North Carolina is home to the highest mountains east of the Mississippi. The Blue Ridge Mountains located in NC are a sector of the bigger Appalachian Mountain range that extends more than 500 miles. The Pisgah National Forest is located within the mountains of North Carolina and is comprised of 500,000 acres of hardwood forests full of trails that lead to wild trout streams. The NC mountains are full of cold water streams and rivers that provide many fly fishing opportunities to the wandering angler. Some of the best fishing in western North Carolina requires a hike to get there, but there are also plenty of fly fishing opportunities easily accessible. The bigger rivers that meander through the NC mountains provide good fly fishing for river smallmouth as well. Fly fishing for river smallmouth in the NC mountains is hands down one of the best things to do when visiting Asheville. The French Broad and Nolichucky Rivers provide great fly fishing opportunities starting in April and ending around October. We do catch smallmouth year round using light spinning tackle, but if fly fishing is your thing then it’s best when the water temps warm up and the bass are most aggressive. The NC mountains provide year round fly fishing opportunities for trout and smallmouth bass which is great for people looking to get on the water anytime of the year. The Catawba Angler is a full time fly fishing guide service that provides fly fishing trips 12 months out of the year. We guide clients in the Pisgah National Forest for wild trout and we float the larger rivers such as the Catawba, Toe Rivers, and the Tuckaseegee Rivers for stocked trout year round. The best fishing on the wild trout streams is March through December. The best float fishing for trout is October through the end of May. Our smallmouth float trips begin in March and end around November. There is always something to fish for when visiting the NC mountains.
Winter Fly Fishing Report January 2023
Winter trout fishing here in North Carolina has been excellent. The colder days are more challenging than the warmer ones but downsizing your flies on the colder days have been vital to our success. Hitting the fish on the nose with smaller flies seems to work most of the time. We’ve been having great success on the higher rivers this time of year with stonefly patterns, prince nymphs, and eggs. Fishing will continue to be good all winter long on the lower elevation creeks and rivers. Give us a call this winter if you want to get on the water. The crowds are nonexistent this time of year so come enjoy the river to yourself.
Spring Trout Fishing in Western North Carolina
Spring in North Carolina begins March 20th and ends June 21st. The Spring offers some tremendous fly fishing opportunities across the mountain region for trout. After a long winter many anglers look forward to this time of the year because of the warmer weather and warmer water temperatures. The water temperatures range anywhere from 45 degrees to 67 degrees which is prime trout feeding water temperatures. The bigger bugs such as caddis, cahills, hendricksons, quill gordons, stoneflies, and sulphurs begin to make their arrival in the spring so there are plenty of insects for the trout to eat. Spring provides some of the best dry fly fishing of the year on our local creeks and rivers. There is nothing better than sight casting to a feeding fish with a dry fly and landing it. This is the pinnacle in fly fishing. The Catawba Angler offers dry fly fishing trips on our mountain creeks for wild trout in the the Spring. This is where we will hike into a backcountry creek and dry fly fish all day for rising trout.
Spring trout fishing means higher water flows which can offer some excellent streamer fishing opportunities on the bigger tailwaters in North Carolina. Some of the biggest trout we catch all year is in the springtime stripping streamers against the banks. The Catawba Tailrace and Tuckaseegee River systems offers some great streamer fishing in March, April, and May.
The weather in the spring can be unpredictable so I tell clients we fish conditions not dates on a calendar. It’s important to always be flexible with your game plan on the water. Successful anglers recognize how fish behavior changes during different weather conditions and adapt their fly selection and presentation. Fly fishing in the Spring is hands down the best time to trout fish in North Carolina.
The Catawba Angler offers float trips and wade fishing trips for trout in the spring here in North Carolina. Give us a call to experience the best trout fishing of the year in western NC.
Bass Fishing Guide in North Carolina
The Catawba Angler offers guided bass fishing trips on the best rivers and lakes in North Carolina. Below is a resource for some of the lakes and rivers in the state that holds bass in them. The Tarheel State has three major geological regions which include the Appalachian Mountains, Piedmont, and Atlantic Coastal Plains.(West to East) All three regions boasts some excellent bass fishing in the lakes and rivers. The only natural lakes in the state are located in the Coastal Plain region which begins around the Raleigh area and extends to the Atlantic Ocean. The lakes in the mountain and Piedmont regions are the result of dammed rivers. The Catawba River runs through both regions and is home to 7 lakes that offers good bass fishing. These lakes are named the Catawba River Chain of Lakes. The lakes that make up the Catawba River Chain are Lake James, Lake Rhodiss, Lake Hickory, Lookout Shoals Lake, Lake Norman, and Lake Wylie. Lake James is the best bass fishing lake on the Catawba River chain and is home to both smallmouth and largemouth bass. The lake draws many anglers from the Piedmont and coastal plain region looking to catch both smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Lake James is home to some of the biggest smallmouth bass in the state. In February of 2020, a 7 pound, 3 ounce smallmouth was caught by Ken Whitesides. We’ve heard of 7pound fish being caught and even bigger ones that have gotten away. The Catawba Angler was one of the first bass fishing guides in North Carolina to guide on Lake James. The Catawba River and Linville River that flows into Lake James offers good wade fishing for smallmouth bass. The bigger smallmouth that call the lake home will run up the two rivers certain times of the year so it’s not uncommon to catch 3 to 4 pound fish in the rivers. A good float is putting in at the bridge at US Business 221 and going down to Burnette’s Landing. This stretch has long, deep holes that hold good populations of bass in the summertime moving upstream from the lake looking for those cooler river temperatures.
Another prominent river that flows through the Piedmont region is the Yadkin. The Yadkin River is one of the longest rivers in North Carolina and is home to 4 lakes which include W. Kerr Scott Reservoir, High Rock Lake, Badin Lake, and Lake Tillery. Badin Lake is the clearest lake in the Yadkin Chain and runs within the Uwharrie National Forest which offers some unique scenery for a Piedmont Lake. The lake is home to some big largemouth bass and is also known as a put and take striper lake where the state stocks 25,000 fingerling every year. The lake has a good population of smaller striped bass, but it’s not uncommon to catch 20 pound fish. The Yadkin River boasts a small population of smallmouth bass and a variety of other species. Those looking to fish the Yadkin for smallmouth bass should check out Burch Station and Yadkin Shore public fishing areas.
Falls Lake also known as “Falls of the Neuse” & Jordan Reservoir are on the border of the Piedmont and Coastal Plain region and are some of the best largemouth lakes in North Carolina. North Carolina’s fisheries biologist will say Jordan Reservoir is the best lake in the state. Fish over 10 pounds have been caught in Jordan Reservoir. Another notable bass fishing lake in close proximity to Falls and Jordan is Shearon Harris Lake. Shearon Harris Lake is considered North Carolina’s best lake to catch trophy bass.
Lake Mattamuskeet is the most well known lake in North Carolina since it’s the largest natural lake in the state. The lake is a shallow coastal lake which is home to largemouth bass. The lake is home to many different fish species but the largemouth bass is most sought after. Another notable bass fishing lake in the coastal plain region is Lake Waccamaw. Similar to Lake Mattamuskeet, Lake Waccamaw is shallow. In the spring these lakes warm up faster than the deep man made lakes in the piedmont and mountain region so the prespawn bite on these lakes occur here before any other lake in the state.
The French Broad River is hands down the best smallmouth river in North Carolina. The river has the quantity and the quality every bass fisherman is looking for. The river has an abundant supply of baitfish and crayfish that is needed to grow trophy river smallmouth. The French Broad River consistently produces 4 pound smallmouth year after year on our guided bass fishing trips. The river is not suitable to wade so it’s important to hire a guide to float you down the river to the best fishing spots. The smallmouth fishing is best from the airport in Asheville to the East Tennessee line. The Catawba Angler provides guided bass fishing trips on the French Broad River starting in March and wrapping up the season in the middle of November.
Another river worth mentioning when talking about bass fishing in North Carolina is the Nolichucky River. The fishing is fantastic and the scenery is second to none. This river consistently produces trophy smallmouth year after year. The biggest smallmouth we’ve ever guided a client into has come from the Nolichucky. If you are a bass fishing Angler then the Nolichucky should be on your bucket list. The fluke bite on the Nolichucky during the last days or spring and early summer can be unbelievable.
The last river that is worthy of mentioning in the bass fishing guide in North Carolina is the Pigeon River. The Pigeon River is a trophy smallmouth river. The river is half the size of the French Broad River, but has a thick population of bass in it. The best fishing is below Waterville dam and into East Tennessee. This section is a tailwater that provides cold water year round that creates the perfect habitat for aquatic life. After a few years of scouting and many trips down the river we have started guiding the Pigeon River for smallmouth bass.
The Catawba Angler offers half day and full day bass charters on the lakes and rivers of western North Carolina. It’s our goal to provide the best bass fishing guide experience in North Carolina. If you are interested in hearing more about our bass fishing trips then please give us a call. We would love to talk to you about the best times of the year to fish or answer any question you may have about fishing. Thanks for taking the time to read our post. We look forward to fishing with you.
Fly Fishing in North Carolina
North Carolina offers some of the best fly fishing in the country. The North Carolina mountains boasts plenty of fisheries that contain wild and stocked trout. Some of the best fly fishing is within a short drive of Asheville, North Carolina. From backcountry experiences to roadside pull offs there are plenty of trout fishing opportunities for the curious angler in North Carolina. I’d like to highlight the four trout species that are available in our public waters.
Brook Trout
The Southern Appalachian Brook Trout is our native fish here in North Carolina. These trout are not stocked and naturally reproduce in the cold water coming off the highest mountain peaks in the east. These fish have been in our creeks since God created the world. These fish thrive in cold mountain creeks that can only be reached by foot. If you are looking to catch these fish find a creek above 3,000 feet and go explore it. There is nothing better than catching one of these native fish using a fly rod. This is the pinnacle of fly fishing in the mountains of North Carolina.
The brook trout directly above is a stocked fish. The state stocks a lot of these fish in the Delayed Harvest streams in the fall and the spring. These fish lack the beauty of the native brook trout but are still pretty fish nonetheless. These fish are prevalent in the 34 creeks and rivers that get stocked across the mountain region of NC.
Rainbow Trout
Rainbow Trout are prominent in North Carolina. There are more wild rainbow trout in the wild trout streams than any other species. Rainbow trout are native to the Pacific region, but were introduced to North Carolina around the 1900’s. The logging operations at the turn of the century almost depleted the native brook trout populations so that’s when non-native trout were introduced in NC to help bring back trout populations. The rainbow trout gets confused with the brook trout, but rainbows have a long lateral line on their sides that are pink or red.
North Carolina stocks some very large rainbow trout. The rainbow trout above was caught out of a delayed harvest stretch north of Asheville. The state record rainbow trout in North Carolina weighed over 20 pounds and was caught out of a stream 60 miles from Asheville. Out of all the fish stocked by the state 40% of them are rainbow trout.
Brown Trout
Brown trout are at the top of every anglers list. Brown trout are elusive and considered one of the most difficult trout species to catch. There are some excellent wild brown trout fisheries in North Carolina, but much like the native brook trout streams getting someone to tell you where they are will be hard to accomplish. There is a healthy population of wild brown trout in the Davidson River so that is a good start for most anglers looking to catch one. Brown trout are native to Europe, but were introduced in the 1920’s in alot of the streams in North Carolina. They are the most tolerant trout species and can live in waters upward of 70 degrees.
The brown trout above is a stocked fish. One indicator that it is a stocked fish is that some of its fins are nubs. Most likely the fins were rubbed off during the time this fish was in the holding walls of the hatchery. North Carolina brown trout can get very large and attracts anglers all over the country to try to tango with one.
Tiger Trout
Tiger trout are extremely rare in North Carolina. They are a cross between a brown trout and a brook trout. Tiger trout rarely exceed 8 inches, but what they look in size they make up for with their beauty.
The Catawba Angler offers guided fly fishing trips in Asheville, North Carolina. We offer wade and float trips for the four trout species found in NC. Fly Fishing in North Carolina is one of the best experiences to do when visiting the mountains.
NC Trout Fishing Report
The fall trout fishing in western North Carolina is something every fly angler should experience. The leaves are changing colors, the weather is ideal, and the water temperatures have dropped to a suitable level after a long summer. Fall fishing is special because you are likely to experience some excellent dry fly fishing, nymphing, and streamer fishing all in the same day. Recently on the Catawba River we got into a Blue Wing Olive and an Early Black Stone hatch that offered us some excellent sigh fishing to pods of stocked fish. Earlier in the day the nymph and streamer bite was consistent till the sun was directly above us. There are plenty of wade fishing and float fishing opportunities available on one of the many delayed harvest streams in NC. If you want to specialize in Euronymphing, Streamer Fishing, Nymphing Fishing, or Dry Fly Fishing we can customize your trip to solely focus on one of these different tactics. It’s our goal to help you become a better angler on the water. We understand that everyone likes to catch fish which we can definitely do that, but if you want to focus on some advanced fly fishing tactics to accelerate your growth as an angler then give us a call to set up a trip with one of our professional guides.
Water levels in the mountains of North Carolina are currently low which makes fishing more challenging that years past. We’ve been having to run very light tippet and downsize our flies this year due to low flows and spooky fish. This requires anglers to make longer casts and get flawless drifts over the fish to get eats. We’ve had our best success on the Catawba River since there is more flow on it than the smaller mountain creeks. Curtis Creek has been fishing consistent but it’s best to go early morning or late evening when the light isn’t directly above the water. The sun directly over the water makes it tough to sneak up on fish.
The Catawba Tailrace is slowly starting to fish better and better. We’ve been picking fish up in the deeper runs on nymphs and streamers in the riffles. The current water temperature coming out the dam is 67 degrees. As that temp drops the fishing will continue to get better and better. This is our best fishery from November to the end of May. The water temperature here during the winter is 50-55 degrees which is alot warmer than the freestone streams in the mountains. Numbers of fish can be high and there are opportunities at some very large holdover brown trout. The Catawba Tailrace offers some of the best brown trout fishing in North Carolina. Below are some of the biggest fish we’ve caught out of the Tailrace.
If you want to chase these bigger fish using large nymphs and streamers then this trip is for you. The float is 8 miles so it’s a full day of fishing. This is our favorite fishery to guide on because in these waters lurk the biggest trout in the state. Ask us about the ones that have gotten away.
If float fishing isn’t your thing then we got some excellent wade fishing opportunities chasing stocked and wild trout. These trips are fun because we can post up on fish and use different tactics to catch them. The best method has been using dry dropper rigs using 5-6x tippet. We’ve been fortunate to catch some really nice trout on the Catawba River this year. We offer half day wade trips for $250 (2 anglers).
We’ve got a few more smallmouth trips on the books this year which we are excited to finish the year out strong. The reaction bite the last two weeks has been nothing short of amazing. The water is unusually low on the Nolichucky so we’ve been spending the most time on the French Broad. Below are some fish from the last two weeks. Once the water temperature drops below 45 degrees we will solely focus on trout until the smallmouth bite picks back up in March.
Outlook for November 2022
The trout fishing in November will be good. The rivers are stocked and will receive another stocking the first week of November. There isn’t a better time than now to get out on the water and learn the sport of fly fishing. These stockings provide a lot of opportunities to catch fish. If you are just getting into the sport then book a guide to help accelerate your growth and have a mentor that will teach you how to do things the “right” way. We are big on teaching then catching at our guide service because you’ve got to be able to do things the right way before you start catching. There are alot of fish in the river right now so let us take you to them and show you how to be a better angler. The Catawba Tailrace is about to get really good so don’t hesitate to book a trip down there. Pressure is light and the fish are eager to hit big bugs and streamers. The weather is perfect this time of year with the later start times so give us a call to book your fishing adventure in the mountains of NC. I appreciate you taking the time to read our reports. We look forward to seeing you on the water.
Matt Evans
Owner/The Catawba Angler
September Fishing Report 2022
September has come to an end but it was definitely a month to remember. The last two weeks of September was nothing short of amazing. We have had clear water on the French Broad River so I have been out there every day chasing those big smallmouths that have some big appetites this time of year. The water temperature on the French Broad is 57 degrees. We’ve all heard about the 50 degree magic in the Spring and Fall seasons for smallmouth. Smallmouth start chasing during this time and there is no better time to throw moving baits. I look forward to an excellent October for smallmouth as well as trout. The leaves are have began changing colors in the higher elevations, but expect peak color to be around the end of October. If you have never experienced the smallmouth fishing or trout fishing in October then give us a call. You won’t be disappointed. Enjoy some smallmouth pictures below of some September 2022 smallmouth.
October Outlook 2022
October is going to be good for trout and smallmouth. I think it’s going to be a dry month so finding creeks and rivers with the most water in it will be key. October is usually the month we see our biggest smallmouth hit our nets. The trout fishing will be excellent on the delayed harvest stretches on the Catawba, Curtis, Mill, and the Toe Rivers. I’ve got a few dates left in October so don’t hesitate to book or they will be gone. I look forward to seeing you on the water. Thanks for reading our report.
August 2022 Fishing Report
August is normally our hottest month here in the mountains, but we’ve seen some cooler temperatures as of late that has kept the smallmouth and trout bite consistent. The temperature reading on my truck this morning said it was 57 degrees outside. You can’t beat that in late August. We are thirty days away from the end of summer (September 22). It’s been a wonderful summer full of some really good fishing. The smallmouth bite has been lights out all summer long and we have consistently been catching quality fish on every trip. There are a lot of 10-14 inch fish in the Toe River so the next few years we should some true trophies caught out of the river. The French Broad has been off colored since the beginning of July so I haven’t gotten the opportunity to fish it that much. We should be drying out here in the mountains over the next month and the fishing on the French Broad should be excellent. Fall time anywhere from the second week of September to the end of October is when you can plan on catching your trophy smallmouth out of the river. A trophy smallmouth out of the river is anything over 18”. We are starting to book up in September and October so do not hesitate to call to get your preferred date. We are getting a lot of repeat clients in the fall that want to chase those big smallmouth on fly or spinning tackle. Don’t forget the Catawba Tailrace will be cranking back up in November so we will have some good tailwater trout fishing down there all winter long. We will go into more details about that when the time is right. Below are some highlights of some good fish we caught in August, 2022.
What a wonderful summer it has been! I want to thank my savior Jesus Christ for creating these wonderful fisheries and beautiful places that I get the opportunity to work in every day! I want to thank him for my wife for getting up at the crack of dawn with me before heading to the river. I couldn’t do it without her support. I also want to thank him for the clients he allows me to fish with because it’s a cool experience getting to show people the fisheries I have grown up on and fished my whole life.
James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Curtis Creek Fly Fishing
Fall/Winter Fishing on Curtis Creek
Curtis Creek gets stocked the first week of October and November so this provides good fishing all fall and winter. Normally when they first stock the first will hit anything flashy in the color of pink and yellow. For fly fishers it’s hard to beat squirmy worms, mops flies, and eggs. Normally I’ll run lighter tippet because the water is usually very clear this time of year. They stock some big brown, brook, and rainbow trout in Curtis so a lot of clients that we take fishing normally catch their personal best here. Check out the fish we caught in October fly fishing Curtis Creek.
When the water temperatures dips below 45 degrees I consider it winter fishing. In the winter time I’m using 6-7x tippet. A lot of times I’ll run wool as an indicator since it is such a delicate presentation. I run size 16-20 midges under the wool and drift the deep slow moving holes. We catch some of the bigger, smarter fish that survive the influx of people during the wintertime. These fish are less pressured and more willing to eat during this time. Check out the two fish below we caught in January of 2021. The best fishing during the winter is going to be throughout the Delayed Harvest Stretch. One of the best holes on the creek is going to be the handicap holes right off the main road. There are always some big fish that hang out in those holes.
Spring Fishing on Curtis Creek
Spring is my favorite time to fish Curtis Creek because we get some excellent caddis, March brown, and Hendrickson hatches throughout March, April, and May. The state also stocks the first week of each of these months so there are a lot of fish to target in the creek. Normally if the crowds are bad you can bounce up to Newberry Creek or the wild water of Curtis Creek and do well throwing dries. Below is a nice brown we caught during a rainstorm on Curtis Creek. Remember to still use light tippet this time of year. The fish are spooky after seeing a lot of pressure on the weekends. The best time to fish it is going to be the weekdays.
Summer Fishing on Curtis Creek
Summertime is terrestrial season. We throw a bunch of cinnamon ants, beetles, and grasshoppers. The fishing is slower in the summertime because they open the creek up for harvest on June 4th, but there are always some bigger, smarter fish that will “make” throughout the summer so this time of year is perfect for stalking big fish. Numbers are low, but the potential to catch a good one is always possible.
The Catawba Angler is a fly fishing guide service that offers wade fishing trips on Curtis Creek. We grew up two miles from this creek so this is our home water. If you are in town and want to experience some of the best fly fishing in the area then give us a call. We welcome beginners and seasoned anglers. See you on the water.
July 2022 Fishing Report
Smallmouth! Smallmouth! Smallmouth!
July is hot, but so is the fishing for river smallmouth. We’ve been chasing river smallmouth on the French Broad, Toe, and Catawba Rivers all summer long. July was an excellent month of fishing even though it rained almost every day. We haven’t had consistent weather since early June so we’ve had to keep a constant eye on the weather. The key to having a successful day is finding somewhat clear water. The French Broad has been off colored for the last month, but I am okay with that because the less fishing pressure this summer means a better late summer/early fall bite. The days we have been on the French Broad have been tough, but not impossible. We’ve been fishing dark colors in water with less than a foot of clarity. The key to fishing off colored water is to fish it extremely slow. This will test an anglers/guide patience but it’s vital to one’s success. The topwater bite for the fly fisherman has been excellent some days and mediocre others. The best bite has been when we get a cold front come through and the water temps get around 75 degrees again. Once this happens the bite turns on. There was one day where the water got up to 84 degrees and we threw everything but the kitchen sink at the bass and they just weren’t responding. That’s fishing though! Overall I think this July has been more productive than I’ve seen in years past. The water has been lower so it’s pushing the bass in isolated areas looking for that higher oxygen content.
We will be fishing low water till into the fall so I expect the topwater bite in August, and September to be good. The best bite of the year is right around the corner. October is when the big ones come out to play. Don’t miss out on some beautiful scenery and some good fishing in the mountains of NC!
Below are just a few pictures from some of the fish we caught in July!
Trout Fishing in July
We were fortunate to run a few trout fishing trips after rainstorms because the water temperatures were in a suitable range for the fish. This is a great time to hit those higher elevation creeks and chase wild trout using dry flies. Start early and end early. Remember the water temps are hottest in the evening because the water has warmed up all day. Fish in the morning.
Fly Fishing With Poppers
Using poppers to catch river smallmouth is by far the most exciting way to fly fish. It’s visual. It’s versatile. It’s flat out hunting for big bass on the fly. There are different ways to fish a popper: Dead Drift Em, Pop Em, Twitch Em. Below we will go through what each of these methods mean.
Dead Drift Em: This method is very similar to drifting dry flies to trout. You want to look for moving water with white bubbles close to structure. Smallmouth will sit in these lines waiting for bugs to drift by. I prefer to fish sliders when the water is super low and clear because the slider doesn’t have as much of a pop when it lands. Below is a fish we caught dead drifting a popper right off the bank by a fallen down tree. It was an ideal location for a river smallmouth to be holding. Mends are vital to your success when drifting poppers. If it’s dragging it’s lagging.
Pop Em: Normally the best time to pop poppers is early morning and late evening when the sun is low. It’s good to pop poppers in deeper water close to ledges because we’ve caught some good smallmouth drumming them up in deep water. The bass will let you know if you can pop aggressively or every ten or so seconds. Right after that first pop will tell you a lot.
Twitch Em: In deep slow slack water I like to twitch the poppers because sometimes just a little movement on the legs can draw a strike. Lift the rod tip up or wiggle it.
The best time to throw topwater poppers is during the summertime and early fall during June-September. If you want to experience some exciting, visual fly fishing for river smallmouth contact us today.
Late June Fishing Report
Fishing has been consistent on the French Broad and Nolichucky Rivers. Our water temperature is mid 70’s and we are finally seeing some great topwater action. The topwater bite has been best from 6am-11am, but we are seeing fish hammer topwater baits all hours of the day. Fish are beginning to favor the faster moving water when the water temps are getting up past 75 degrees so that’s where our focus has been with the soft plastics. Poppers have been the fly of choice on both rivers. Chartreuse on the sunny days and black on the overcast days. There are a lot of June bugs out so we’ve been having some good luck using smaller bugs on the Toe River. Smaller topwater flies dominate throughout the summer because you’ve got cicadas, beetles, grasshoppers, damselflies, and dragonflies. Bigger isn’t always better. Trying throwing some smaller profile flies to “match the hatch”.
Outlook For July:
The best fishing will continue to be early morning to midday. If you have a trip booked in July be prepared to start early. Topwater will continue to be good the rest of the summer. As long as the French Broad stays clear we will be on it. The Nolichucky has been clear and low so we’ve been taking the majority of fly fishing clients there. It’s been one of the best smallmouth seasons we’ve ever had so I’m very thankful for that. We are currently booking in August so please don’t hesitate booking. Below are some pictures of some recent catches. Thanks for reading.
Early June Fishing Report
The smallmouth fishing around western North Carolina has been excellent since the beginning of May and will continue to be good all summer. We’ve been getting just enough rain to keep the rivers higher than years past, but still fishable. When the water is clear we’ve been having great success on flies which we will go into detail of what has been working and what we can expect the rest of the summer. There is no better way to beat the heat of summer than spending a day on the water chasing smallmouth bass. Give us a call today to schedule your fishing adventure this summer.
It is important to understand what types of baitfish, aquatic insects, and crayfish that are in a river system before you can have success using the fly rod. We’ve all heard of “matching the hatch” which is good and all, but I would go farther than that and say it’s even more important to match the movement of the forage you are mimicking. A crayfish pattern isn’t supposed to be fished fast and a fleeing minnow isn’t supposed to be fished slow so I’m big on informing my clients how fast you need to retrieve certain flies.
Lisa and I chased red breasted sunfish, trout, and smallmouth on a local fishery and we managed to catch close to 20 fish on the fly rod. She is currently competing for Angler of the Year for IWFA so it was good to help her knock off a couples of species that can only be caught in western NC. We threw a lot of smaller black streamers to mimic the stoneflies and hellgramites in the river so Lisa did a good job of slowly fishing the streamers.
Ryan and Mike have been fishing with me the last couple of years and I enjoy fishing with them because they like to get after it. They fish hard from the time we push off from the put in to the time we take out. We had a phenomenal day on the water this year and we managed to catch 51 total fish. We ended up catching a bunch of 1 to 1.75 lb. fish, but hooked up with a true trophy at the end of the day. The fish measured 19.5 inches and weighed right at 3.4lbs. Anytime you can bring a 19inch fish to the boat it’s a good day. These guys put a lot of time on the water which is the best teacher of all. I appreciate the hard work they put in on the guided trips we’ve been on over the last couple of years.
Bennett Jordan and his dad make their annual outing to the mountains every year and I’m fortunate enough to take them fishing each year. We had a great day of fishing on the Nolichucky River and Bennett reeled in a true trophy river smallmouth. What was cool about catching this fish is that I’ve had a few encounters with it over the last few years where I see it chase out smaller fish we hook. Bennett made a beautiful cast in the deep, slack water and the fish took off with the jig. After an intense fight we netted the fish and it was nothing but smiles the rest of the day. This was Bennett’s personal best river smallmouth and the biggest smallmouth to hit my net this year.
Kirk and his son Houston had a great day on the water. The bite started off hot during the morning, but tapered off mid day then the bite picked up significantly in the afternoon. We caught most of our fish on the bottom that day which involves a more finesse style of fishing. In order to fish the bottom of the river well you got to be willing to fish slowly. That’s the key when fishing crawfish patterns.
We all hope for the days when the smallmouth hit on top and top and his son got just that. We caught a lot of smallmouth on top using hardbaits and soft plastics. This is exciting fishing because it’s all visual. If I could predict when the smallmouth turn on to topwater I’d be a rich man. The topwater bite can be very sporadic, but this day it was consistent all day. I think between the warmer water temperature (72 degrees) and overcast day it created an ideal scenario.
The Prachyl’s wanted to fish a smaller smallmouth river so we did just that and had a great day targeting smallmouth using spinning tackle. The fish were hitting on top in the shallow water and fished subsurface jigs in the faster, deep water. We had a great day and we managed to get a good trout as well.
We took the McKay family on a two boat float trip down the lower end of the Nolichucky and had a fantastic day. The fish were smacking topwater baits, but the key was to cast them a foot off the bank. If you weren’t within a foot of the bank you were catching fish. It is exciting when the fish blow these baits up right at the bank. The topwater bite should continue to get better with the water temperature warming up.
Travis and Jordan are good buddies of mine from way back in the day when we all used be apart of collegiate track and field teams. We spent the day together on a local smallmouth river and had a blast catching the fish on a variety of methods. Fishing trips are fun for beginners and experienced anglers. We cater our trips to all anglers so no matter your experience level we’ve got fisheries just for you.
We were able to hit a local wild trout fishery early morning last week because the smallmouth rivers were blown out. The water temperature was 59 when we started and 63 when we finished. It’s important to check the water temperatures on the wild trout streams because catching wild trout in water temperatures above 70 degrees can be fatal to the trout. We were fortunate to hit this local creek after a cold front came through and cooled the water down to a desired level. We managed close to 20 fish to the net. All fish were caught on a yellow stimulator and a parachute adams.
The French Broad River is finally at a fishable level so we were able to take a trip there and it fished excellent.
The smallmouth bite is good all summer. July and August is excellent for catching smallmouth on topwater! Book your trip today! We look forward to seeing you on the water!
Spring Fishing Report NC
Let’s dig in to what has been fishing well and whats ahead for early Summer. We received our last stocking of trout the first week of May so the Delayed Harvest stretches have been fishing well. The best fishing has been early morning because it’s been abnormally hot since we’ve had some 90 degree days. We are finally starting to see some normal May temperatures so midday fishing should get better with these cooler nights and rain.
We have had some stupid, good days on the Catawba Tailrace over the last month so it’s good to see the rainbow trout that were stocked back in the winter doing so well. Whenever you can catch the water clear on the Tailrace from November to May you need to be on it. The takeout ramp in Glen Alpine is currently under construction so this section of river will be shut down for two months. You won’t be able to put-in or takeout there so just a heads up.
This fishery should be on everyone’s list to fish in North Carolina. The fishing is great from the time we put on to the end and there is always potential to catch a trophy brown trout. This year we have caught only a handful of holdover browns, but the rainbows have been a ton of fun. The browns will be back again this fall after the NCWRC stocks them. I’ve got a feeling rainbow trout streamer patterns are going to catch some big fish over the next few years down there. Below are some pictures from the Catawba Tailrace this May.
We won’t be fishing the Catawba Tailrace until the fall unless you have an interest in chasing striper on the fly in August & September. There aren’t many striper in the Tailrace, but if you are looking to grind and catch your first striper on the fly then we welcome you. This is trophy hunting using the fly rod because these fish will range anywhere from 5 to 15 pounds. These fish come up the river eating the trout so you can imagine how big the flies are we will be throwing.
The Delayed Harvest stretches on Curtis Creek and the Catawba have been fishing really well. The fish are coming up eating dries in the morning then droppers midday to early afternoon. Normally your best fishing will be 7am to 11am so we’ve been out there early this month. After the first weekend of June fishing won’t be great on the Delayed Harvest stretches because on June 4th anglers can harvest the fish. This is when we head to the hills to chase wild fish where the water temperatures are lower and there isn’t a ton of fishing pressure. The wild fish are more challenging to catch but we trick a bunch into eating dry flies. We throw a lot of terrestrials during this time so it’s a lot of fun seeing these smaller fish come up for bigger bugs. Below are just a few pictures from the DH stretches in May.
Wild trout fishing in North Carolina provides a unique experience for anglers because we wade smaller mountain streams for stream bred fish. The fish are wild and beautiful. I enjoy taking clients to these areas because of the 3 reasons below:
Wild Fish: These fish are born in the stream instead of being raised in the hatchery. These fish are beautiful and live in some of the coolest areas in the state.
Seclusion: We rarely see anyone else on the wild trout streams.
Challenge: In order to catch these fish you must get good presentations with drag free drifts. If a wild fish comes up and eats your fly and you set the hook and miss…. then it’s best to move to the next plunge pool. These fish give you one chance.
If you want to become a better angler and want to test your casting skills then go after some wild fish. Chasing these fish will make you a better angler. I enjoy taking people to the delayed harvest to boost their confidence before chasing wild trout because it can be a humbling experience. Every beginner needs to be put in challenging circumstances because how can you truly appreciate the sport if you never have to work hard to catch a fish? Below are some clients chasing wild fish this past month.
Smallmouth fishing has been fantastic. We’ve brought a bunch of good quality fish to the net this year and the outlook for summer fishing is great. We are currently getting some rain which will bump those river levels up right in time for our June trips. The smallmouth have been heavily feeding on a variety of baits but we’ve had the most success on baitfish imitations. One way to catch more fish in an unfamiliar river system is to find out what forage is in the river whether it be bugs, minnows, or crayfish and start there. Ever since I’ve been guiding I’ve kept a log of notes from every day I’ve fished. This has allowed me to form patterns certain times of the year and it gives me the proper baits to start with instead of going out there guiding by the seat of my pants. I track water temperatures, pressure, weather, water levels, and make notes of every fly or bait that caught fish. Start writing down notes from every fishing trip you take and you will be surprised how it will benefit you down the road.
Below are some of the smallmouth bass we’ve caught this spring.
Mended Fly Fishing
I recently got to help the founder of Mended Fly Fishing with an outing in Greensboro, NC. The mission of this organization is to bring hope and the love of Christ to youth through free guided fly fishing trips. This was an amazing experience for everyone involved. We were able to take kids fishing on a private lake and show them the sport of fishing. There were lots of laughs and good times had on the lake. All praise and glory goes to God because all good things come from his goodness, grace, mercy, and unfailing love. God has given us the passion for fly fishing, and if we can use that as an outlet to become a friend to fatherless children then that is a beautiful thing. If you are interested in this mission and know of a kid who could benefit from Mended Fly Fishing then please reach out to Patrick Hayes (Founder) or myself. For more information check out the website below.
https://www.mendedflyfishing.com
Fly Fishing for Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth bass have always been overlooked by trout anglers, but I hope I can convince you to start targeting them if you haven’t already. Smallmouth bass are the hardest fighting fish we have around the mountains of North Carolina. These fish will test your drag, jump, and then tail slap water at you when you release them. They are an aggressive species which makes them a perfect fish to chase using the fly rod. Fly fishing for smallmouth bass can be the most rewarding thing you can do with the long rod from Spring to Fall. Fly fishing for smallmouth is not an easy task, but I couldn’t think of anything more rewarding when that 3 pound smallmouth takes a topwater bug drifting parallel to the bank. When you decided to pick up fly fishing you knew you were at a disadvantage compared to using a spinning rod. Smallmouth can be picky throughout the season that runs from March to November, but we bounce around from three different rivers to put clients in the best water to catch fish. Early Spring which runs from March to the beginning of April is the pre-spawn period. Fish are actively feeding and preparing themselves for the spawn which is a good time to cast crayfish, hellgrammite, and baitfish patterns. If conditions are right we can normally get by using floating line, but if we have good flows I will use sink tips and intermediate lines. This time of year, smallmouth will congregate in the big, deep, slack water so getting flies down into the strike zone can be essential to having a good outing. The majority of smallmouth in our stretches of water will be in just a few holes. When guiding clients in the spring if you catch a smallmouth then chances will be high that there are more fish to be caught in the general area. After the spawn is over the water temperatures start to warm and the fish start chasing baitfish. As water temperature goes up so does the smallmouths metabolism. After spawning these fish need to replenish their calories to obtain the weight they lost during the spawn. In May you start seeing smallmouth coming out of the deeper water and will stage anywhere there is structure, safety, good current and food. It is not uncommon to see smallmouth in just a few feet of water chasing minnows or eating mayflies off the surface. One of the coolest things I get to witness guiding the same rivers year after year is seeing the smallmouth bass in the French Broad sipping mayflies. Normally I always have a few dry flies in the box during this time, but anytime you see a sipping smallmouth they will be eager to take a popping bug. The bass below hit a popper after we stalked it for a few minutes eating mayflies in less than 2 foot of water.
My favorite time to fly fish for smallmouth is the end of June to September. It’s hard to beat catching smallmouth on top water bugs. The dead drifting approach is going to be best when targeting smallmouth bass in the low, clear water throughout summer. Dead drifting these big bugs is very similar to drifting flies to tailwater trout. Long, accurate drifts without drag can entice big smallmouth to come up from the depths to eat. When water temperatures are hottest these big smallmouth aren’t going to be chasing a ton. They want an easy meal without expending a ton of energy. This is why small flies and good presentations dominate. Normally if we get a good cold front to come through that cools the water off then clients can be more aggressive on popping and the twitching of the bugs. Most smallmouth flies are designed with legs, hairs, or fur that provides lifelike movement in the water. Less is more when it comes to retrieving smallmouth flies during the summer time. I love fly fishing with game changer flies. The only disadvantage to this fly is that it’s always swimming fast on the retrieve so if the fish aren’t in the mood to chase then try a fly that hangs and suspends more.
Towards the end of September all the way into November the smallmouth will leave their summer territories and find the deeper water again where they will stay all winter. During this time the leaves are changing colors and most people are occupying the trout streams again. There is nothing better than clear water and smallmouth bass in the fall because fishing is great! Whenever the water temperature drops below 60 degrees the bass will start chasing baitfish again and normally you net a lot of big fish during these months. During this season it’s time to break out the bigger flies and target the biggest smallmouth in the river. Once the bass school up it creates competition for food so you will find more than one fish chasing your streamer back to the boat.
Big smallmouth are usually compared to big brown trout. These fish are selective and are not afraid to eat big flies. Most of the big smallmouth we have caught have come out of areas you wouldn’t think they would be holding in unless you caught one there. When these smallmouth spread out in the summer they could be anywhere. The good news about hiring one of our guides is that we know where these big fish hold year after year so we can place clients in these areas giving them the best chances at catching a trophy smallmouth bass. Sometimes the fish cooperate and sometimes they don’t, but that’s what keeps us coming back.
The Catawba Angler specializes in fly fishing for smallmouth bass. There is nothing better than floating down a beautiful mountain river chasing smallmouth bass on the fly. We offer full day float trips for $400. We provide everything but a valid NC fishing license. If you are looking to target something other than a trout on the fly rod give us a call and we will show you how much fun smallmouth can be.
Thanks for reading!
Matt Evans
Owner/The Catawba Angler
April & May Fishing Report 2022
Trout fishing has been fantastic this month and will continue to be good the entire month of May! The river smallmouth fishing is about to be lights out. We’ve had a lot of fun catching prespawn smallmouth, but their is nothing better than the post spawn smallmouth fishing in May. We catch river smallmouth on a variety of baits in May since the smallmouth are feeding aggressively on baitfish and crayfish. If you’ve never fished for river smallmouth then let us guide you into a adventure of a lifetime.
The best fishing during the month of May will be floating the rivers for smallmouth and trout. Both species are very active right now and I can’t think of a better time to be on the water! The wild trout streams are in great shape with a lot of water in them currently which will set us up for some good fishing early summer. Once the water temperatures get around 70 degrees on the trout streams we will solely focus on the warm water species such as smallmouth, largemouth, and carp. Give the trout a break! Once you target bass and carp on the fly then you will be glad you did.
The Catawba Tailrace is fishing well and will remain consistent till early June. We’ve been bringing alot of fish to the net and seeing some holdover fish as well.
We are on the water every day and we are doing our best getting back with clients as soon as possible. If you don’t get an immediate response we will respond as soon as we get off the water so please bear with us. We thank everyone who has trusted us over the years for making this passion a career. We promise you the best fishing trip in western North Carolina. Our guides work tirelessly to make sure we can deliver no matter the fishing conditions on all guided trips. We value your time as much as ours and will do everything in our power to make sure you have an enjoyable experience on the water. Below are some recent pictures from our most recent outings.
Fishing Charters in Asheville
The Catawba Angler offers guided fishing trips in Asheville, North Carolina. We provide fly fishing and spin fishing trips for trout and smallmouth bass close to downtown Asheville. We take a lot of pride in that our fishing guides are all local to western North Carolina and have fished the NC mountain streams for many years. We strive to provide the best fishing experience in western North Carolina by making sure we exceed our client’s expectations on and off the water. Our guide’s passion is sharing the local fisheries that we have grown to love and appreciate with clients from across the United States. On our trips you will be paired with an experienced guide that will do everything in their power to make sure you have a successful day on the water. You will leave feeing like you’ve just spent the day with an old friend. We value our client relationships and we’ve been fishing year after year with a lot of our clients since we first started our fishing guide service in 2016. Asheville is surrounded with many different fishing opportunities so we can cater our fishing trips to experienced anglers or complete beginners. Our guides are well versed in the fisheries of western North Carolina which helps them cater to a client’s specific needs. We can choose locations and experiences that will best fit each client.
The Catawba Angler keeps a continual pulse on the Catawba Tailrace to be able to offer successful fly fishing trips on this tailwater. This fishery is 50 miles from downtown Asheville and offers excellent trout fishing from a raft or drift boat. Here you won’t find the crowds like you do on the tailwaters in East Tennessee or the “Tuck.” If you are looking to float a tailwater without the boat traffic give the Catawba Tailrace a try sometime between November and June.
There are a ton of wild trout streams around the mountains of North Carolina. The Catawba Angler offers guided fly fishing trips around Asheville for these beautiful trout. Fly fishing is the preferred method for casting smaller flies to these eager fish. Our wade fishing trips take clients deep into the heart of the Pisgah National Forest. The Pisgah National Forest surrounds Asheville and lies in 14 surrounding North Carolina counties.
The Catawba Angler offers family friendly fishing trips. We welcome younger kids as long as they are accompanied by an adult. These trips are great introductory trips to get kids interested in the sport of fishing. The main focus is getting the kids “hooked” on having a good time on the water.
The closest fishing to Asheville is the French Broad River. It’s the best river smallmouth fishing in North Carolina and The Catawba Angler guides on it from March to November. Our smallmouth float fishing trips take you down the river in our comfortable rafts enabling us to access areas they you cannot by foot. There is always opportunities to catch big smallmouth on light spinning tackle or the fly rod. To learn more about the smallmouth fishing around Asheville click the learn more link at the bottom of this page.
April 2022 Fishing Report
Recent fishing report for North Carolina trout fishing.
Spring is here and we are in the full swing of our guiding season. Our tailwater trips have been super productive and we are starting to venture to the high country for wild trout. The second stocking of trout on our local Delayed Harvest waters happens next week so that is exciting as well. Hatchery Supported waters opens up this Saturday so this provides some more opportunities on our float trips and wade fishing trips to catch some bigger stocked trout. This report is going to be a little different in the sense that I am going to report on each trip and then give you the outlook for that fishery over the next month. As always if you are interested in fishing another fishery that I don’t list in this report please call me or text me.
Jerrod and his grandfather booked a trip with me on the Catawba Tailrace on March 22nd. The water was clear coming out of muddy creek and we had a no release flow. I knew it was going to be a good time to fish because for the last three years the Catawba Tailrace has been excellent from the beginning of March to the end of May. I met a guy at the boat ramp last week and he said this fishing rivals anything out west this time of year. I would have to say if you are looking to catch a lot of fish then you do not want to miss fishing this stretch this time of year. Jerrod and his grandfather netted around 65 fish in about a 6 hour time period. We caught nothing but rainbows because they didn’t put browns in this winter because of the hatchery shortage of fish after the flood in August 2021. We did hook into a nice holdover brown on the lower end of the float, but it got off at the boat. It’s good to see at least one brown in that stretch. I know the bigger browns are still there, but these fish are few and far between right now. It’s the thought of catching the biggest brown trout of your life here that brings guides and anglers back every year. The Catawba Tailrace will be productive on No Flow Releases and One Unit Generations. If it’s two units stay at the house. I’ve booked trips on the Tailrace all the way out to the fish of June because we should have suitable water temps until mid june. It’s been a colder spring so this sets us up good for the later half of spring with colder water out of muddy creek and the dam.
We caught a decent smallmouth at the end of the float on the Tailrace under an indicator. We’ve caught a lot of smallmouth in this stretch using the same nymphs that the trout hit.
Brian and I hit a local delayed harvest stretch after a heavy rainfall the night before and it was tough fishing to say the least, but Brian stuck with it and netted some good fish towards the end of the trip. With high flows we tighlined heavy stoneflies and eggs using light tippet. This was the best method during the morning then we switched to midges midday and had some good success fishing then under a dry. The trout on the Delayed Harvest waters get extremely picky after the first two weeks after seeing a million flies and lures so it’s vital to downsize tippet and fish smaller flies. The best success on Curtis Creek has been a brown midge. I’ve always fished black midges and had good success, but it seems the fish like the brown way better. Olive is another color that shouldn’t be overlooked. The delayed harvest fish on the smaller mountain creeks won’t entertain trash flies so be sure to have some natural patterns readily available. The second stocking of the year on our delayed harvest waters is next week so it will be a good time to get out there and catch some bigger trout.
It’s stonefly season! This giant stonefly was crawling across the asphalt before a recent float trip so guess what we threw the entire day? Stoneflies. I had the pleasure of taking my best friend fly fishing for the first time and we had an excellent day dry fly fishing and running nymphs under an indicator. He has never picked up a fly rod before, but was able to get on about 20 fish on a short 3 hour float. The most important thing he picked up quickly was the mend. The mend is very important when fishing from a raft or drift boat. Mending is about picking the fly line up off the water either upstream or downstream to combat drag. Drag and nymph fishing doesn’t go hand in hand. That’s why tightlining is so effective because essentially there is no drag on the fly. Anyways back to our recent float. After a couple of fish to the boat Sami wanted me to try a drift through a productive run. I made one cast and caught a 21 inch rainbow which was the third time I’ve caught this fish in the last four months. This is why catch and release is cool. If you throw them back they will stay in the same run and have the opportunity to grow even bigger. Check out the three pictures below of the same fish. Check out the dorsal fin on the trout it’s a dead giveaway. It’s also gotten bigger since we first caught it in December.
We offer multiple float trips on our local fisheries so if you are interested in getting in the boat with your significant other, best friend, or child then let us know. Below is a picture of my buddies Sami’s first trout on the fly. His smile says it all. Sami and his father run Eddie’s Pizza and Pasta in Marion. If you are looking for the best Italian in the area look no further.
It’s always a pleasure fishing with Jim Sitts. We were able to fish the Catawba Tailrace after having to reschedule due to weather. We had a great day fishing a one unit release. The one unit release is around 1600 cfs which is a good flow. Most of the time I’m using weighted lines for streamers or adding weight to get the nymphs down. When you’re fishing the one unit the first aren’t in the normal holding areas when it’s a no flow release. Focus your attention on the slack seam lines to the right or left of the fast water. If you aren’t fishing the nymphs about 6-8 feet deep your not in the target zone.
I had a good trip on the Catawba Tailrace with Jay and Drew. It was another one unit flow release and we netted about 25 fish. The weather was ideal with it being cloudy and mid 50’s. We were fishing in front of rainstorm which dropped about an inch of rain down in the foothills. This will have the Tailrace out of commission for the next few days. Normally anything over a half of inch will muddy the fishery due to muddy creek. It’s not impossible to catch fish in muddy water but it’s not ideal.
The wild trout streams in North Carolina are fishing excellent right now. There are a lot of hatches going on throughout the day and it makes for some good dry fly fishing. We are targeting fish using dry droppers and single drys. This is one of my favorite trips because you are in some beautiful areas away from the crowds. The wild trout fishing will be good till July when water temperatures get over 70 degrees. Get it while it’s good. We offer half and full day trips for wild brown trout, rainbow trout, and brook trout.
Smallmouth Season Is Here
We are currently booking smallmouth float trips now until the end of October. This is one of our favorite trips of the year. Catching hard fighting smallmouth on light spinning gear and the fly rod is too much fun. We guide on the best smallmouth rivers in western North Carolina. Give the trout a break this summer and book a trip with us to catch some river smallmouth.
Give us a call to book your fishing charter in the mountains of North Carolina. 828-460-2390.
Spring Trout Fishing in North Carolina
The trout fishing has been excellent and will stay consistent till mid June. Stoneflies and caddis imitations are still the name of the game on most fisheries in western North Carolina. On the smaller mountain creeks the water has been crystal clear so midge imitations under a dry has been best. The best midge colors have been black, brown, and olive. If you’ve got those colors you will catch fish. When fishing midges I wouldn’t use any tippet under 5x. If you can stand it use 6.5x or 7x. I good way to fish these smaller midges is to use a size 14 chubby chernobyl as the indicator. These dry flies float well and you can fish multiple nymphs under them. If the bigger chubby is scaring fish when it lands on the water then put on some sort of parachute adams or caddis. Leaders should as least be 10 foot in length. There are a lot of bugs hatching this time of year so when drifting nymphs always allow them to swing at the end of your drift. This is especially effective when using nymphs tied with cdc feathers. These feathers are naturally buoyant so they help mimic bugs emerging to the surface on the swing. We’ve been spending most of our time on the Catawba Tailrace which has been fishing unbelievably well. We’ve been averaging over fifty fish on every float using a variety of different methods to put fish in the net. The best fishing has been on the minimal flow release, but we’ve had great action using heavy nymphs on one or two unit generations. The caddis are out and about, but we still haven’t gotten the blanket hatches we always anticipate so if you are still interested in experiencing some of the best dry fly fishing of the year then give us a call. The weather over the next two weeks looks great so if you want to fish this March Madness Hatch then it’s best to get on our calendar very soon.
Wading has been great on the Delayed Harvest sections of the Catawba River, Curtis Creek, and Mill Creek. These waters get the most pressure, but if you are willing to think outside the box a little bit then you can catch fish. These fish are no longer responding to the trash flies so leave them at the house. Fish your smallest flies and make sure they are getting down to the strike zone. Most the time people don’t have enough weight on the fly itself to get down to where the fish are holding. If you don’t have enough weight then you will drift over the fish without any bites. Always be willing to might slight changes especially when it comes to getting your flies down in the water column.
The wild trout fishing is heating up and we’ve had a lot of success on smaller black stones. The water temperatures are still below 50 on the higher elevation creeks, but any warm front will bump those temperatures up to a desirable range. We recently took a client into a wild trout stream and the water temperature was 42 degrees which is uncommon for this time of year, but the fishing was great. Don’t let the cold, wind, or rain stop you from getting out there and fishing because there are always fish to be had. Always fish the conditions. As we head towards April think about booking a wild trout wading trip with us because the trips take place in beautiful settings and catching fish is just a bonus to the scenery.
Outlook for the rest of March, April, and May
Trout fishing will be excellent now until mid June. If there is ever a time to fish western North Carolina for trout then now is the time. We will be kicking our 2022 smallmouth season next week so if you want to get out and catch some prespawn river smallmouth then don’t hesitate to contact us. This time of the year is an excellent time to catch your personal best river smallmouth before they start to spawn. Smallmouth fishing has just begun on the river and we will be fishing for them now until November. The best trout fishing is hands down the Catawba Tailrace if you enjoy throwing bigger nymphs and streamers. The delayed harvest creeks and rivers are full of trout and will receive their second stocking the first week of April so there are plenty of great wade fishing opportunities to seek out. Wild trout fishing will only get better as the temps warm and we will fish the wild trout streams well into June. We offer alot of trips and cater to beginners and the most experienced anglers. Contact us today to book your fishing adventure here in the mountains of North Carolina. Check out some of our best catches below from March, April, and May.
Fishing Report (March 9, 2022)
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.
