Area Trout Fishing Dates to the Late 1800s

Postcard—

Trout fishing below White Water Falls

 in the beautiful Sapphire section of North Carolina.

Trout fishing as a sport in Western North Carolina dates to the late 1800s when George Vanderbilt owned what is today the Pisgah National Forest.  Tourism brochures from the early 1900s boost of “brooks and streams teeming with gamey mountain trout.”  A 1914 Southern Railways publication featured a photograph of a fisherman, “where trout abound” below Toxaway Falls.

 A 1929 brochure states that “rearing pools” in the Pisgah National Forest have been established to raise fish from government hatcheries that are released into local streams when they are five inches long.

In 1937 the CCC built a Fish Rearing Station on the Davidson River near Daniel Ridge in the Pisgah National Forest.  After construction the Fish and Wildlife Service took over administrative responsibilities and the Forest Service provided maintenance of the facility.  This facility was closed down in the mid-1960s because of its deteriorating condition.

A second hatchery was constructed in 1957 on the Davidson River near John’s Rock.  This hatchery, officially The Bobby N. Setzer Hatchery, has grown into the largest trout hatchery in North Carolina.  Since 1983 it has been operated for both production and distribution purposes by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

Fishing in the Davidson River.

The hatchery raises brook, brown and rainbow trout in indoor tanks.  Fingerlings of approximately three inches live in outdoor raceways.  When the trout reach a size of at least 10 inches they are ready to be released into streams throughout Western North Carolina.  In addition the hatchery has facilities to study fish disease and nutrition and monitor water quality.  The water supply for the hatchery operations comes from Grogan Creek and the Davidson River.

Also located at the hatchery, the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education features a raceway exhibit that describes the trout production process.  It is open daily from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library.  Visit the NC Room during regular library hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional photographs.  For more information, comments or suggestions contact Marcy at marcy.thompson@transylvaniacounty.org or 828-884-3151 X242.