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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Western N.C. A Trout Fishing Paradise

Western North Carolina: A Trout Fising Paradise



Fishing paradisePosted in Fly Fishing US | This article was written by siestafred


Western North Carolina: A Trout Fishing paradise

I need to be careful, pretty soon I’m going to run out of superlatives to describe these unbelievable fly fishing trips I’ve been able to enjoy this year. So forgive me, here’s another one that turned out to be simply fantastic.

My wife Linda and I left last Friday AM on our annual trek south to Florida. Only this time, we decided to stop over in Waynesville, N.C. on the way down for three days or so to visit some friends, who have a place there, and to play some golf and do some fly fishing.

Waynesville is located in the extreme western section of NC, just west of Asheville in the middle of the Great Smokey Mountains and the Pisgah National Forest. This area is bounded by Tennessee on the west and by Georgia on the south, and is a true gem. It’s very mountainous and chock-a-block full of lakes and rivers. It’s a bit of a stretch to say it’s ‘hillbilly’ country, but everybody seems to live in a valley, or a ‘gap’, or a ’hollow’, or a ‘cove’. It’s all ‘applewood’ this and ‘smoky’ that, and if you’re a golfer there’s not a flat lie to be had anywhere. Because it’s so beautiful there and because of the elevation (5000-6000 feet or so) it’s become a fashionable summer destination for southerners wanting to escape the heat. The 3 days we were there, it was up to 70F each day, and nice and sunny. The leaves had just peaked too, as you’ll see in the pics.
Now, I’m no dummy, so I did a lot of research to check out the fly fishing in the area before going. The signs were encouraging indeed, because the area boasted up to 15 rivers and 1000 miles of fishable trout water within 50-60 minutes drive from Waynesville. Think about that a minute. We’re talking about an area stretching say, from Toronto to Fergus, Lake Ontario to Orangeville! All these streams and rivers wander and meander hither and yon and all have extensive headwaters, and that’s what adds up to so many miles of fishing. Not only that, there seemed to be a very active trout management program in place and a river, the Davidson, which is rated as one of Trout Unlimited’s top 100 wild trout rivers in the USA!
Ok, so I booked a guide through Davidson River Outfitters, a local fly shop, for Monday AM. Not knowing the area, I was willing to spend the $ to avoid getting lost and/or frustrated, and figuring that on the next day I could go out on my own.
We started out on the French Broad River, which is regularly stocked with brookies. Linda is an occasional fly fisher, so I mostly let her have the guide, a great kid (to me) named Phil who is 21 years old and has been fly fishing since he was 3.
Now, I’m fresh off a great summer catching trout in Ontario, so I just know these brookie stockers are going to jump all over themselves trying to get at my selection of soft hackles and nymphs . I’m fishing my St. Croix Ultra Legend 3 wt, 9’ 4X leader, 24” of 5X and 12” of 6X tippet.
Phil warns me that they have been fished hard, and the only thing hatching this time of year is midges and tiny BWO ’s. Not a prob, says I, wait ‘til they see my ammo. Soooo, Linda basically stands in one spot for 2 hours or so with a rig Phil sets her up with (small PT nymph as a dropper below a pink egg fly beneath an indicator) while I ply my wares up and down the river. She gets 4 fine 9” brookies, and I’m humbled to admit I get only one, plus a few chub. Luck, of course!

Hot Winter Fly Fishing

Hot Winter Fly Fising


Trout Rivers in New Mexico, Colorado and Oklahoma
By GORP Expert Angler Mark D. Williams


It's winter and for most anglers, the rods are tucked safely away in the closet until the Spring Thaw. Read this article at your own peril. What follows is a selection of my favorite Western winter fisheries I find myself visiting each cold season. Included are some classics, along with a few piscatorial gems you may never have read about. Two of the least-known winter angling hotspots (Culebra Creek and the Rio Peqasco) are private and require guide services. Few anglers have ever even heard of these small but productive year-round fisheries, and that's a major part of their appeal. So get out the maps and figure out a way to visit one of these hallowed haunts of mine.


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San Juan River, New Mexico

Colorful high-desert canyon walls line this cold, wide river, one of the premier trout streams in America. The tailwater is full of heavy trout and focused anglers. It's a popular winter destination, with an armada of watercraft and decked-out fly fishers fighting over three and a half miles of regulated water.


Tight line on the San Juan
Not to worry, the river is so profound, so fecund, that all you need is your very own 50-yard radius and you'll be casting to a day's worth of fish. In your staked-out territory, you can cast to long glides, backwater flats, runs, deep pools, channels, riffles and lots of unremarkable, hard-to-figure water.

Don't fret, thar's fish down there. The odds are good you will hook up with an 18-inch-plus trout, maybe longer, but the odds are lesser, even for seasoned vets, that you will land the fish.

San Juan trout are broad-shouldered and use their strength to take out line and make your reel scream. Many experts rate this tailrace as the number one trout hotspot in America. Combine the austere beauty of the painted high desert with the consistently prolific population of big trout and insect activity and this a guaranteed winter wonderland.

Practicalities

Location: Northwest New Mexico near Aztec and Farmington.

Species: Predominantly rainbow and brown trout. More rainbows in the upper section, more browns in the lower section. Rainbows and cutthroats average 13 to 20 inches with many over 20 inches. Expect to catch several in the 2 to 5 pound range. The brown trout population has increased the last few years, especially in the lower section of the quality waters and below it. The browns get big, too, but aren't as plentiful. Ten-pound browns are caught in the river every now and again.

Equipment: 8½- to 9-foot rod for 4- to 6-weight line. Neoprene chest waders and felt soles. Wading staff helpful. Anglers can wade much of the river, especially the upper part, but crossing can be dangerous due to the strong flow and dropoffs. Also, the rocks are covered in moss and very slippery, so wear felt soles. The river is a constant 42 degrees so neoprene waders are a must. Winter storms blow in unexpectedly and fiercely. Bring harsh weather gear.
Notes: The San Juan and Green Rivers are arguably the top winter trout fisheries in the West. I recommend hiring a guide if you've never fished the San Juan before, since the techniques the guides and locals employ can make all the difference in catching twenty big trout or talking about the one fish that got away. The only way to float the river is in a boat, usually a MacKenzie boat, no motors. No float tubes. The put-in is usually at the Texas Hole.

The Ethics of Fly Fishing

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How you are accepted by fellow anglers may not be high on your list of becoming a fly fisher. However, there are some common courtesy rules that any angler should observe. Being a lady or gentleman has not been emphasized in our culture as it once was. Beyond treating others with respect, there is the very serious matter of treating the resource, the water, banks, woods and all of outdoors with respect so as not to damage it. To leave no mark where we have passed in our fishing adventures is the ultimate respect.
Here are some common rules of courtesy to follow:


A section of water belongs to the first person fishing it. It is inconsiderate to crowd an angler who was there first.

A slow moving or stationary angler has the right to remain where he/she is. If you are moving, leave the water and quietly walk around the angler in position in the water.

If an angler is resting the water, (Allowing the water to calm down after some form of disturbance. Generally, after a fish has been caught, the act of the fight scares the rest of the fish and makes them hesitant to hit on a fly, so you Rest the Water until it is fishable again.) or planning his/her next move, it is his/her water. Don't jump in without permission.

A person working upstream has the right of way over someone fishing downstream.

Always yield to an angler with a fish on the line.

Do not enter the water directly in front of someone already in the water.

Always recognize property rights. Leave all gates as you found them.

Do not litter. If you brought it in, take it out. Leave the area cleaner than you found it.

Try not to make tracks whenever possible.

Wade only when necessary. The aquatic food chain is fragile.

Obey all state and local fishing laws and rules.

More on the little niceties that make up the best group of people in the world (fly fishers of course) can be found in This Weeks View as Born in a Barn?

Fly fishing has rewards beyond anything I could have imagined when I started. It can be challenging, a renewal of yourself — a complete release from the stress and tensions of work, society or family. A time for sharing with friends or family. Or a solitary time for reflection in the outdoor world, as life’s little miracles are revealed to you.

Being an ethical and considerate angler seems to be a very small price to pay for all the benefits.

This article was borrowed from a great site: http://www.flyanglersonline.com

Fly Fishing Help

We all know that fly fishing is a sport that you never conquer. I've seen guys who have fly fished for 30 years and say that they are still learning the sport. Sounds strange, but it's true. I don't feel quite so bad about my casting when I hear that from some of these seasoned veterans of the river. And I've found that most everyone is great about offering tips or suggestions. No, I did not say that they gave out directions to their favorite fishing spot. However, if I have asked, or at times if someone has watched me struggle with a particular knot or whatever, they are great about helping me out. There are lots of sites online that offer great tips to beginners and pros alike. One site in particular that I found is called Fly Fishing Talks. Their site has several great features that I found interesting. They have a Recipe link that had some killer recipes on it. The link site offered several new places I hadn't brought up by search. However, the best thing on this site for me is the forum. I have learned alot from it already, just by looking at questions and answers posted by other members. If you are interested in checking out facts on gear, new places to fish, great recipes, or a really neat forum, you might check out:
http://www.flyfishingtalks.com

Have a Great Day on the River!

elaine

Fly Fishing: Beginner's Cast

Fly Fishing 101

Basics of Casting



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Do you remember an old safety rhyme from your childhood? Stop, look and listen before you cross the street ... I've used this phrase in an attempt to put the basics of fly casting into a form you can remember. No matter how good you become at casting, there are days when things just don't seem to work. Not that it ever happened to me personally, of course. (Yeah right!) But I do hear about these things.

Go back to the basics. STOP. You have to stop the rod for the line to go. LOOK. Watch the loops of fly line. Practice making a big letter "C" loop. Then work on the tight letter "J" loops. Lefty Kreh (one of fly fishing's more noted authors, who has probably taught more people to cast than anyone) teaches an exercise to his students that helps the caster have a better understanding of the relationship between the casting stroke and the line. Remember, what happens in the stroke and the resultant action of the line is up to you. Neither the rod, nor the line has any life of it's own. You impart the life.

Here is Lefty's exercise: With about 30 feet of line, make a couple of normal casts. Now try to come really close to the tip of your rod with the end of your leader (without actually hitting the rod). Play around with this. It will show that in trying to come really close to the tip with the line, you have to use a short stroke. Don't just read about doing it: Do it!

I've already given out the third part of the basics. It is LISTEN. You can find out a lot by listening to your casting. Most folks will do the back-cast so you don't hear anything but the line itself. But on the forward cast there may be a "whoosh" sound. That whoosh sound relates to making a proper stop on the cast. The cast becomes a wave instead of a casting stroke.

Without the stop, (a hard stop) the sound is just the rod traveling through the air. Another of the big names in teaching fly fishing, Al Kyte in California, teaches basically the same elements to casting. The exception is when his students are making an acceptable cast, he tells them to make the same cast but use half the effort. Relax.

This is supposed to be fun, not aerobics. Once learned, fly casting is something you can do for the rest of your life. I don't think I said it was easy to learn. Listen for the whoosh. No whoosh? Terrific.

This is very basic casting, but enough to get you out there. Of course, there are lots of other things about casting to learn. We will work on those in the future. What we have covered will allow you to develop your casting and maybe even catch a fish.

Not everything works for everyone, but I had a student who was a harpist. She used a pair of golf gloves to fly cast. She felt she had a better grip on the rod and line with them.

Back to the videos I mentioned last time. Go out and rent anybody's casting video. I would like you to watch it twice. Once with the sound turned off. Look for the basic elements we have been working on. Watch it again with the sound on.

All instructors have different teaching methods. Sometimes using a different phrase or name for a movement or action makes more sense to an engineer type than it does to a poet. Give it a shot. Maybe the light will turn on.

Stop by the Chat Room and meet some fellow anglers. It is a nice bunch of people - always willing to help new fly fishers! Or just share your fishing adventures. Fair skys and tight lines, ~ DB



Beginners Archives
This exerpt was taken from a blog on http://www.flyanglersonline

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The Fish Hook

The 20 Most Important Tools
No. 19: The Fish Hook
David M. Ewalt 08.05.05, 12:00 PM ET




No. 1 The Knife
No. 2 The Abacus
No. 3 The Compass
No. 4: The Pencil
No. 5: The Harness
No. 6: The Scythe
No. 7: The Rifle
No. 8: The Sword
No. 9: Eyeglasses
No. 10: The Saw
No. 11: The Watch
No. 12: The Lathe
No. 13: The Needle
No. 14: The Candle
No. 15: The Scale
No. 16: The Pot
No. 17: The Telescope
No. 18: The Level
No. 19: The Fish Hook
No. 20: The Chisel
How We Figured The Rankings
See the slide show of The 20 Most Important Tools.




New York - Forbes.com readers, editors and a panel of experts rank the fish hook as the 19th most important tool of all time, in terms of its impact on human civilization. ( Read more about how we developed the rankings.)

It's one of the simplest items on our list--just a piece of bent wire, sometimes sporting a barb on the end. But throughout modern human history, the fish hook has proven to be one of our most dependable tools. Fishing allows us to eat, without the danger of hunting or the hard work of farming.

The earliest fish hooks were probably carved out of wood more than 30,000 years ago by Cro-Magnon man. Other cultures throughout history have used animal bone, horns, shells, steel and even the thorns of hawthorn bushes. On Easter Island, fish hooks were fashioned from the thigh bones of deceased fishermen.

In modern times, the hook is becoming less important as commercial fishing ventures rely more and more upon massive nets, although certain industrial fishing techniques--such as longline fishing--still depend on the humble hook.

Other important fishing tools include the harpoon, the net, the lure, the spear.

Corporate Connections: Norway's Mustad and Japan's Gamakatsu are two of the world's biggest hook manufacturers. Modern commercial fishing giants include Trident Seafoods, partly owned by ConAgra (nyse: CAG - news - people ), American Seafoods Group and Pacific Seafood. But truthfully, hardly anyone hooks their own tuna any more. If we're hankering for a tuna melt, we probably satisfy our cravings with canned tuna from companies such as StarKist Foods, a division of Del Monte Foods (nyse: DLM - news - people ).

Slide Show: The 20 Most Important Tools

Build Your Own Custom Fly Fishing Rod

Nantahala Fly Fishing Company



Rodsmithing Workshops


Build your own fine handcrafted fly rod with professional assistance. Our rodsmith shop is located just 5 miles outside of Robbinsville and is equipped for 4 builders with state of the art foot controlled power wrappers and automatic dryers.

With our easy step-by-step method of building and professional by-your-side assistance you can build a true custom rod to be proud of and enjoy for years. You will find added satisfaction fishing with a rod crafted by your own hands!
A complete build takes approximately 5 hrs and is best divided into 2 workshops. We offer several choices:



1 day workshop: mon-thur-5 hr class with mid-day break



2 day workshop: mon-thur-2 to 3 hr classes



2 evening workshop: weekdays 6pm-8:30pm
We use high quality components and high modulus graphite blanks. We can also custom order kits from Winston, Sage, G-Loomis, and other topname brands.

Workshops start at $275, including all rod building supplies, use of equipment, and professional assistance.

You leave with a new custom rod that would cost you more in a fly shop!
When you buy a rod its yours but when you build it, it's really yours!!!




N

Great Article On Organizing Your Fly Box

Ending Fly Box Chaos

by Pudge Kleinkauf

One of the things that fly fishers seem to discuss endlessly is the best way to organize their flies and their fly boxes. There are about as many methods and ideas as there are fly fishers. Some of the most common systems, however, usually boil down to arranging by size, by color, by type of fly, or by type of fish or fishing. Many anglers also organize certain boxes by the certain rivers or locations they fish the most. Each of these methods has its pros and cons.

Over the more than twenty-five years I've been fly fishing, and the twenty years I've been guiding, I've gone back and forth between the various methods and finally settled on arranging by type of fly-most of the time, that is.

Most of the fly boxes I have in my storage container hold only nymphs, or only dry flies, woolly buggers, or streamers. That seems to give me the best way of arranging flies. My thought is to be able to take along only certain boxes and know that I'm going to have the right assortment of the kinds of flies we're going to use on a specific outing.

Some people try to cover all the contingencies of the day's fishing by including a variety of types of flies all in one box. Invariably when I've done that I've ended up with not enough of one kind of fly or not being able to find the fly I want. Besides, it's hard to match the different sizes and types of flies in just one box. Either the box is too big for the dries and nymphs or too small for the streamers.

Sorting flies out by color can be important in many situations. As a result, I tend to coordinate both color and size within a certain box. Many of my nymph boxes contain rows of tan nymphs in size 12-16 and then other rows that are all olive or black. Some of my nymph boxes hold flies of one color and/or size on one side of the box, with the bead-head version of the flies on the other.

A couple of my boxes contain just lake patterns, so I don't have to fill up the pockets of my float tube with lots of fly boxes. One such box contains different sizes of primarily brown flies, woolly buggers and bead-head lake leeches in the preferred color for many of our lakes. Another box containing chronomids, nymphs, and emergers in different sizes and colors covers lots of different still water situations.

Steelhead fishing is another type of fishing that may be suited to fly boxes of a grouping of certain flies. Most of us who steelhead learn which patterns produce best in different rivers or under different conditions, and then we don our warmest clothes and waders and head out for the metal-sides, we take only fly boxes containing those flies.

Since Alaska's salmon don't routinely take either nymphs or dry flies, many of my fly boxes contain only salmon flies. For the most part these flies are large, heavily weighted concoctions with lead eyeballs that take up a lot of room in a box. Therefore, those tend to be large boxes. Luckily, several salmon species like the same type of flies so I only have to keep separate boxes for the sockeye. I just include a variety of colors to satisfy different species' preferences or different water or light conditions and then carry boxes containing different patterns.

It's amazing how often the type or style of the box dictates the type of fly I have in it. A smaller, flatter fly box is best used for nymphs, while boxes with higher lids hold dry flies without flattening out the wings. Larger, longer boxes hold streamers like woolly buggers and muddlers better.

Large boxes may not fit in the pockets of your fly vest, or stuff easily down the front of your waders. You may need to carry more boxes that don't contain as many flies or end up putting the large boxes in the back of your vest and deal with having to remove the vest to take them out. Some anglers use fanny packs or back-to-front chest packs to help solve that problem.

As you can see, there's a lot to think about in systematizing your flies and fly boxes. Take the time to sort yours out thoroughly some cold winter day when you can't fish, and you'll probably find your own system or at least acknowledge that you fish just fine with fly-box-chaos.


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A Guide to Fly Fishing Mountain Trout Streams

A Guide to Fly Fishing Mountain Trout Streams

Thursday October 25, 2007

Local Fly Fishing Links :
This is a local link center to help you find information about all the fly fishing web sites in the surrounding states. There are many great local sites to help you find any information you need to find great trout fishing waters. Some have forums which are very helpful for up to date information about stream conditions on your local trout or smallmouth bass waters.
NC LINKS II TN LINKS II VA LINKS II GA LINKS II WV LINKS




NC Fly Fishing Links:

WNC Trout: Good info for fly fishing in NC
Fly Fish South
Fly Fishing NC: Forum by Lee for fly fishing in NC
Blue Ridge Trout Unlimited: Good fishing diary with pictures for fly fishing in NC
Fly Fish North Carolina: Good info for fly fishing in NC
Joe's Fly fishing Page: Good site to find different info for fly fishing in NC

TN Fly Fishing Links:
Hiwassee River Fishing: Don Denney's site all about the Hiwassee river in TN
Middle Tennessee Fly Fishe: Great site with information on Fly Fishing TN
Fly Fishing in East Tennessee: Steve Kulpa's web site on Fly Fishing East TN
Outdoor & Fishing TN: Great site with information on outdoor fun & Fishing TN
Tennessee Fishing Reports: Good site on for Fishing East TN reports

VA Fly Fishing Links:
River Smallies: Great site for Smallmouth Bass Fishing in Virginia
VA Fly Fishing: Fly Fishing Virginia Forum by Steve

GA Fly Fishing Links :
Fly Fishing West Georgia: Good site for Georgia fly fishing
Atlanta Fly Fishing Club: Good site for Georgia fly fishing
Creek Caster: Good site for Georgia Fly Fishing
North Georgia Trout Online: Fly Fishing Georgia Forum- Great pictures,

WV Fly Fishing Links:
WV Angler Great site by Zack for Fly Fishing West Virginia

These are a few of the more popular sites for Area Information. Of course there are plenty more. If you have a link you want to ad to this site you can email me at mash123@verizon.net

Just Getting Started..............

Just starting? Here are our FAQ.
Ask a question: email keith@kbrcomm.com



What kind of Rod do I need?
Most of the streams in NC are small so you won't need a big rod. A 7.5 to 8.5 4-5 weight rod is a good place to start. Many companies have "starter outfits" that come with just about everything you need to get started: backing, line, leader. Bargains can be found at: VFS Classified Ads

What else do I need?
A good pair of wading boots are essential on our slippery streambeds. In the summer you can "wet" wade, but in the spring and fall you'll want a pair of waders. Hippers work well in most streams, but you might want a pair of waist waders for some of the bigger rivers. You will need chest waders if you are going to fish the Tennessee tailwaters.

What about accessories?
A silicone base Floatant to help keep your fly afloat, Nippers to trim knots, Vest to hold all your gear, Flybox to hold flies, Ketchum release to remove fly from fish.

How do I put the line/leader/tippet together?
This link shows you how step by step. Knots: Putting it All Together by Dave Whitlock

Is there one simple book that will explain everything?
Yes! The Curtis Creek Manifesto by Sheridan Anderson. Portland, Frank Amato Publications, 1978. This book is essential for the beginner, simply the best introduction to fly fishing!

What is the best dry fly?
A good question, but fly selection depends on what is happening on the stream when you are fishing. If I could only choose two flies (At last count I have over 400 flies in four flyboxes) I would pick: #12 Elk Hair Caddis and a #12 Adams parachute.

What about nymphs?
Prince, Golden Ribbed Hare's Ear, and Caddis Pupa are good starters in size 12 - 16.

How do I practice "Catch & Release"?
Trout must be handled carefully as rough treatment can damage the delicate internal organs of the fish. A fish that is played for a long time should be revived before being let loose. Use of tools such as the Ketchum Release or forceps enable the fisherperson to remove the fish without touching. For a complete list of proper technique read the VFS page Handling & Releasing


Why should I join Trout Unlimited?
Our Mission is to conserve, protect and restore North America's trout and salmon fisheries and their watersheds. We accomplish this mission on local, state and national levels with an extensive and dedicated volunteer network. The national office, based just outside of Washington, D.C., employs professionals who testify before Congress, publish TU's quarterly magazine, intervene in federal legal proceedings and work with TU's grassroots volunteers to keep them active and involved in conservation issues. Join online and get a free book along with the other membership benefits. Or get more information by signing the TU guestbook and enter the montly contest to win flies or landing nets or other goodies.



Back to Blue Ridge Chapter of Trout Unlimited

Choosing Your Fly Fishing Fly

Throughout the longstanding history of fly fishing, fisherman who practiced it - or anglers, as they are known - have always understood the importance of bringing skill, technique, and grace to the sport. But successful anglers have equally understood the comparable importance of superior equipment in order to be their most effective. And when it comes to fly fishing, some of the most important equipment is fly fishing flies - those small but significant items for which the sport is named.
The selection of fly fishing flies is extensive and is often broken down by wet and dry fly fishing. Fly fishing is considered “dry” when the fly is cast over the water. The angler works to make the fly dance above the water, hoping to attract the attention of the fish below it. Such fly fishing flies are designed to replicate mosquitoes and other insects to which the particular fish may be attracted. Fly fishing is considered “wet” when the fly fishing flies are actually submerged under the water - where their design allows them to sink to the bottom if necessary - in order to entice fish beneath the surface. The wet fly fishing flies are made with the use of soft hackling which gives them mobility below the water’s surface. In the case of wet fly fishing, often the angler will use multiple fly fishing flies at once in order to improve their chance of success.
Some anglers choose to design and construct their own fly fishing flies - using a variety of materials of natural and synthetic origins. But still others choose to purchase their flies in accordance with the type of fish they are looking to retrieve. Fly fishing flies can be purchased at any number of different locations. For skilled, knowledgeable guidance regarding a choice of fly fishing flies, it is best to visit a retailer that is focused solely on fly fishing. There are also a number of Internet resources where anglers can browse and purchase their fly fishing flies online and have them shipped right to their door.

For easy to understand, in depth information about fly fishing flies visit our ezGuide 2 Fishing.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Bery

Flyfishing For Trout Tips Short Leader: No use in trying to cast 12 ft. leaders, unless you're fishing a stream that is wide open and the water is really low and clear. Otherwise I tend to use 7' and shorter leaders nothing bigger than 4x, most of the time 6x. By keeping your leader shorter your accuracy will improve and you'll spend more time fishing and less time getting out of the trees. This is true most of the time, but in low clear water conditions mostly during the summer months a short leader can spook fish. This is the only time of the year that I use a long leader 9' or longer, but still trying to stay as small in diameter as possible. You'll need to experiment to find how short of a leader you can use and not spook the fish and also how long of a leader you can get by with and not stay in the trees.
Dappling By dappling I'm referring to the process of basically just having your leader out of the end of your rod and dropping your fly into the hole. To do this you must keep in mind how close you are to the fish and be even more sneaky. I dapple mostly on brookie streams that have large rocks for me to hide behind. You'll be amazed at how much a 8" brookie can fight with only your leader out. Stealth is the key to dappling, stay low and hidden at all times. I dapple a lot in the spring when the streams are running a little faster than normal. I do this to keep my line out of the water to avoid drag on my fly. I dapple my fly on the slow water pockets behind rocks, logs and anything else that will create a slower water pocket.
Using Rocks and Taking Your Time To fish small streams you must be able and willing to use rocks to lay your line on in order to get good drag free drifts. Feel free to cast over a few dry rocks to get your fly into the right spot. Keep in mind that by using rocks you usually end up with slack in your line which can keep you from being able to set the hook as quickly. To compensate for this I usually set the hook by lifting my rod and pulling the line in at the same time. Basically picking up the slack line by lifting the rod and setting the hook by a quick yank on the line. Take your time when approaching a hole and look for rocks that you can lay your line on to get a good drift the first cast. Most small streams don't give you many chances to get your cast right, so take your time and get a good cast the first time. You'll very seldom get a perfect cast so a cast that is close to where you wanted it, let it float. By yanking your fly back and recasting you'll scare the fish more often then not. Try to avoid false casting!!
Roll Cast To me the most important part of small stream fishing! You must be able to roll cast and to roll cast with small tight loops. I'm not going to go into the basics of roll casting, there are many good source for learning how to roll cast. Learn to roll cast and don't be afraid to roll into those place where most people wouldn't consider fishing. Many times that is where the big 'uns are hiding.
Stalking-Staying Low Small streams here in Western North Carolina require that you stay low and stalk the trout if you want big fish and big numbers of fish. Don't just think about this when you're on the stream but think about it when getting dressed to go fishing and when buying clothes that you'll fish in. A bright hat is the worse thing you can wear, along with a bright t-shirt. Keep your clothing green, brown and tan and you'll have half of the stalking taken care of. Staying low when approaching the hole is important also. Staying behind the fish give you a big advantage! For this reason I fish upstream always. Keep out of his sight and pay attention to your shadow. Don't cast a shadow over a fish you want to catch, even though he might not take off he still won't be nearly as likely to feed.
Moving On Once you've fished a hole for a few minutes and cast to the major spots that you think a trout may be holding in don't waste your time. This is a judgment call, some holes require more casts and more time but if you've made a couple of splashy casts and/or hooked a few limbs above the hole, there is no use to keep fishing the hole. Once the fish spooks it takes them awhile to move back into their feeding lanes. So just move on and try the next hole. Keep it Simple : Trout fishing isn't rocket science!!! You don't have to know the Latin names for all the insects on the water to catch fish. Try to fish areas that look productive, places where fish can get food without having to fight major currents. There are many books written on trout fishing but basically you must figure out what types of water the trout are hanging in and fish them. You don't need 10,000 different fly patterns in 20 different sizes. For most of the streams in Western North Carolina a small selection of flies that I have listed on my flies page will produce fish. You don't need to spend $1000's of dollars on equipment and hours in classes. Just read a little to get the basics and then get out there and FISH!!

Catch & Release

Getting Started in Flyfishing Catch-and-Release Fishing: Introduction By GORP Expert Angler Mark D. Williams

Why practice catch-and-release fishing? A better question might be, why not?
Some look at catch-and-release fishing as a moral victory. They believe that eating the fish you catch is just plain wrong. I think that attitude is elitist, short-sighted, and a subject better left for the fishing forum.
Catch-and-release fishingis just good policy.
Catch-and-release fishing does several positive things other than make stuffed shirts happy. The practice leads to bigger fish. If you put a fish back instead of keeping it, it gets bigger. Bigger fish produce better progeny. And fish that survive in the wild produce fish that will have those same survival characteristics.
There's nothing wrong with keeping a fish or two for the frying pan, but if you keep too many—if too many people keep too many, and if too many people keep too many big ones—the quality of the fishery declines eventually. And with the world's fisheries getting more and more pressure from the growth of sport fishing, it makes sense for us to keep their future health in mind.
If you do practice catch and release, (chances are you'll have to at some point, since so many rivers and lakes now have regulations requiring it), you need to do it correctly because if you don't, it can harm the fish. Catching and handling fish can build up their lactic acid, increase their body's pH rise, and tire them out. Once you tire out a fish and release it improperly into the water, that fish can get caught in the current and get swept away. It also becomes more vulnerable to predators, and because of these and other factors, it might not survive after you went to all that trouble to release it.
Some anglers like to preserve their catch with a taxidermy mount for their living room wall. But I think the best-looking ones are those created from photographs of the fish, not the real deal—and that creature is still swimming the water for some other trophy hunter.
So practice catch-and-release fishing if you want to see healthy fisheries in the future, producing fertile, strong fish populations for generations of anglers to come.
Move on to The Basics Return