[graham]

Anybody have any information about the timing of browns spawning on the Rocky Broad. The rainbows come out of lake lure in the winter, but I have never heard any info on the browns. I've caught small ones that come from somewhere other than the hatchery truck and have seen old photos of some pigs, so there is some spawning. What's up?

[bigmoon]

I dunno if there are enough brown trout left in the lake for any to run up or rainbow trout for that matter.

I'll guess some WRC hatchery stocked fish do survive the bait dunking and live in the river. There might very well be natural production in the river itself but I don't fish it much due to a lot of the river bank being posted up and all. Could be some wild browns in the river's upper reaches above Bat Cave. Anybody know? Nice water up that way.

My guess is the trout in the lake would not be able to go any farther than the Geneva Hotel at the border between Lake Lure and Chimney Rock if any run up.

[wilhelm]

At one time Steelhead were stocked into Lake Lure. I understand that if you're lucky, and know which rock in the river to stand on, you can catch the remnants of that run. I also understand luck is a difficult thing to come by.

All of the fish currently stocked by NCWRC are triploids and therefore can not reproduce. The only possible exception to that is the Catawba River where half wild brown trout were stocked to help establish the tailrace fishery. I don't know if they are continuing that practice.

As I understand it, the NCWRC only stock catchable sized fish in hatchery supported water, so anything below legal limits is likely to be wild.

wilhelm

[bigmoon]

Up until the last couple of years the town used to stock rainbow trout into the lake during the winter. I have no idea to the origin of these fish but likely from a local source.

I dunno if they are going to continue that but I was told last year no fish stocking would take place.

Have not called about this year.

Are the steelhead you are referring to real fingerling 'steelhead'? I know the WRC stocked em at one time years ago???

[wilhelm]

Originally Posted by bigmoon

Are the steelhead you are referring to real fingerling 'steelhead'? I know the WRC stocked em at one time years ago???

I have told you all I know, which isn't much.

wilhelm

[Riverview]

Man, just think if there were spawners in the Rocky Broad! The potential to post such an extraordinary find on a public forum! Heidi Klum herself would want a photo calendar of you holding all those spawning fish, dripping eggs and spraying trout semen. You'd be the first to make such a discovery, but even the potential for such a thing existing is too much. Blab, blab, blab! Just a few years back I was fishing a favorite stretch of water in NC and found 5 huge female brown carcasses in the graveled parking lot with their bellies slashed open. Some classy fishermen had decided to stalk spawners for the eggs..... and I know caviar doesn't fly in WNC, especially in Rutherford County, or any hollar named after the folks occupying it. Point is if anyone knows where wild fish are spawning, and you think for a second it may not be public knowledge, please keep it to yourself. These fish have a hard enough time. -Knox

[bigmoon]

Wilhelm,

Thanks.