SYLVA, N.C. – The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce in Sylva and Jackson County Commissioners have requested from the North Carolina General Assembly to proclaim Jackson County the official Trout Capital of North Carolina.
The General Assembly could potentially bestow the honor in recognition of the county’s immense natural resources and its place in history as home to the first fly fishing trail in the United States.
Jackson County contains 4,600 miles of trout streams and receives an annual stocking of 92,800 trout, which is the most of any county in the state. It also features the state’s longest contiguous stretch of NC Mountain Heritage
Trout Waters. Three of the 13 towns designated with mountain heritage waters are in Jackson County: Sylva, Dillsboro and Webster.
The resolution, drafted by the Jackson County Chamber and endorsed by the County Commissioners states that Jackson County has “the richest, most diverse, productive trout fisheries in North Carolina.”
The resolution also notes that the current NC Fish & Wildlife state records for brook and rainbow trout were caught in waters that run through Jackson County.
In 2009, Jackson County Chamber Director Julie Spiro co-founded the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail, a first of its kind in the industry that directs anglers to 15 prime spots to catch trout in the county. She knows the trail’s positive impact on Jackson County and hopes this designation brings similar results. The Chamber has spearheaded the official designation efforts.
“I foresee our community embracing this in many ways, from the creation of a new festival, to restaurants expanding their menus with more trout offerings, accommodations creating packages with guide services, outfitters and restaurants,” Spiro said. “This potential designation bolsters the success of the WNC Fly Fishing Trail and gives us another way to brand our area.”
For more information on trout fishing in Jackson County, or to receive a free guide to the WNC Fly Fishing Trail, call (828) 586-2155, or go to www.NCTroutCapital.com.