Caddis & stoneflies are the name of the game right now. I’ve been on the Catawba Tailrace all week and the fishing has been lights out. The water temperature coming out the dam was 50 degrees and the lower end was 53 degrees. We’ve had some great success stripping streamers. Black is always a solid choice, but don’t be afraid to mix it up. Those fish on the Tailrace have seen enough black to last them a lifetime so it never hurts to think outside the box. All the delayed harvest waters across western North Carolina have received their first stocking of the year. I hit a local favorite of mine yesterday and those fish were willing to chase down small streamers and were also chomping on a variety of eggs. The biggest fish was a 18” brook trout that was almost as fat as it was long. If you are new to fly fishing and want to have a fun day of learning and catching a bunch of fish then now is the best time to go. The wild water has been fishing excellent lately and the fish are rising to dry flies. It’s been a long cold winter so getting out there and doing away with the nymphs has been nice. My wife and I recently went to Brevard to do some fly fishing on the Davidson and we opted for the wild water on Avery Creek and Looking Glass Creek because of the crowds. We had an awesome time having the creeks all to ourselves and we caught a fair share of wild rainbows on dries. I look forward to fishing with everyone who has already scheduled a trip this season and I welcome new clients to get on our calendar. The best fishing of the year is upon us so don’t hesitate to contact us.