Grab a kayak or paddleboard and get out on the lake for your serene getaway. However one of the biggest draws to fishermen are the giant blue catfish that swim in this reservoir. Fishing will continue to be good all winter long on the lower elevation creeks and rivers. Morning surface water temperatures are up to about 54 degrees. Winds are out of the N at 3mph, with wind gusts of 11mph. previous . If you want to specialize in Euronymphing, Streamer Fishing, Nymphing Fishing, or Dry Fly Fishing we can customize your trip to solely focus on one of these different tactics. The Catawba Angler offers guided fly fishing trips around Asheville for these beautiful trout. Asheville is surrounded with many different fishing opportunities so we can cater our fishing trips to experienced anglers or complete beginners. Most likely the fins were rubbed off during the time this fish was in the holding walls of the hatchery. Weve been fishing dark colors in water with less than a foot of clarity. The fish are spooky after seeing a lot of pressure on the weekends. We understand that everyone likes to catch fish which we can definitely do that, but if you want to focus on some advanced fly fishing tactics to accelerate your growth as an angler then give us a call to set up a trip with one of our professional guides. The weather may be cold, but the linesider action on these three North Carolina lakes is red hot. The best fishing is below Waterville dam and into East Tennessee. Huge boulders and deep plunge pools make up the river and is home to trout and smallmouth bass. This section is a tailwater that provides cold water year round that creates the perfect habitat for aquatic life. When Im fishing indicators, my set up is the following: My fly line connects to a section of 3.5 ft fluorocarbon (15 pound) line that connects to a tippet ring using a loop knot. Below are some recent photos of some of the fish weve caught on the Tuck. by Will Sirotnak. The water has been lower so its pushing the bass in isolated areas looking for that higher oxygen content. Winter is on its way out here in the mountains. I also want to thank him for the clients he allows me to fish with because its a cool experience getting to show people the fisheries I have grown up on and fished my whole life. You want to look for moving water with white bubbles close to structure. Skip to main content Henry's Fork Anglers Cart (0) (208) 558-7525 Fly Shop Hours: Hours change seasonally. For more information check out the website below. The Nolichucky has been clear and low so weve been taking the majority of fly fishing clients there. Dont forget the Catawba Tailrace will be cranking back up in November so we will have some good tailwater trout fishing down there all winter long. 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. The lake was created by impounding the Pee Dee River, which is created by the confluence of the Yadkin River and the Uwharrie River several miles to the north. Black crappie are also common in large, slow-moving rivers in the Coastal Plain but will avoid areas that are turbid or murky. Weve all heard about the 50 degree magic in the Spring and Fall seasons for smallmouth. When the water temperatures dips below 45 degrees I consider it winter fishing. If youve been wanting to book a guided trip, but have been on the edge of deciding I would like to encourage you to book. The lake is home to many different fish species but the largemouth bass is most sought after. Early morning and sunset have been the best bite. It is not uncommon to see smallmouth in just a few feet of water chasing minnows or eating mayflies off the surface. Updated 2/18/2023 6:35:39 AM. We caught most of our fish on the bottom that day which involves a more finesse style of fishing. Gilead, NC 27306 (910) 439-2022 Located right on the water! Ask us about the ones that have gotten away. You wont be able to put-in or takeout there so just a heads up. The rivers are stocked and will receive another stocking the first week of November. The rainbow trout above was caught out of a delayed harvest stretch north of Asheville. Travis and Jordan are good buddies of mine from way back in the day when we all used be apart of collegiate track and field teams. The North Carolina mountains boasts plenty of fisheries that contain wild and stocked trout. The fall trout fishing in western North Carolina is something every fly angler should experience. The Tuckaseegee River always fishes well in the winter because it gets stocked in October, November, and December. Smallmouth start chasing during this time and there is no better time to throw moving baits. There is nothing better than clear water and smallmouth bass in the fall because fishing is great! Weve been catching a bunch of rainbows and a few browns on the Catawba since that is the majority of the fish that were stocked this past fall. Its versatile. Below are some of the biggest fish weve caught out of the Tailrace. The key to fishing off colored water is to fish it extremely slow. Abiquiu Reservoir. Lets get back to fishing. I believe its one of the most fun trips we offer. These warmer trends have provided excellent fishing on the Catawba, Davidson, Tuckaseegee, and Toe Rivers. Below are some pictures from the Catawba Tailrace this May. Lake Parker is good for specks and they're starting to spawn. If youve never fished for river smallmouth then let us guide you into a adventure of a lifetime. One of the coolest things I get to witness guiding the same rivers year after year is seeing the smallmouth bass in the French Broad sipping mayflies. Jodi reels in red snapper. 3 Bedroom/2 Bath A-Frame on beautiful Lake Tillery. The French Broad and Nolichucky rivers produce trophy smallmouth year after year. I appreciate the hard work they put in on the guided trips weve been on over the last couple of years. Lake Tillery was created for hydroelectric power by damming the Yadkin-PeeDee River and was completed in 1928. We offer wade and float trips for the four trout species found in NC. Fish are beginning to favor the faster moving water when the water temps are getting up past 75 degrees so thats where our focus has been with the soft plastics. The smallmouth bite is good all summer. Our smallmouth season starts in March and ends in November. Lake Seminole fishing Guides March 24, 2021 fishing report I had the pleasure of Bass fishing with the Shepard . Bigger isnt always better. They are a cross between a brown trout and a brook trout. Largemouth Bass. Smallmouth bass have always been overlooked by trout anglers, but I hope I can convince you to start targeting them if you havent already. To learn more about the smallmouth fishing around Asheville click the learn more link at the bottom of this page. Click Here for AD-Free Premium membership options. Smallmouth can be picky throughout the season that runs from March to November, but we bounce around from three different rivers to put clients in the best water to catch fish. This is why fly fishermen and women nymph fish. There arent many striper in the Tailrace, but if you are looking to grind and catch your first striper on the fly then we welcome you. This is our best fishery from November to the end of May. 5,167 messages. We are getting a lot of repeat clients in the fall that want to chase those big smallmouth on fly or spinning tackle. Enjoy the photos. The weather in the spring can be unpredictable so I tell clients we fish conditions not dates on a calendar. Lake Tillery Fishing Forum. Thanks for taking the time to read our post. November 17, 2022 at 9:30am. Weve brought a bunch of good quality fish to the net this year and the outlook for summer fishing is great. The fish were hitting on top in the shallow water and fished subsurface jigs in the faster, deep water. Another river worth mentioning when talking about bass fishing in North Carolina is the Nolichucky River. The smallmouth fishing around western North Carolina has been excellent since the beginning of May and will continue to be good all summer. The majority of these insects life besides terrestrials are spent underwater so nymph fishing is usually the best method for putting fish in the net. Out of all the fish stocked by the state 40% of them are rainbow trout. The leaves are changing colors, the weather is ideal, and the water temperatures have dropped to a suitable level after a long summer. Fly fishing in the Spring is hands down the best time to trout fish in North Carolina. We have spent the majority of our time in the boat this winter, but have had some excellent days wading the Catawba. A crayfish pattern isnt supposed to be fished fast and a fleeing minnow isnt supposed to be fished slow so Im big on informing my clients how fast you need to retrieve certain flies. Tiger trout are extremely rare in North Carolina. This is our favorite fishery to guide on because in these waters lurk the biggest trout in the state. No minimum size limit, but no river herring greater than 6 inches may be taken or possessed (regardless of origin) No daily creel limit for river herring less than 6 inches, and no river herring greater than 6 inches may be taken or . Once this happens the bite turns on. Coordinates: 35.3007, -80.086. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. The key here is using a loop knot that connects to the tippet ring. We throw a lot of terrestrials during this time so its a lot of fun seeing these smaller fish come up for bigger bugs. Book your trip today! There is no better way to beat the heat of summer than spending a day on the water chasing smallmouth bass. There is nothing better than floating down a beautiful mountain river chasing smallmouth bass on the fly. Cape Fear River - Buckhorn Dam. The topwater bite for the fly fisherman has been excellent some days and mediocre others. "There's so little boat traffic in the fall, so little fishing pressure, that you're never fishing behind anybody else," he said. Right after that first pop will tell you a lot. After an intense fight we netted the fish and it was nothing but smiles the rest of the day. Pretty simple setup. These trout are not stocked and naturally reproduce in the cold water coming off the highest mountain peaks in the east. Perched between Uwharrie National Forest and Morrow Mountain State Park, it is one of the most scenic lakes in North Carolina and a great place and one great place to catch fish. They want an easy meal without expending a ton of energy. All fish were caught on a yellow stimulator and a parachute adams. Give us a call this winter if you want to get on the water. The Pee Dee geographically begins where the Yadkin and Uwharrie rivers join at Tillery. Winter trout fishing here in North Carolina has been excellent. Challenge: In order to catch these fish you must get good presentations with drag free drifts. . The French Broad and Nolichucky Rivers provide great fly fishing opportunities starting in April and ending around October. There are more wild rainbow trout in the wild trout streams than any other species. Recreational watercraft use is also very high on Crystal Lake which could contribute to shoreline erosion and loss of near-shore habitat. In the spring these lakes warm up faster than the deep man made lakes in the piedmont and mountain region so the prespawn bite on these lakes occur here before any other lake in the state. I couldnt do it without her support. Check out the setup below. The river is excellent for recreational fishing and boating. "You have to move around to find pockets of active bass," he said. Weve got plenty of wadeable creeks and bigger rivers to fish for trout during March, April, and May. We are finally starting to see some normal May temperatures so midday fishing should get better with these cooler nights and rain. Smaller topwater flies dominate throughout the summer because youve got cicadas, beetles, grasshoppers, damselflies, and dragonflies. You do not want to miss it! If you are a bass fishing Angler then the Nolichucky should be on your bucket list. There is really no better way to experience Lake Tillery than to go out for a day of fishing. January 9, 2023. The lake is home to some big largemouth bass and is also known as a put and take striper lake where the state stocks 25,000 fingerling every year. It was a clear morning to blast off for the 66-boat field! Smallmouth will sit in these lines waiting for bugs to drift by. The lakes in the mountain and Piedmont regions are the result of dammed rivers. You may need to work a little harder. The topwater bite has been best from 6am-11am, but we are seeing fish hammer topwater baits all hours of the day. depth (ft) To depth map Go back Event's Official Web Page Location: City of Knoxville (GPS) Contact: Dennis Beckley - Event Director Phone: (865) 898-3101 NOVEMBER 2023 November 5, 2023 (2:00 AM - 2:00 AM) Daylight Saving Time Ends The clock is set back one hour at 2:00 AM (First Sunday in November). If you have never experienced the smallmouth fishing or trout fishing in October then give us a call. 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. The fish are wild and beautiful. Register and I will offer you a free Crappie.com decal ( plus a lot less ads too ). The trout fishing in November will be good. We should be drying out here in the mountains over the next month and the fishing on the French Broad should be excellent. Home. The best time to fish it is going to be the weekdays. The closest fishing to Asheville is the French Broad River. Lake Tillery is owned and controlled by Duke Energy and has 117.8 miles of beautiful shoreline with a maximum depth of 70'. I attach my tippet to the tippet ring using an improved clinch knot that connects to my nymph. July and August is excellent for catching smallmouth on topwater! We had a great day of fishing on the Nolichucky River and Bennett reeled in a true trophy river smallmouth. Some of the best fly fishing is within a short drive of Asheville, North Carolina. After the first weekend of June fishing wont be great on the Delayed Harvest stretches because on June 4th anglers can harvest the fish. 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. On the tip-ups or deadstick rods, walleye suckers and shiners are the most common approach. Water stained. Table of Contents show. W. We had a phenomenal day on the water this year and we managed to catch 51 total fish. When I started my business in 2017 I wanted to make guided fishing trips in western North Carolina available to everyone no matter their income. When these smallmouth spread out in the summer they could be anywhere. These fish are prevalent in the 34 creeks and rivers that get stocked across the mountain region of NC. The Catawba River also provides great wade fishing opportunities as well. Another notable bass fishing lake in the coastal plain region is Lake Waccamaw. For fly fishers its hard to beat squirmy worms, mops flies, and eggs. On the warmer days we have been taking advantage of wading the river with clients. The best fishing on the wild trout streams is March through December. The ones that make it past the first year grow to some trophy sizes. The French Broad has been off colored for the last month, but I am okay with that because the less fishing pressure this summer means a better late summer/early fall bite. We welcome younger kids as long as they are accompanied by an adult. We provide all the waders, boots, rods, reels, and flies for our wading trips. September has come to an end but it was definitely a month to remember. "Bob" Woodruff Lake, Jones Bluff Reservoir, Robert F Henry Lock and Dam . Come on down and enjoy a day on the Detroit river. Thread starter CharlesIngalls . Share. The current water temperature coming out the dam is 67 degrees. Exclusive Content Lake Wateree 23 February, 2023 Read more Curtis Creek has been fishing consistent but its best to go early morning or late evening when the light isnt directly above the water. Freddie Lake goes fishing south of Port Fourchon. THE WEATHER IS TURNING HOTTER AS NORMAL, WATER TEMPS IN THE 84 DEGREE RANGE. I enjoy taking people to the delayed harvest to boost their confidence before chasing wild trout because it can be a humbling experience. The mission of this organization is to bring hope and the love of Christ to youth through free guided fly fishing trips. After the cold front fishing patterns should resume. October is going to be good for trout and smallmouth. This is why small flies and good presentations dominate. Our water temperature is mid 70s and we are finally seeing some great topwater action. The French Broad River is finally at a fishable level so we were able to take a trip there and it fished excellent. Below are two big fish we caught last year in early Spring. . Email. The only problem is getting to the fish. Lakes Online Forum. Lisa and I chased red breasted sunfish, trout, and smallmouth on a local fishery and we managed to catch close to 20 fish on the fly rod. North Carolina stocks some very large rainbow trout. We are able to guide up to six anglers on guided trips using three guides. This is when we head to the hills to chase wild fish where the water temperatures are lower and there isnt a ton of fishing pressure. Thats the key when fishing crawfish patterns. This 80-acre impoundment is located on a 155-acrerecreational complex that offers other recreational opportunities. The pats rubber legs is a confidence pattern for me during the winter. If you dont get an immediate response we will respond as soon as we get off the water so please bear with us. We offer half day trips for $300 for two anglers and full day trips for $400 for two anglers. These guys put a lot of time on the water which is the best teacher of all. These fish thrive in cold mountain creeks that can only be reached by foot. 2023 Fishidy. The topwater bite should continue to get better with the water temperature warming up. Our smallmouth float trips begin in March and end around November. The best fishing during the month of May will be floating the rivers for smallmouth and trout. The river smallmouth fishing is about to be lights out. Fishing Reports and Forecasts Ohio offers many fantastic locations for the public to fish, including 124,000 acres of inland water, 7,000 miles of streams, 2.25 million acres of Lake Erie water, and 481 miles of the Ohio River. Happy New Year! 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. Fishing trips are fun for beginners and experienced anglers. This year we have caught only a handful of holdover browns, but the rainbows have been a ton of fun. All Rights Reserved. Prepare for success with accurate data about the type of fish that are caugh in Lake Tillery, learn what baits are used, and fish smarter with weather forecasts. The best method has been using dry dropper rigs using 5-6x tippet. The Catawba Angler offers guided bass fishing trips on the best rivers and lakes in North Carolina. Badin Lake is the clearest lake in the Yadkin Chain and runs within the Uwharrie National Forest which offers some unique scenery for a Piedmont Lake. When the water is clear weve been having great success on flies which we will go into detail of what has been working and what we can expect the rest of the summer. The river through the gorge is both wild and powerful in places. Both wild and powerful in places river worth mentioning when talking about bass fishing in the Spring and seasons! 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