Schzaammm! I could almost hear Gomer say as we walked into the Mayberry Courthouse on Main Street in Mt. Airy, NC. The small town of Mt. Airy, which is most famous as the birthplace of Andy Griffith, and as the alleged inspiration for the town of Mayberry, also boasts a lesser known attraction: trout fishing. Surprise, surprise, surprise! The Ararat River, which meanders a stone's throw from Main Street, features sections of both hatchery supported and delayed harvest trout fishing.
Hatchery supported trout streams are stocked streams with large creel allowances and few bait or lure restrictions. These streams are typically closed in March through the first Saturday in April. Delayed harvest trout streams are also stocked, but anglers face additional restrictions from roughly the beginning of October to the first Saturday in June. During these months, anglers must use artificial lures with single hook, and fishermen may not keep any trout. The remainder of the year (basically, the summer months), the regulations revert back to being similar to hatchery supported trout streams.
To add to the experience, the town of Mt. Airy has a beautiful greenway that roughly encompasses the delayed harvest section. The greenway and delayed harvest section are approximately two miles long. The greenway runs from the Tharrington School Park upstream to the Riverside Park. Approximately halfway between these two parks is the Rowe Environmental Park. All of these parks offer public access to the greenway and, consequently, the river.
Note that the river and greenway, can be crowded with swimmers, kayakers, tubers, other trout fishermen, pedestrians, and dogs. Also note that this river is an anomaly by North Carolina trout fishing standards, since it is only around 1000 feet in elevation. This means it runs a bit warmer with less gradient than other Tarheel trout streams.
The hatchery supported trout fishing portion of the river begins directly upstream of the delayed harvest section adjacent to the the Riverside Park.
The gentle flow and sandy bottom of the river allow anglers a less than strenuous experience while fishing. The runs and riffles lend themselves to drifting flies for the fly fishermen, while lure fishermen will feel at home fishing in the deep pools. The water runs somewhat dingy compared to other NC trout streams.
Here are a few tips for fishing the Ararat River in Mt. Airy, North Carolina. Fish the delayed harvest water, since the hatchery supported portion will get fished out quickly. Start early in the morning during the warmer months, to avoid swimmers and tubers. Watch out for poison ivy; the river is loaded by it. Fish streamers or lures that other fishermen are less likely to use, to catch the trout other fishermen miss. Consider fishing in the colder months, since this river will run warmer than other North Carolina streams. Finally, take the family with you. The kids will enjoy the parks and playing in the River. Everyone will enjoy the paved greenway. Main Street offers a nostalgic look into Mayberry, including restaurants, the Mayberry jail, and a ride in Barney's squad car. Say high to Gomer for me.
