I expect WNC wild trout will rebound faster than people expect. Native and even non native species have evolved over millions of years to endure high water events like these
It would actually be very cool if fish and wildlife down there stopped stocking for a few years (especially if the hatchery infrastructure were destroyed in sort of a blessing in disguise) and we saw what some of those mountain waterways could truly become.
few things are more deflating than hiking along a beautiful cascade dropping off a 6,000 foot peak only to catch a bunch of stockers.
Native are still fishing pretty well. It seems like above 4500 or so, the gravel beds stayed pretty well put and are pooled a bit deeper to offer protection.
The rule of thumb here is if they can get to it, they're going to stock it. Unfortunately trout fishing is one of the biggest draws for tourism in NC, so they have to assure every person who drops a hook into a river will catch something. It's a pretty prime example of money over good sense. Even low pressured streams here, by our standards, are very popular. They do protect a lot of water, at least. Whether or not they do enough to protect those natives from treble hooks, worms, and morons is another story and a whole lot of me censoring myself here.
The big hurdle is still infrastructure. Getting around is much better, but it is still pretty tough going unless you have a dedicated off road vehicle. My two most hit are the Helton and Wilson Creeks. Both amazing scenery and, if you get far enough up, a wildly good native brook and wild brown trout fishery. But getting up there now, or anytime soon, is going to be really tough.
If you're ever traveling down, I can point you in the direction of cascades and falls all over NC, even in SW Virginia, that see "NC minimal" foot traffic.
