Balsam Lake
Fishing and stocking
Trout water; one stocking on the 2026 record, in May. A 5.6-acre reservoir, and one of 11 stocked waters on the Jackson County record.
Jackson County · North Carolina · see it on the national map
The year here
stocked last 7 days announced ahead · tap a tick for details
What swims here
Trout
Stocking record 2026
Agency feed checked today.
| Date | Species | Size | Fish | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 20wk | Trout | catchable | stocked |
When to fish Balsam Lake
| Major periods (~2 h) | Minor periods (~1 h) | |
|---|---|---|
| Today | 10:09 am-12:09 pm and 10:32 pm-12:32 am | 4:27-5:27 am and 4:43-5:43 pm |
| Tomorrow | 10:56 am-12:56 pm | 5:31-6:31 am and 5:11-6:11 pm |
Moon: waxing gibbous, 92% lit. These are solunar periods, the traditional feeding-time theory: majors around the moon's transit overhead and underfoot, minors around moonrise and moonset. Theory, not a measurement. Times are Eastern Time (EDT).
What the record actually says
- Last stocked May 20
Computed this evening, Oct 23 · North Carolina fishing forecast
Gear for this water
It has been a while since the trucks came. The holdovers have spread out and wised up; downsize and fish natural.
For the trout (trout stocked 1 time here in 2026, stillwater)
| Casting spoons | 1/8 to 1/4 oz in fluorescent or metallic; count down until you find the depth |
| Small crankbaits | trout-pattern cranks trolled or slow-retrieved off points |
| Slip bobber and jig | 1/32 oz marabou jig or waxworm suspended at cruising depth |
Suggestions follow from what the state actually stocks here and what kind of water it is, nothing else. No sponsored placements.
Nearby stocked waters
The closest waters with stocking pages of their own, straight-line miles from this one.
| Water | Distance | Most recent |
|---|---|---|
| Wolf Creek Lake | 3.2 mi | Apr 22 |
| Cedar Cliff Reservoir | 6.8 mi | Apr 8 |
| West Fork French Broad River | 11 mi | May 20 |
| Cullowhee Creek | 12 mi | May 20 |
| East Fork French Broad River | 13 mi | Oct 5 |
Follow Jackson County stocking: RSS / Calendar (iCal) / Print the schedule