Fly Fishing in Western North Carolina

Fly Fishing in Western North Carolina
North Mills River



Description:

North Mills river is one of the easiest trout rivers to access in the area. This is a great location to go after work or if you only have a couple of hours to fish. It is a small, tight brushy stream but has some good pools and is easy to wade. The campground section can get a little crowded so hike upstream to avoid the crowds.

Regulations:

This stream is labeled Delayed Harvest.

What to Use:

Use Wolly Buggers in olive and brown. Also use BH Pheasant Tails in 16 and 18 and BH Hare's Ears in 16, 18. Soon we will have some pretty good hatches of Quill Gordons and March Browns. Also mix it up with Elk Hair Caddis size 16,18.

Guided Fly Fishing/Davidson River

Guided Fly Fishing Trips On The Davidson River






The most well known river in North Carolina, the Davidson River flows through the Pisgah National Forrest and into the town of Pisgah Forest, North Carolina. It is a tributary of the French Broad River and one of the most fished trout streams in the state. It is aproximately 45 minutes from the shop and parrallels NC Highway 276 from Pisgah Forrest.

The Davidson River is likely the most popular river in NC. The river is a popular location for trout fishing all year - durring the summer months the river is also a desination for tubing and some kayaking. Much of the river's popularity is due to its inclusion in Trout Unlimited's Top 100 Streams of America. Since then, the number of visitors to Pisgah National Forrest has grown immensely.

When one imagines a mountain stream to explore and fish, the Davidson is probably the one you're thinking of. It's slow but consistent flow and its easy access make it very appealing to all ages of anglers. With all the attention given to the Davidson, the state fish and games agencies have some restrictions in place to ensure its longevity.

The Davidson is divided into three stretches of water based on the regulations enforced on those portions. The Lower Davidson is the portion of the river from the National Forrest boundary to the confluence of the Davidson and Avery's Creek. This portion is classified as Hatchery Supported water and is open year round except for the month of March. The section from Avery's Creek to the confluence of Looking Glass Creek and the Davidson is classified as Catch and Release - Artificial Fly Only. This section is known for its wild brown and rainbow trout that average 12 inches. The Upper Davidson is the portion from Looking Glass Creek to the NC State Fish Hatchery and Pisgah Center for Wildlife education. The guides call this section the hatchery section as the best fishing is around this area. These fish are highly pressured, ultra selective, and extremely large. Fish as big as 8 pounds have been caught in the last 6 months. The secret to fishing this area is using small flies, small indicators, and small tippet. This is a river where having a guide is absolutely essential for first-time anglers.

Reminder

Please remember to tip your guides. They take great care in being proficient instructors and ensuring your time spent with them is enjoyable. Standard gratuity is 20% of the cost of the trip and more may be given to express thanks for a truly outstanding day.

Davidson River Rates
1/2 Day Wade Trip (1 client) $ 150.00
1/2 Day Wade Trip (2 clients) $ 200.00
1/2 Day Wade Trip (3 clients) $ 275.00
Full Day Wade Trip (1 people) $ 250.00
Full Day Wade Trip (2 people) $ 285.00
Full Day Wade Trip (3 people) $ 385.00
* A 50% deposit is required to confirm your dates



© 2007. The Hunter Banks Company 29 Montford Ave. Asheville, NC 28801 1-800-227-6732 staff@hunterbanks.com

Fall Trout Fly Fishing

Fall Trout Fly Fishing




As the summer winds to an end, it's time to begin to focus our attention on fall
trout fishing. For me, fall is my favorite time to fish. The rivers and streams are a lot less crowded, and in many parts of the country , trout are "stocking" up before the truly cold weather starts. It has always seemed to me that the fall is the best time to not only catch numbers of trout, but also large trout.

I know that most of my truly large trout have been caught during the fall fishing season. On rivers and streams, at least in the western United States, catching trout in the winter can be difficult because of the cold weather. This is why I like to focus my efforts on fishing in the fall, before the trout's' metabolism slows down and they become much less active.

One of my favorite techniques for fall trout fishing is to use live worms rigged on a gang hook rig. A gang hook rig is simply a set of pre-tied gang hooks attached to your line using a small barrel swivel. This is how it's done: Start by taking the end of your line and tying on a small barrel swivel. Now, tie a set of pre-tied gang hooks to the opposite end of the barrel swivel. At this point add a couple of split shot sinkers above the barrel swivel (the number and size of split shot will vary with current flow) for weight. Now rig a live worm onto your gang hooks (if the worms are really large, simply pinch them in ½).

That's the gang hook rig. Now cast that rig into the current, close your bail, and let the offering flow naturally with the current. The goal is to have the rig bounce off of the bottom as it flows naturally with the current until it's directly below you in the current (at this point the drift is over). The number of split shot will vary depending on current flow. With a little practice, telling the difference between bottom and bites will become simple, and you'll begin catching a lot of trout. The rig that I just described is deadly when fishing for trout in the fall of the year.

If you want to have an extremely effective and practical way to carry your worms while fishing in this manner, just check out The Original Bait Bag. I've personally been using some manifestation of a bait bag for more than 20 years, and can't imagine fishing with live worms without one. The amount of time it saves the average angler in remarkable. The bottom line is that the techniques revealed in this article will make any fall trout fishing excursion much more successful.

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 20 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country…..Montana!

Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

Get Fishing Tips & Techniques Twice A Month For FREE - http://www.jrwfishing.com/signup.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_Kugler

Fly Fishing-Hatch Chart for Western N.C. Streams

September - December
Months Insect Hook size
Sept. Ants (Black and Red) 12-20
Sept. Beetles 12-18
Sept. Hoppers 6-12
Sept. Crickets 10-14
Sept-1st. frost Kevin's Caterpillar 10-12
Sept. Inch Worm 10-12
Sept. Hellgrammite 8-12
Sept. Hot Creek Special 8-12
Sept. Yellow Stone Nymph 14-16
Sept.-Mid Oct. Don & Kevin's Caddis (green & gray) 12-16
Sept.-Mid Oct. G. Neil Daniel 8-12
Sept.-Mid Oct. Sulfur Dun 14-16
Sept.-Mid Oct. Queen of the Water 14-16
Sept.-Oct. Tennessee Wulff 14-18
Sept.-Oct. Kevin's Stone Fly 8-12
Sept.-Oct. Adams Variant 12-16
Sept.-Nov. Blue Winged Olive 16-18
Sept.-Dec. B.H. Pheasant Tail 12-16
Sept.-Dec. Pheasant Tail 12-16
Sept.-Dec. B.H. Hare's Ear 12-16
Sept.-Dec. Hare's Ear 12-16
Sept.-Dec. Flashback Hare's Ear 12-16
Sept.-Dec. Caddis Pupa 12-16
Sept.-Dec. Midges: Gnats, Grizzly, Cream 20-26
Nov.-Dec. Midges: Gnats, Grizzly, Cream, Adams 20-26
Nov.-Dec. Streamers 8-10
Nov.-Dec. Muddler Minnow


This chart was taken from a nice little site: www.trouthousefalls.com
Good information of NC area streams, flies , guided trips, etc...
They also have some cabins for rent..They looked nice!

Kanuga Fly Fishing Retreat

Kanuga Fly-fishing Retreat
May 4-8, 2008



"“Only those become weary of angling who bring nothing to it but the idea of catching fish."
— Rafael Sabatini, author (1875-1950)

View photos from the 2007 Fly-fishing Retreat
Step into a stream and discover a whole new world of wisdom. Fly-fishing teaches patience, faith and humility. Newcomers and experienced casters get expert instruction at Kanuga before trout fishing on the nearby Davidson River, one of Trout Unlimited magazine’s Top 100 rivers in the nation.

Within 30 minutes’ drive are many other prime trout waters. As rewarding as the fishing is getting to know other people who appreciate this quiet encounter with the outdoors, where anything caught is released.

A North Carolina fishing license is required and can be purchased online at www.ncwildlife.org or during the retreat at Davidson River Outfitters.

About the retreat leaders
Bob Clouser is one of the nation’s foremost fly fishermen. He invented the famed Clouser Minnow fly pattern, which is known world-wide and has caught more fish than any other fly. He owns and operates Clouser's Fly Shop, a full-service, fresh and saltwater fly-fishing shop in Middletown, Pa., near the Susquehanna River. He leads tours and seminars across the country on tying and casting.

Nationally-known fly tier Kevin Howell is the owner of Davidson River Outfitters in Pisgah Forest, N.C. He is a certified casting instructor with the Federation of Fly Fishers and the fly-tying editor for Fly-Fishing the Mid Atlantic States. He co-edited the book Tying and Fishing Southern Appalachian Trout Flies (Fern Creek Press, 1999).

Much more information concerning lodging, prices, etc.
COntact: http:/ www.kanuga.org/conferences

This should be a great contest. Those of you who have fished The Davidson know it should be quite a contest!

So...What Went Wrong?


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The weather was perfect, you were in the right place, at the right time and you didn't catch anything.

You read all the articles on the nymphs, streamers, wets and dries, watched the water, sky and bushes for sign of insect activity, were careful wading, and not one hit. You cast until you thought your arm would fall off. So what went wrong?

In truth you probably did a lot of things right! Remember, this is a journey, not a destination. The learning experience in fly fishing is being able to put a lot of things together in the right combination to have a fish on your fly. The size or specie of the fish really doesn't matter, if it's your fish. And the effort to get there is worth it!

Here are some bits and pieces to add to your collection. Approaching the water, did you know where the fish should be? If so, did you get into the water below their lie so not to give away your presence by disturbing anything that would float downstream? Did you actually see fish? If the sun was behind you, the fish saw you before you saw them. Some anglers who fish clear spring creeks have been known to crawl to where they could make a cast. I have. Stealth does count!

Presentation is a big subject. We did a review on Gary Borgers wonderful book, Presentation , which has tons of information on properly presenting a fly. How you 'present' the fly is important egardless of which type of fly you choose. Nymphs, streams and wets usually need to 'swim' and can be fished with or across the current - and at varying depths; but can also be fished upstream.

Dry flies however cannot have any line or leader pressure causing the fly to drag on the water - which produces miniature wake patterns. Natural insects don't produce wake.

How do you avoid drag? Not always easy to do. It is called, "mending" the line. Mending is done with nymphs and streamers for two reasons. With flies that should sink, the idea is to get the fly to a specific depth. With most nymphs that's very near or on the bottom. Making a half roll cast when your fly is in the water will allow the fly to sink deeper. The second reason to mend line with wet flies is to get the fly back upstream so you can fish through the same area again.

For dry flies, the mend is produced using just the tip of your rod and your wrist to keep the line and leader behind the fly. If the fly follows the line and leader there is drag. My suggestion is the next time you go out to fish, spend a few minutes practicing (there's that word again) what we call line control. You need to be able to produce a long drag-free float to have your fly be seen seen by the most fish. Many seasoned anglers prefer a longer fly rod, 10 foot, in situations where they know they have to mend line. The longer rod makes it easier to keep most of your fly line off the water.

Watch your fly or leader to make sure you know what the fly is doing. Using dry flies with a light color face or parachute will make it more visible until you get used to knowing what to look for where.

Find a fishing hat with the underside of the brim in a dark green or brown. It will reduce the glare coming off the water, and make it easier to see your fly - and the fish! While we are on headgear, do wear Polorized sun glasses if at all possible. They make seeing into the water easier, which could help you spot fish. More importantly, they might keep you from tripping on a deadhead or stepping into a hole.

Timing can be everything. A very old saying is "10% of fisherman catch 90% of the fish." Chances are those anglers are on the water early morning, maybe late afternoon and the last two hours of twilight. Mid-day is not as productive (unless it is overcast), but if it's mid-summer that's a perfect time to try terrestrials. Take the time to sit on the bank or log and watch. Be observant.

How many times did you check your fly? If you were fishing wet, (nymphs, streamers or wet flies) your hook can hit on stones, pebbles or rocks and damage the hook. Bend it, mash it, dull it, and even break it off. Never happened to me of course, but I hear there is nothing more embarrassing then getting out of the water after several hours of fishing to find out you have been fishing with a useless fly. (Even if no one is looking.) It doesn't hurt to check. Other things can happen to the fly too, like the leader wrapping around the fly or the hook, especially when your cast turns out to be less than perfect. If the fly doesn't present itself in a 'natural' way, the fish won't take it.

Sometimes you have to adjust the size and heaviness of your fly to conditions. A very sparcely tied fly barely shows up on fast or riffled water. Some flies, like the Sofa Pillow and Royal Wulff were designed for such waters. It is not always possible to exactly match the hatch. Try a variety of flies and sizes in the color and form as close to what insect is there. If that doesn't work, try an attractor pattern.

Finally, be patient. Savor the fact that you are where you are. Seize the day. Savor the fact that you are where you are, and have the priviledge to fly fish. Enjoy the journey.

I really enjoyed this article. It was taken from a forum I visit alot.
The name of the site is: www.flyanglersonline.com
Great site! Check it out.

Fly Fishing Tournament

Fly-Fishing Tournament to Benefit Wildlife Classroom Construction


The popular Davidson River will challenge fly-fishing competitors in the 2008 Pisgah Fly Masters.

MEDIA: A hi-res version of this image may be
downloaded here. Please credit N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.


BREVARD, N.C. (Oct. 24, 2007) – Fly-fishermen with a competitive edge will want to take notice of this event: The 2008 Pisgah Fly Masters on the Davidson River, March 29-30.

This inaugural fly-fishing tournament is limited to 125 competitors. Deadline for entries is Feb. 15, with a $50 application fee. Proceeds will go toward classroom construction at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife education, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission learning facility located south of Asheville.

“This is an ideal opportunity for fly-fishing competitors who would enjoy spending springtime in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains,” said Emilie Johnson, an event coordinator. “Not to mention that Trout Unlimited lists the Davidson River as one of America’s 100 best trout rivers!”

The Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education is located alongside the Davidson River, near Brevard, and is adjacent to the Bobby N. Setzer State Fish Hatchery. Aquatic ecosystems and cold water conservation are a large part of the exhibits and displays. The planned classroom will be used for educational programs including fly-fishing and fly-tying.

For the competition format, rules, prize list and entry forms, contact the Pisgah Center for Wildlife education at (828) 877-4423 or e-mail emilie.johnson@ncwildlife.org.


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