Big Trouble for Trout

After enjoying a mild winter in the region, many area residents are more than ready to get outdoors.

And with the coming of spring, so is an annual welcome to the warmer season: the annual Trout Derby.

In conjunction with the start of North Carolina’s fishing season for trout, Blowing Rock invites anglers of all ages to an annual ritual that is a lot more fun for families than it is for fish.

The 33rd annual Blowing Rock Trout Derby will take placefrom 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 7. No entry fees are required and no preregistration is necessary.

This year, the Trout Derby will be a “Saturday only” event, due to the following day being Easter Sunday.

“Every year we look forward to the start of spring and the Blowing Rock Trout Derby,” said Tracy Brown, executive director for the Blowing Rock Tourism Development Authority.

“Folks from all over the Southeast know that we have some of the best trout fishing anywhere, and this event gives them an excuse to escape to Blowing Rock and make some memories. Seeing the number of children involved and introduced to a sport they can enjoy for a lifetime makes it even more special.”

Broyhill Lake will be stocked with hundreds of fish in the days leading up to the derby, and trout caught in any Watauga County public waters on derby day are eligible for trophies and prizes.
Catches should be taken to the official derby headquarters at the Blowing Rock American Legion building on Wallingford Street, where cash and prizes will be awarded at 4:30 p.m.

Trophies will be awarded for first place winners in five divisions: Men, Women, Girls (12-14), Boys (12-14) and Small Fries (11 and younger).

Youths and anglers with disabilities can fish at Broyhill Lake, where licenses are not required. All others must have a license and obey all posted fishing regulations.

There is a limit of three fish per day at Broyhill Lake.

Other nearby fishing spots include Bass Lake, Trout Lake and the Middle Fork River along U.S. 321.
Licenses and bait can be purchased at Village Hardware on Green Street.

The North Carolina Wildlife Commission supports the Blowing Rock Trout Derby with “Fish for Fun” bags, complete with a tackle box, regulation book, bumper sticker, stringer and bobber.

For more information on the Trout Derby, contact the Blowing Rock Visitor Center at (828) 295-4636.