The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has brought an early Christmas present to Guilford County anglers.
The commission just freshly stocked a pond at Gibson Park.
The state’s Wildlife Commission has been increasing seasonal fishing opportunities across central and western North Carolina by stocking surplus trout in select bodies of water – including, most recently, at Guilford County’s Gibson Park at 5207 W. Wendover Ave.
The park received 900 surplus trout on Wednesday, Dec. 14.
Gibson Park was one of 40 locations across North Carolina that was selected to get brook, brown and rainbow trout that are 10 inches or longer.
Fishers at the park are allowed to catch up to seven trout per day with no bait restrictions and no minimum size limits.
They will, however, need a basic North Carolina fishing license. Those can be purchased online – or by calling 1-888-2HUNTFISH (1-888-248-6834). The license can also be bought from any of the more than 1,000 Wildlife Service agents working across the state.
Gibson County Parks Supervisor Brandon Roberts said this week that the extra fish are a big attraction at the park.
“We’re happy to partner with the Wildlife Resources Commission to provide this free fishing opportunity in the Triad,” he stated in a Wednesday, Dec.14 press release announcing the new prey. “Normally, anglers would have to travel to the mountains to experience something like this. It is becoming an annual event the community looks forward to, and we work year-round to improve the pond, making it more enjoyable and accessible to fishers of all ages and abilities.”
The Guilford County Parks Department will host a free fishing derby at Gibson Park on Wednesday, Dec. 28 from noon to 4 p.m. Participants will receive fishing instructions as well as tips on how to clean and prepare fish for meals.
The 200-acre Gibson Park owned and operated by Guilford County, is a tribute to the rifle makers who lived and worked in the Jamestown area in the mid-19th century. The park’s Deep River Cabin built around 1800 and its hand-dug well are popular attractions – though there are no fish in the well so fishing there would be a waste of time.
If you’re a fisher who wants to view the full NC Wildlife Resources Commission stocking schedule, you can visit ncwildlife.org/trout. To learn more about Guilford County Parks, visit guilfordparks.com.
I thot trout thrived in rivers & streams? Stocking a freshwater pond so some can pull them right back out doesn’t make any sense to me. Just a needless expense.
There was a trout farm on the Davidson River, near Brevard. The fish were released into the RIVER, where they could make it to the sea, and back. Some were caught by anglers in the river, and some were sold to local restaurants.
No wonder trout is so expensive, the rivers on the lower 48 are all dammed up to generate electricity or reduce flooding (TVA). So wild caught trout comes from Alaska or Norway, at considerable expense.
Trout don’t “make it to the sea and back”. You are thinking about the salmon. You need to get your factoids straight. And the trout in stores and restaurants do not all come from Alaska, Norway etc.
You are right. I was thinking of Salmon. But then, I have an excuse – old timer’s disease.