A Hot July Cost McDowell County's Trout Hatchery About 100,000 Fish. Here's What It Means for Fall Fishing

By Jon Tharp, Broker  ·  October 6, 2026

About 100,000 trout died this summer at the Armstrong State Fish Hatchery in McDowell County, and anglers hoping to fish delayed-harvest waters this October will have to wait longer. Hatchery supervisor David Deaton said the facility lost an estimated 70% of the fish it had on hand when water temperatures in its raceways reached the mid- to high 70s during a hot, dry July.

"Trout do not like water temperatures that high," Deaton told WLOS. "It causes stress in those fish. They get sick and they do start to die."

Why is trout stocking delayed in Western North Carolina this fall?

The hatchery plans to postpone its October stocking schedule until November, when officials expect cooler water temperatures in mountain streams. Warmer temperatures led hatchery staff to delay the planned October stocking rather than release fish into streams where they could die.

"We don't want to stock fish in a stream, and then they end up dying," Deaton said.

How is Helene still affecting trout streams?

The summer losses add to challenges already facing the state's trout-stocking program following Helene. Floodwaters from Armstrong Creek crossed the hatchery's raceways and filled some with rocks. The water also disconnected pipes that supplied water to the fish. Workers found about 600,000 dead fish in the raceways after the storm.

The facility has since been repaired, but Deaton said Helene's effects on the surrounding watersheds continue to affect trout habitat. The storm took down trees that once shaded creeks, and it widened and shallowed some waterways, allowing water to warm more quickly.

Where is North Carolina's stocked trout coming from right now?

Armstrong is now the state's main operational trout-production facility in western North Carolina while the Bobby N Setzer State Fish Hatchery undergoes renovations. According to Deaton, Setzer typically produces about 70% of the roughly 1.2 million trout stocked annually.

The agency has also purchased fish from private producers to supplement the program. This spring, the state stocked about 50% of its typical total after initially expecting to stock about 35%.

Can you still catch trout in the mountains this year?

Yes, but expect a different season. Deaton said anglers can still find fish in wild-trout waters and hatchery-supported streams.

"It's not going to be what it always is during normal stocking years, but there's still opportunity out there," he said. "We see that the fish are coming back. They're there."

When will trout stocking get back to normal?

The hatchery plans to inventory its remaining fish in the coming weeks and post an updated November schedule on the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission's hatchery and stocking webpage. Deaton said a December stocking could also be possible if enough fish are available.

Officials expect trout numbers to remain lower through next year as the Setzer renovation continues. Deaton said the project is expected to be completed by the end of next year, restoring the program's normal production capacity and adding backup capacity intended to make the hatchery system more resilient after future storms.

"Hopefully, by the end of next year, the program will get back to normal. If anything, it may improve," Deaton said. "We've built more resiliency into all of our facilities so that, hopefully, this doesn't happen again in the future."

Source: WLOS

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is trout stocking delayed in North Carolina this fall?

About 100,000 trout died at the Armstrong State Fish Hatchery in McDowell County after raceway water temperatures reached the mid- to high 70s in July. Warmer stream temperatures also led hatchery staff to plan to delay October stocking until November rather than release fish into streams where they could die.

When will the updated trout stocking schedule be posted?

The hatchery plans to inventory its remaining fish in the coming weeks and post an updated November schedule on the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission's hatchery and stocking webpage. Deaton said a December stocking could also be possible if enough fish are available.

Can you still catch trout in Western North Carolina this year?

Yes. Hatchery supervisor David Deaton said anglers can still find fish in wild-trout waters and hatchery-supported streams, though fishing opportunities will not look the same as in a normal stocking year.