North Carolina Catfish Stocking Schedule

Normalized public-agency records with timing guidance and official source links.

Quick answer: North Carolina catfish stocking timing varies by waterbody. Trout schedules concentrate in spring with delayed-harvest work again in fall. Hatchery renovation is reducing some trout stockings in 2026 and potentially the following seasons, so current notices matter. Our latest normalized snapshot shows 0 reported catfish stocking rows during the past 30 days (73 in the trailing 24 months). Data was retrieved July 19, 2026 from North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 2026 Warmwater Stocking List; confirm current conditions with the official report.

Official North Carolina stocking report →

When to go

Channel catfish put-and-take plants can fish well soon after stocking near release areas, especially with bait on bottom.

Typical window after a catchable plant: 1–10 days

Find recently stocked waters near you →

Recent catfish stockings

Date	Waterbody	Species	Count	Source
Jan 1, 2026	Aberdeen Lake	Channel Catfish	1,000	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Apex Lake	Channel Catfish	4,000	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Bass Lake (Mills Pond)	Channel Catfish	4,500	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Bond Park Pond	Channel Catfish	4,000	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Broughton Ponds	Channel Catfish	3,000	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Buckeye Reservoir	Channel Catfish	400	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Bur-Mil Park	Channel Catfish	1,200	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Carrboro Park Pond	Channel Catfish	2,400	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Cashiers Public Pond	Channel Catfish	600	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Cedarock Park	Channel Catfish	900	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Cg Hill Lake	Channel Catfish	1,200	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Country Park Pond	Channel Catfish	2,100	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Dan Nicholas Park Pond	Channel Catfish	700	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Devin Lake	Channel Catfish	4,500	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Dogwood Park Lake	Channel Catfish	1,200	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Elkin River (Big Elkin Creek)	Channel Catfish	1,000	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Ellendale Pond	Channel Catfish	1,800	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Ellerbe Community Park	Channel Catfish	1,500	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Elon Holmes Park Pond	Channel Catfish	1,100	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Etheridge Pond	Channel Catfish	1,500	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Fox Reservoir	Channel Catfish	1,600	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Frank Liske Pond	Channel Catfish	2,400	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Freedom Park	Channel Catfish	3,000	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Gaston County Farm Lake	Channel Catfish	2,300	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	George Poston Park Pond	Channel Catfish	1,500	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Gibson Park Lake	Channel Catfish	2,400	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Granite Quarry Pond	Channel Catfish	500	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Guilford County Farm Park Pond	Channel Catfish	1,800	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Hagan-Stone Park	Channel Catfish	3,000	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Hamlet City Lake	Channel Catfish	3,000	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Harris Park Pond	Channel Catfish	3,000	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Hendersonville Pond	Channel Catfish	1,000	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Hester Park Pond	Channel Catfish	2,400	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Hines Farm Park Pond	Channel Catfish	600	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Hornets Nest Park	Channel Catfish	2,200	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Indian Camp Lake	Channel Catfish	1,100	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Indian Lake	Channel Catfish	2,700	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Keeley Park Pond	Channel Catfish	3,000	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Kernersville Lake	Channel Catfish	5,700	Agency
Jan 1, 2026	Lake Corriher	Channel Catfish	1,000	Agency

FAQ

When are catfish stocked in North Carolina?

Trout schedules concentrate in spring with delayed-harvest work again in fall. Hatchery renovation is reducing some trout stockings in 2026 and potentially the following seasons, so current notices matter. Recent normalized rows: 0 in the last 30 days.

How soon after catfish stocking should you fish?

Channel catfish put-and-take plants can fish well soon after stocking near release areas, especially with bait on bottom. Typical window: 1–10 days.

Where is the official North Carolina stocking report?

Use North Carolina public-water stocking schedules from North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. This page is a dated research snapshot, not a live agency feed.