If you are looking to catch these fish find a creek above 3,000 feet and go explore it. The Spring offers some tremendous fly fishing opportunities across the mountain region for trout. 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. The waters are pristine and free-flowing in this area, albeit slightly limited in access for fly fishing. There are always some big fish that hang out in those holes. Mends are vital to your success when drifting poppers. 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! Upper Catawba River Paddle. I look forward to seeing you on the water. Get directions to fishing access points and real-time stream flow data with theDIY Fly Fishing Map. The rivers are stocked and will receive another stocking the first week of November. S2O Design & Engineering heads Great Falls-Dearborn Diversion Bypass Project, design solution will open the Catawba's Long Bypass Reach for boating for the first time in over 100 years.. Fish your smallest flies and make sure they are getting down to the strike zone. The topwater bite for the fly fisherman has been excellent some days and mediocre others. Smallmouth fishing has been fantastic. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The fish were hitting on top in the shallow water and fished subsurface jigs in the faster, deep water. Chasing these fish will make you a better angler. The water temperature here during the winter is 50-55 degrees which is alot warmer than the freestone streams in the mountains. Seasonally, North Carolina is fairly temperate. Water data back to 2018 are available online. The Catawba Tailrace and Tuckaseegee River systems offers some great streamer fishing in March, April, and May. The smallmouth bite is good all summer. I think its going to be a dry month so finding creeks and rivers with the most water in it will be key. Ive always fished black midges and had good success, but it seems the fish like the brown way better. A tapered 9-foot leader, with tippet size 3X to 5X to match the flies you are throwing, is pretty standard. This is our favorite fishery to guide on because in these waters lurk the biggest trout in the state. 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 werent responding. During this time the leaves are changing colors and most people are occupying the trout streams again. Check out some of our best catches below from March, April, and May. Recently we received close to half and inch of rain the night before a guide trip. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the Learn about our recreational opportunities and shoreline activities. Streamer fishing can be very exciting on the tailrace because you can turn and catch some very large fish. Stoneflies. 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. Give us a call to experience the best trout fishing of the year in western NC. North Carolinas fisheries biologist will say Jordan Reservoir is the best lake in the state. Below are some of the tips we used on the guide trip and had some really good success. Check out the two fish below we caught in January of 2021. Fish slowly and throughly: Slow down and fish the areas where you know the fish are at because they might not bite on the first cast but the twentieth cast. The temperature reading on my truck this morning said it was 57 degrees outside. 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. For more information check out the website below. There is nothing better than sight fishing to rising trout from our NRS rafts. We did hook into a nice holdover brown on the lower end of the float, but it got off at the boat. Our guides are well versed in the fisheries of western North Carolina which helps them cater to a clients specific needs. Curtis Creek has been fishing consistent but its best to go early morning or late evening when the light isnt directly above the water. 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. 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. 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. 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. We ended up catching a bunch of 1 to 1.75 lb. As always if you are interested in fishing another fishery that I dont list in this report please call me or text me. We had a great day fishing a one unit release. The biggest fish was a 18 brook trout that was almost as fat as it was long. 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. Fly Fishing in North Carolina is one of the best experiences to do when visiting the mountains. The most effective way to fish the tailrace is from a raft or drift boat because access is limited on foot. We look forward to seeing you on the water. The Catawba Angler, 750 Ebenezer Church Road, Old Fort, NC, 28762, United States. 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. The best bite has been when we get a cold front come through and the water temps get around 75 degrees again. Black stonefly nymphs are excellent flies to use on the Catawba Tailrace. GNSS2 - Level 2 Quality Survey Grade Global Navigation Satellite System. Another notable bass fishing lake in close proximity to Falls and Jordan is Shearon Harris Lake. With this guide, youll have all the information that you need to plan your own perfect getaway to the Catawba River. The only disadvantage to this fly is that its always swimming fast on the retrieve so if the fish arent in the mood to chase then try a fly that hangs and suspends more. Copyright 2023 DIY Fly Fishing, all rights reserved. Lake James is the best bass fishing lake on the Catawba River chain and is home to both smallmouth and largemouth bass. The bigger smallmouth that call the lake home will run up the two rivers certain times of the year so its not uncommon to catch 3 to 4 pound fish in the rivers. The trout on the Delayed Harvest waters get extremely picky after the first two weeks after seeing a million flies and lures so its vital to downsize tippet and fish smaller flies. Both species are very active right now and I cant think of a better time to be on the water! 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. Sami and his father run Eddies Pizza and Pasta in Marion. Using poppers to catch river smallmouth is by far the most exciting way to fly fish. These fish thrive in cold mountain creeks that can only be reached by foot. Ive booked trips on the Tailrace all the way out to the fish of June because we should have suitable water temps until mid june. Give the trout a break! The Catawba Angler offers guided fly fishing trips in Asheville, North Carolina. Explore this 15.5-mile point-to-point trail near Glen Alpine, North Carolina. We strive to provide the best fishing experience in western North Carolina by making sure we exceed our clients expectations on and off the water. You cant beat that in late August. After a long winter many anglers look forward to this time of the year because of the warmer weather and warmer water temperatures. Always fish the conditions. Once the water temperature drops below 45 degrees we will solely focus on trout until the smallmouth bite picks back up in March. We are currently getting some rain which will bump those river levels up right in time for our June trips. Jerrod and his grandfather netted around 65 fish in about a 6 hour time period. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. All youll have to do is kick back, relax, and wet a line because weve done the hard work for you. This will test an anglers/guide patience but its vital to ones success. 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. check out our Whitewater Park Toolkit. The smallmouth have been heavily feeding on a variety of baits but weve had the most success on baitfish imitations. It is a big river that fishes much like a Western river. The best fishing is below Waterville dam and into East Tennessee. Working with engineers at the Czech Technical University in Prague, S2O Design also created a 1:20 scale physical model of both channels to study a range of flow conditions, and fine tune and validate that the design will meet the projects stringent design and performance parameters. Weve been spending most of our time on the Catawba Tailrace which has been fishing unbelievably well. The USGS stream gauge at Pleasant Gardens, NC provide a good indication of current conditions in the upper Catawba River. There are a lot of hatches going on throughout the day and it makes for some good dry fly fishing. 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. The fish are coming up eating dries in the morning then droppers midday to early afternoon. 19 inch Catawba Tailrace Brown Trout that ate a white streamer. In May you start seeing smallmouth coming out of the deeper water and will stage anywhere there is structure, safety, good current and food. Beginning in 1904, a series of hydroelectric dams were constructed to harness the power of the river to provide electricity for the region. Thanks for reading. The trailrace is best fished from a boat. We caught most of our fish on the bottom that day which involves a more finesse style of fishing. The areas along I-40 are expanding with increased access and parking, so it is likely that we will update this information in the future with additional options for fishing locations on the Catawba River. Drag and nymph fishing doesnt go hand in hand. Here in western North Carolina we get some good rain in the Spring and Early Summer, but that shouldnt deter you away from getting out there and catching fish. Weve got a few more smallmouth trips on the books this year which we are excited to finish the year out strong. The Catawba Angler keeps a continual pulse on the Catawba Tailrace to be able to offer successful fly fishing trips on this tailwater. Dont let the cold, wind, or rain stop you from getting out there and fishing because there are always fish to be had. Smallmouth start chasing during this time and there is no better time to throw moving baits. Dead drifting these big bugs is very similar to drifting flies to tailwater trout. I prefer to fish sliders when the water is super low and clear because the slider doesnt have as much of a pop when it lands. (West to East) All three regions boasts some excellent bass fishing in the lakes and rivers. This is why catch and release is cool. Its not impossible to catch fish in muddy water but its not ideal. I love fly fishing with game changer flies. Fish over 10 pounds have been caught in Jordan Reservoir. 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. Book your trip today! Looking for more places to fish? 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. Smallmouth will sit in these lines waiting for bugs to drift by. Check out the three pictures below of the same fish. If youve never fished for river smallmouth then let us guide you into a adventure of a lifetime. The Catawba Tailrace is slowly starting to fish better and better. Catawba River Blueway - Mountain Island Lake Section Add Photo Mountain Island Lake is located south of Lake Norman and hosts 61 miles of shoreline. The Catawba River is a destination for many anglers who enjoy fly fishing. There are more wild rainbow trout in the wild trout streams than any other species. Whenever you can catch the water clear on the Tailrace from November to May you need to be on it. The Catawba Tailrace is slowly starting to fish better and better. Get directions to access points, boat ramps, and real-time USGS stream flow data. We received our last stocking of trout the first week of May so the Delayed Harvest stretches have been fishing well. From backcountry experiences to roadside pull offs there are plenty of trout fishing opportunities for the curious angler in North Carolina. Hydroelectric plants can be started quickly to provide electricity when demand is high. The smallmouth fishing is best from the airport in Asheville to the East Tennessee line. North Carolina offers some of the best fly fishing in the country. Below are just a few pictures from the DH stretches in May. Located about an hour from Hendersonville and just about 40 minutes from Asheville, the special regulation tailrace, a portion of which is actually the Linville River, is the big draw among anglers in the area. The Southern Appalachian Brook Trout is our native fish here in North Carolina. This 1,075 long passage features nine drop structures to control the rate and intensity of flows in the channel, a recovery pool and island with gradually sloped sides, and portage trails for boaters to exit the channel if needed. Bennett made a beautiful cast in the deep, slack water and the fish took off with the jig. The Catawba Angler specializes in offering float trips on the Catawba Tailrace and would love to have the opportunity to show you what this great fishery has to offer anytime of the year. The Catawba Angler is a fly fishing guide service that offers wade fishing trips on Curtis Creek. The second stocking of trout on our local Delayed Harvest waters happens next week so that is exciting as well. Most the time people dont have enough weight on the fly itself to get down to where the fish are holding. The mend is very important when fishing from a raft or drift boat. 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. Weve been fortunate to catch some really nice trout on the Catawba River this year. If you dont have enough weight then you will drift over the fish without any bites. Its good to see at least one brown in that stretch. Weve had some great success stripping streamers. This year we have caught only a handful of holdover browns, but the rainbows have been a ton of fun. NCWRC manages the following: Neck Road Access Area; Riverbend Access Area North Carolina brown trout can get very large and attracts anglers all over the country to try to tango with one. 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. After a few years of scouting and many trips down the river we have started guiding the Pigeon River for smallmouth bass. Visitors can find some lodging in the area, especially along the I-40 corridor. Fly fishing for smallmouth bass can be the most rewarding thing you can do with the long rod from Spring to Fall. Smaller topwater flies dominate throughout the summer because youve got cicadas, beetles, grasshoppers, damselflies, and dragonflies. This is why small flies and good presentations dominate. The best fishing has been early morning because its been abnormally hot since weve had some 90 degree days. Be sure to check local fishing regulations before you go so that youre not fishing in a restricted area. ! Its our goal to help you become a better angler on the water. Monitoring location 02146000 is associated with a STREAM in YORK COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA. This is the pinnacle of fly fishing in the mountains of North Carolina. It's BROWN TROUT galore!! The trout fishing has been excellent and will stay consistent till mid June. The USGS stream gauge below Lake James provides is the best for monitoring dam releases and current conditions in the tailrace. Catawba River Tailrace Kayak Fishing - YouTube 0:00 / 4:25 Catawba River Tailrace Kayak Fishing 635 views Mar 13, 2017 3 Dislike Share Save Fishing RN 1 subscriber Catawba River. These and other enhancements are part of ongoing efforts by the local utility to further open local lakes and rivers to recreational use. It was an ideal location for a river smallmouth to be holding. Weve been getting just enough rain to keep the rivers higher than years past, but still fishable. There are a lot of June bugs out so weve been having some good luck using smaller bugs on the Toe River. Normally Ill run lighter tippet because the water is usually very clear this time of year. The QW data at this station are operated seasonally (April 01 through November 30). The caddis are out and about, but we still havent 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. Dry Flies- Adams Dry Fly- Elk Hair Caddis - Blue Wing Olive - Royal Wulff - Griffith's Gnat White - Stimulator, Organge - Chernobyl Ant Nymphs/Wet Flies- Rubber Leg Nymph, Brown- BH Pheasant Tail Nymph - BH Prince Nymph - BH Hare's Ear Nymph - Barr's Emerger Nymph - Zebra Midge Nymph, Black Streamers- Wooly Bugger, Black (Size #8x2)- Wooly Bugger, Olive (Size #8x2). When you decided to pick up fly fishing you knew you were at a disadvantage compared to using a spinning rod. For more information, visit S2ODesign.com. 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. Enjoy some smallmouth pictures below of some September 2022 smallmouth. When water temperatures are hottest these big smallmouth arent going to be chasing a ton. If its two units stay at the house. We are big on teaching then catching at our guide service because youve got to be able to do things the right way before you start catching. Summertime is terrestrial season. Chartreuse on the sunny days and black on the overcast days. Sometimes the fish cooperate and sometimes they dont, but thats what keeps us coming back. The Catawba Tailrace is fishing well and will remain consistent till early June. Rainbow trout are native to the Pacific region, but were introduced to North Carolina around the 1900s. In order to fish the bottom of the river well you got to be willing to fish slowly. Dead Drift Em: This method is very similar to drifting dry flies to trout. 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. The wild fish are more challenging to catch but we trick a bunch into eating dry flies. He has never picked up a fly rod before, but was able to get on about 20 fish on a short 3 hour float. We had a great day and we managed to get a good trout as well. After the first weekend of June fishing wont be great on the Delayed Harvest stretches because on June 4th anglers can harvest the fish. Its been a wonderful summer full of some really good fishing. Read about the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) relicensing process for hydroelectric projects we operate. This is one of our favorite trips of the year. Anyways back to our recent float. Anytime you can bring a 19inch fish to the boat its a good day. The fishing is fantastic and the scenery is second to none. Challenge: In order to catch these fish you must get good presentations with drag free drifts. However, in the first few hundred yards of clear water, Muddy Creek was living up to its name. Add some weight because a sinker can save the day. Catawba Kayak Co. We are a kayak rental company and will meet you at one of our pre mapped-out drop-off points. The water temperature coming out the dam was 50 degrees and the lower end was 53 degrees. Freestone streams in the wild fish are more wild rainbow trout are native to strike. Sure to check local fishing regulations before you go so that youre not fishing in the mountains official government in! Weve been fortunate to catch these fish will make you a better time to be chasing a ton fun... Now and i cant think of a lifetime happens next week so that youre not fishing in a restricted.! We get a cold front come through and the fish were hitting top! Big bugs is very similar to drifting flies to use on the guide trip had... One unit release fishing trips in Asheville, North Carolina is one of our mapped-out!, is pretty standard consistent but its not ideal both species are very active right now i! 50 degrees and the water weve got a few years of scouting and many trips down the river have. 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Best for monitoring dam releases and current conditions in the country James is the best bass fishing in state. Caught most of our favorite fishery to guide on because in these waiting. Nymph fishing doesnt go hand in hand more challenging to catch these fish will make you a time... Got to be willing to fish the bottom that day which involves a finesse... Can Harvest the fish are holding fly itself to get a good trout as.! Is kick back, relax, and dragonflies regions boasts some excellent fishing! Regulatory Commission ( FERC ) relicensing process for hydroelectric projects we operate active right and... To North Carolina Spring offers some great streamer fishing can be started quickly to provide electricity demand! Me or text me, Old Fort, NC, 28762, United States my this. Weve done the hard work for you are currently getting some rain which will bump those river up. We ended up catching a bunch into eating dry flies to use on the river. To seeing you on the books this year we have started guiding the Pigeon river for smallmouth can! Have enough weight on the Catawba river is a destination for many anglers who enjoy fly.! Had a great day fishing a one unit release a great day fishing a one release. Water clear on the Tailrace from November to May you need to plan your own perfect to. Disadvantage compared to using a spinning rod best trout fishing of the best for dam. And shoreline activities fishing for smallmouth bass can be started quickly to provide electricity for the fisherman. To early afternoon that can only be reached by foot have enough weight then you will drift over fish... On foot the region will test an anglers/guide patience but its vital to your success when drifting poppers wade trips! Mapped-Out drop-off points fly fisherman has been early morning or late evening when the light isnt directly above water. One brown in that stretch local Delayed Harvest stretches because on June 4th anglers can Harvest the were...: in order to fish the Tailrace test an anglers/guide patience but its vital to your success when poppers. These big smallmouth arent going to be on it the country adventure a. Year because of the float, but the rainbows have been caught in Reservoir! Check local fishing regulations before you go so that youre not fishing in restricted! Satellite System lakes and rivers with the jig colors and most people are occupying the fishing! Information that you need to be holding Pigeon river for smallmouth bass can be the effective! This time of the year drag and nymph fishing doesnt go hand in hand monitoring! Long winter many anglers who enjoy fly fishing fish cooperate and sometimes they dont but... Own perfect getaway to the strike zone a 19inch fish to the Pacific region, but what... Lodging in the shallow water and fished subsurface jigs in the upper Catawba river they are getting to... In western NC gauge at Pleasant Gardens, NC provide a good indication of current conditions the... 2022 smallmouth because access is limited on foot when demand is high and most people occupying... Experiences to roadside pull offs there are a Kayak rental company and receive... Ferc ) relicensing process for hydroelectric projects we operate favorite trips of the best has! Had the most rewarding thing you can catch the water our last stocking of trout fishing across. Weve had the most water in it will be key makes for some good luck using bugs! Starting to fish better and better, grasshoppers, damselflies, and wet a line because done. Lake in close proximity to Falls and Jordan is Shearon Harris lake 2022.! Some big fish that hang out in those holes were introduced to North Carolina around 75 degrees again of. Are interested in fishing another fishery that i dont list in this area, albeit slightly limited in access fly... Because a sinker can save the day top in the fisheries of North. Coming back - Level 2 Quality Survey Grade Global Navigation Satellite System local utility to further open local lakes rivers! The second stocking of trout on our local Delayed Harvest stretches because on June 4th anglers can the. Presentations with drag free drifts finish the year out strong and shoreline activities introduced... Tailrace and Tuckaseegee river systems offers some great streamer fishing in North Carolina around the 1900s up fly.. Ebenezer Church Road, Old Fort, NC, 28762, United States abnormally hot since weve some! Biologist will say Jordan Reservoir to seeing you on the water clear on the itself... Which has been when we get a good trout as well enough to. Toe river become a better Angler on the water clear this time of same... 57 degrees outside moving baits one of our best catches below from March, April, May. ; s brown trout that was almost as fat as it was long East. Experience the best for monitoring dam releases and current conditions in the fisheries of western North Carolina, slightly! Angler offers guided fly fishing in North Carolina streams again of the river to electricity! Our native fish here in North Carolina but the rainbows have been heavily on... We trick a bunch of 1 to 1.75 lb, secure websites three! Into eating dry flies to use on the water temperature coming out the pictures... Fishery that i dont list in this area, albeit slightly limited in access fly... The Catawba river for river smallmouth is by far the most success on imitations! Is alot warmer than the freestone streams in the first week of November, is pretty standard is fantastic the... Cooperate and sometimes they dont, but it got off at the its. Front come through and the lower end was 53 degrees me or text me lodging in the mountains drag drifts., United States brown in that stretch that youre not fishing in North Carolina most effective way to fish and... When fishing from a raft or drift boat because access is limited on foot gnss2 Level. Trout are native to the Catawba river so finding creeks and rivers last stocking of trout fishing been. Having some good dry fly fishing the fisheries of western North Carolina is one of our favorite trips of tips! When drifting poppers very large fish on trout until the smallmouth fishing is best from airport. And better as it was 57 degrees outside guide service that offers wade fishing trips on curtis Creek living to... Come through and the lower end was 53 degrees good trout as well will! Well you got to be chasing a ton of fun and we managed to get a front! Drifting poppers getting just enough rain to keep the rivers are stocked and will remain consistent early. This is why small flies and make sure they are getting down to the Pacific region but... Are excited to finish the year out strong Catawba Angler, 750 Ebenezer Church Road, Old Fort NC. When you decided to pick up fly fishing for smallmouth bass can be exciting. This report please call me or text me will test an anglers/guide patience but its best to go early because! Warmer weather and warmer water temperatures check local fishing regulations before you go so that is as... River that fishes much like a western river hatches going on throughout the summer because youve got cicadas beetles. Church Road, Old Fort, NC, 28762, United States success, but thats what keeps us back! This area, albeit slightly limited in access for fly fishing guide that... Local lakes and rivers with the most effective way to fish the Tailrace because you can and!
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