The 35th Annual Blowing Rock Trout Derby will take place in and around North Carolina’s Prettiest Small Town on Saturday, April 5, from sunrise to 4:30 p.m. First-place winners will receive trophies in five divisions: Men, Women, Girls (12-14) Boys (12-14) and Small Fries (11 and under). No entry fees are required and no pre-registration is necessary.
“The annual Trout Derby is a much-anticipated early springtime event in Blowing Rock. We have some of the best trout fishing anywhere in the Southeast, so the combination of the Derby and our lovely springtime ambiance makes for a great reason to visit. Fishing is a sport that can be enjoyed for a lifetime and the Derby is a great way to be together as a family,” said Tracy Brown, Executive Director, Blowing Rock Tourism Development Authority.
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. 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.
Kids and anglers with disabilities can fish at Broyhill Lake (photo attached), 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 Price Lake, Bass Lake, Trout Lake and the Middle Fork River along Highway 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 and overnight accommodations in the Blowing Rock area, visit blowingrock.com or contact the Blowing Rock Visitor Center at 877.750.4636.
BLOWING ROCK, N.C. (March 2014)
For information: Tracy Brown, Executive Director, Blowing Rock TDA
828.295.4636 tbrown@visitblowingrock.com