Whether you’re an experienced angler or looking for a peaceful spot to cast a line, the Granite City Greenway and the surrounding waters of the Ararat River and Lovills Creek offer a rich fishing experience in Mount Airy. The locations are praised for their fishing potential, beautiful scenery, and amenities like trails, picnic areas, and nearby restaurants.
The Ararat River and other waters like Lovills Creek are managed under the Delayed Harvest program (details below) in North Carolina. These areas are clearly marked, and local wildlife agencies provide detailed maps and guides for anglers. See fishing license information below.
Granite City Greenway Fishing Locations:
- Lovills Creek Park: This park is part of the Greenway and provides access to Lovills Creek, where fishing opportunities abound. The park is well-suited for families and casual fishing activities.
- Riverside Park: Situated along the Greenway, this park offers direct access to the river and is another excellent spot for fishing, especially for those looking to catch trout.
- HB Rowe Environmental Park: This area includes parts of the Ararat River and offers a natural environment for fishing amidst other recreational activities.
The Ararat River and Lovills Creek
The Ararat River and Lovills Creek are both located in Mount Airy, North Carolina. Here’s a more detailed look at their locations and the specifics for accessing these waterways:
Ararat River:
- Location: The Ararat River flows through Surry County, North Carolina, with significant stretches accessible in and around the city of Mount Airy.
- Access Points: The Ararat River Greenway is one of the main access points for fishing along the river. This Greenway provides several entry spots for anglers, including areas near parks and recreational facilities that line the river.
- Features: The river is part of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s Delayed Harvest Trout Waters, stocked in the spring and fall. This makes it a popular spot for trout fishing, especially along the stretches adjacent to the Greenway.
Lovills Creek:
- Location: Lovills Creek is a tributary of the Ararat River and flows into it just south of Mount Airy, NC.
- Access Points: Key access points for Lovills Creek can be found along the Granite City Greenway, particularly near Lovills Creek Park, which is part of the Greenway system.
- Features: The creek and its surrounding areas are popular for casual fishing, and the park provides a family-friendly environment with facilities such as picnic areas and walking trails.
The Delayed Harvest Regulations
The Delayed Harvest regulations in these areas ensure that trout populations are sustainable, offering great fishing opportunities particularly in the cooler months. These regulations not only help in sustaining the trout population but also ensure that fishing remains a viable recreational activity in these areas for future generations. If you plan to fish in Delayed Harvest waters, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the specific rules that apply to each location as they can vary slightly depending on local ecological needs and management objectives.
Delayed Harvest regulations are specific fishing rules designed to protect and enhance trout populations in certain streams and rivers. These regulations are particularly common in states like North Carolina where they play a critical role in managing trout fisheries. Here’s a detailed explanation of how Delayed Harvest regulations work:
Purpose:
The main goal of Delayed Harvest regulations is to provide anglers with extensive catch-and-release fishing opportunities while maintaining healthy trout populations. These regulations are applied to sections of rivers and streams to increase trout survival rates during critical growth periods.
Regulations Overview:
- Catch and Release Only: During the Delayed Harvest period, anglers must release all trout they catch. This period typically starts in the fall and lasts until early summer.
- Artificial Lures Only: Anglers can only use artificial lures with a single hook. The use of natural bait is prohibited because it increases the likelihood of trout swallowing the hook, which can be fatal.
- Barbless Hooks: Often, the use of barbless hooks is encouraged or required to minimize injury to the fish, making it easier and less harmful to remove the hook and release the trout back into the water.
Seasonal Timing:
- Start and End Dates: In North Carolina, the Delayed Harvest season usually begins on October 1st and ends on the first Saturday in June. During this time, the catch-and-release rules are strictly enforced.
- Stocking Schedule: Streams under these regulations are typically stocked with trout in the months leading up to and during the Delayed Harvest season. Stocking occurs several times throughout the season to ensure adequate numbers of fish for anglers.
Benefits:
- Conservation: These regulations help conserve trout populations by allowing them to grow larger and healthier, which can lead to more sustainable fishing opportunities over time.
- Fishing Quality: Delayed Harvest waters often provide a high-quality fishing experience due to the abundance of larger, more mature trout.
- Educational Opportunities: These areas serve as excellent places for new anglers to learn how to fish for trout and practice catch and release fishing techniques.
Fishing Licenses
Below is a detailed list of the fees for various fishing licenses available in North Carolina, as provided by the official eRegulations website. These licenses cater to different types of fishing and are specified for both residents and nonresidents:
Short-Term Licenses
- Inland Fishing 10-Day
- Resident: $9
- Nonresident: $23
- Coastal Recreational Fishing 10-Day
- Resident: $6
- Nonresident: $11
Annual Licenses
- State Inland Fishing
- Resident: $25
- Nonresident: $45
- Coastal Recreational Fishing
- Resident: $16
- Nonresident: $32
- Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing (Residents only)
- Resident: $41
Special Licenses
- Special Device (Inland Fishing)
- Resident: $80
- Nonresident: $530
Lifetime Licenses
- Comprehensive Inland Fishing (Residents only)
- Resident: $265
- Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing (Residents only)
- Resident: $477
- Coastal Recreational Fishing
- Adult (ages 12 & older): $265 for residents, $530 for nonresidents
- Youth (ages 1–11): $159 for both residents and nonresidents
- Infant (under age 1): $106 for both residents and nonresidents
- Senior (eligibility details on website)
- Resident: $16
Licenses for Disabled Veterans and the Legally Blind
- Disabled Veteran Inland Fishing (Residents only)
- Resident: $11
- Disabled Veteran Coastal Recreational Fishing (Residents only)
- Resident: $11
- Totally Disabled Inland Fishing (Residents only)
- Resident: $11
- Totally Disabled Coastal Recreational Fishing (Residents only)
- Resident: $11
- Legally Blind Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing (Residents only)
- Resident: Free
Waivers
- Subsistence Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing License Waiver (Residents only)
- Resident: Free
- Adult Care Home Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing (Residents only)
- Resident: Free
These licenses can be purchased online, and specific age-related or disability-related discounts or waivers may require verification through official documents. This comprehensive list ensures you can select the license that best suits your fishing needs and residency status.