boundaries and current size/creel limits, always check the NCWRC Trout Regulations before you fish. The interactive trout waters map shows all designated Wild Trout sections in Wilkes County.

📋 Check Current Wild Trout Regs →   🗺 NCWRC Trout Waters Map →
🟣 Catch & Release / Artificial Lures Only
No harvest ever · Artificial lures only · Highest-quality designated water

C&R Artificial

Catch & Release / Artificial Lures Only waters are the strictest designation in North Carolina trout management. No harvest — ever. Natural bait is prohibited. If it's on a C&R artificial section in Wilkes County, it earned that protection because the water is exceptional.

These sections reward experienced anglers with a fly or artificial lure and the discipline to match what the fish are eating. Leave your powerbait at home and bring your best presentation. The fish here are educated.

📋 Check Current C&R Regs →   🗺 NCWRC Trout Waters Map →

Fly Boxes Built for Technical Water

Wild trout and C&R sections demand a different box than hatchery water. Smaller profiles, precise imitations, disciplined pattern selection. Our loaded fly boxes for technical NC trout water are put together with exactly these streams in mind — by anglers who fish them.

Shop Loaded Fly Boxes →
⚠️ Special Regulations Waters
Unique rules per stream — always verify before you fish

Special Regs

Some waters in Wilkes County carry Special Regulations — slot limits, gear restrictions, or seasonal rules that go beyond the standard categories above. These designations exist to protect exceptional fisheries and can change year to year.

Don't guess on special regs. A five-minute read of the current NCWRC Trout Regulations before you leave the house is worth it. The Delayed Harvest sections on East Prong Roaring River, in particular, have specific harvest-opening dates that are worth confirming each season.

📋 Full Special Regulations →
Tips for Wilkes County Streams
From the water, not a brochure
Post-Stocking

Fish the first 48–72 hours after a stocking date for best results on hatchery water. Egg patterns, San Juan Worms, and Wooly Buggers take fish fast. Move to dry flies once fish settle in.

DH Section Tactics

Delayed Harvest fish see a lot of pressure. Downsize your tippet to 5X or 6X, fish slower water, and match the hatch. Midges and small Parachute Adams patterns are consistent producers on the Reddies River DH section.

Approach & Stealth

Many Wilkes streams are small and clear. Move slowly, stay low, and fish upstream whenever possible. Shadows and vibration spook fish before your fly ever hits the water.

Stone Mountain Area

Stone Mountain Creek DH and the upper East Prong sections near Stone Mountain State Park offer some of the most scenic fishing in the county. Get there early — access is limited and parking fills up on weekends.

Check Streamflow

The Reddies River and East Prong can run high after rain. Check USGS streamflow data before making the drive. Aim for flows in the 50–150 cfs range for ideal wading conditions.

License Required

A valid NC fishing license and Trout Fishing license are required to fish any trout waters in the state. Buy online at ncwildlife.org before you go — no waiting at the bait shop.

Also Fishing Nearby?

Wilkes County sits between some excellent trout fishing in neighboring counties — all with their own stocking schedules and stream character.

Ashe County → Alleghany County → Watauga County → Caldwell County → Surry County → All NC Counties →
Page Info: Wilkes County NC Trout Streams · Data source: NCWRC 2026 Hatchery Stocking Schedule & Master Trout Stocking List · Last updated: 2026 · Stocking dates subject to change — verify at ncwildlife.org · View all NC county trout stream pages