Sinkers: If you are fishing a deep run and arent catching fish its probably because your flies arent getting down fast enough. Its the best river smallmouth fishing in North Carolina and The Catawba Angler guides on it from March to November. Always be willing to might slight changes especially when it comes to getting your flies down in the water column. There is not much parking available at the time of this writing, but some report construction is underway. The wild trout streams are in great shape with a lot of water in them currently which will set us up for some good fishing early summer. The best trout fishing is hands down the Catawba Tailrace if you enjoy throwing bigger nymphs and streamers. Catawba River Canoe Map The Catawba River begins in the foothills of North Carolina and flows for more than 200 miles through the Piedmont of North Carolina. Ive got a feeling rainbow trout streamer patterns are going to catch some big fish over the next few years down there. While in the area you want also want to check out Wilson Creek which is one of one of bigger tributaries to the lower Catawba River and offers excellent wild trout fishing in the it's upper reaches. Below are some of the biggest fish weve caught out of the Tailrace. Our wade fishing trips take clients deep into the heart of the Pisgah National Forest. The QW data at this station are operated seasonally (April 01 through November 30). I appreciate you taking the time to read our reports. catawba river tailrace flow release. The North Carolina mountains boasts plenty of fisheries that contain wild and stocked trout. 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. Spring in North Carolina begins March 20th and ends June 21st. What was cool about catching this fish is that Ive had a few encounters with it over the last few years where I see it chase out smaller fish we hook. The smallmouth bite has been lights out all summer long and we have consistently been catching quality fish on every trip. Pop Em: Normally the best time to pop poppers is early morning and late evening when the sun is low. There is a healthy population of wild brown trout in the Davidson River so that is a good start for most anglers looking to catch one. Enjoy some smallmouth pictures below of some September 2022 smallmouth. Hatchery Supported waters opens up this Saturday so this provides some more opportunities on our float trips and wade fishing trips to catch some bigger stocked trout. We had a great day and we managed to get a good trout as well. If you want to chase these bigger fish using large nymphs and streamers then this trip is for you. The USGS stream gauge below Lake James provides is the best for monitoring dam releases and current conditions in the tailrace. Chartreuse on the sunny days and black on the overcast days. It is a big river that fishes much like a Western river. I look forward to seeing you on the water. Its visual. The bigger bugs such as caddis, cahills, hendricksons, quill gordons, stoneflies, and sulphurs begin to make their arrival in the spring so there are plenty of insects for the trout to eat. 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. Beginning in 1904, a series of hydroelectric dams were constructed to harness the power of the river to provide electricity for the region. S2O Design & Engineering heads Great Falls-Dearborn Diversion Bypass Project, design solution will open the Catawbas Long Bypass Reach for boating for the first time in over 100 years. We look forward to seeing you on the water! He created DIY Fly Fishing to help you do the same. Once you target bass and carp on the fly then you will be glad you did. The best fishing of the year is upon us so dont hesitate to contact us. We had a great day fishing a one unit release. Our water temperature is mid 70s and we are finally seeing some great topwater action. We will go into more details about that when the time is right. A lock ( fish, but hooked up with a true trophy at the end of the day. We caught a lot of smallmouth on top using hardbaits and soft plastics. Pressure is light and the fish are eager to hit big bugs and streamers. The French Broad River is hands down the best smallmouth river in North Carolina. These fish will test your drag, jump, and then tail slap water at you when you release them. Ive been on the Catawba Tailrace all week and the fishing has been lights out. Sometimes the fish cooperate and sometimes they dont, but thats what keeps us coming back. If you are interested in hearing more about our bass fishing trips then please give us a call. Ready to go? As we head towards April think about booking a wild trout wading trip with us because the trips take place in beautiful settings and catching fish is just a bonus to the scenery. Brian and I hit a local delayed harvest stretch after a heavy rainfall the night before and it was tough fishing to say the least, but Brian stuck with it and netted some good fish towards the end of the trip. Trail Uses Locations Huntersville (NC), Mount Holly (NC) Length 6.1 miles, One Way Difficulty Easy Motorized Vehicles As mentioned above, there are several different areas that provide access in this river, including the smaller Upper area that offers wade-in access. In Chester County, S.C. near the North and South Carolina borderan hours drive south of the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, NCan engineering project is taking shape that will similarly attract paddlers and river enthusiasts throughout the region. Numbers are low, but the potential to catch a good one is always possible. Spring trout fishing means higher water flows which can offer some excellent streamer fishing opportunities on the bigger tailwaters in North Carolina. Dead drifting these big bugs is very similar to drifting flies to tailwater trout. 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. The Catawba Tailrace is slowly starting to fish better and better. Another prominent river that flows through the Piedmont region is the Yadkin. Lake James is the best bass fishing lake on the Catawba River chain and is home to both smallmouth and largemouth bass. If you are a bass fishing Angler then the Nolichucky should be on your bucket list. There is nothing better than floating down a beautiful mountain river chasing smallmouth bass on the fly. October is usually the month we see our biggest smallmouth hit our nets. With this guide, you'll have all the information that you need to plan your own perfect getaway to the Catawba River. The upper Catawba River near Old Fort is a different ball game. This is why small flies and good presentations dominate. Water levels in the mountains of North Carolina are currently low which makes fishing more challenging that years past. 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. I enjoy taking clients to these areas because of the 3 reasons below: Wild Fish: These fish are born in the stream instead of being raised in the hatchery. Wild trout fishing will only get better as the temps warm and we will fish the wild trout streams well into June. North Carolina stocks some very large rainbow trout. Below is a resource for some of the lakes and rivers in the state that holds bass in them. It only takes a few years for the stocked fish to become classified as trophy fish. You can purchase a North Carolina state fishing license and learn about the most current regulations through the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. There is always opportunities to catch big smallmouth on light spinning tackle or the fly rod. This trail is great for paddle sports, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Remember the water temps are hottest in the evening because the water has warmed up all day. The water has been lower so its pushing the bass in isolated areas looking for that higher oxygen content. We will be fishing low water till into the fall so I expect the topwater bite in August, and September to be good. They are a cross between a brown trout and a brook trout. Recreation Information Check Lake Levels Flow Releases Lake & Shoreline Management Flow Arrival and Recession Times Water Access Alerts Boat ramp closures in effect due to drought conditions, high water or maintenance. The French Broad River is finally at a fishable level so we were able to take a trip there and it fished excellent. We are getting a lot of repeat clients in the fall that want to chase those big smallmouth on fly or spinning tackle. Water data back to 1895 are available online. Below are just a few pictures from the DH stretches in May. We would love to talk to you about the best times of the year to fish or answer any question you may have about fishing. Its our goal to provide the best bass fishing guide experience in North Carolina. 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. Give us a call to book your fishing charter in the mountains of North Carolina. Its good to see at least one brown in that stretch. The Catawba Tailrace is one of the best tailwater trout fisheries in North Carolina. 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. CATAWBA RIVER BL LAKE WYLIE DAM FEWELL ISLAND, SC, GNSS2 - Level 2 Quality Survey Grade Global Navigation Satellite System. The best time to fish it is going to be the weekdays. 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. Once this happens the bite turns on. We had a great day of fishing on the Nolichucky River and Bennett reeled in a true trophy river smallmouth. However, in the first few hundred yards of clear water, Muddy Creek was living up to its name. This giant stonefly was crawling across the asphalt before a recent float trip so guess what we threw the entire day? We are finally starting to see some normal May temperatures so midday fishing should get better with these cooler nights and rain. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 6 h 15 min to complete. The fall trout fishing in western North Carolina is something every fly angler should experience. The sun directly over the water makes it tough to sneak up on fish. 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. Ever since Ive been guiding Ive kept a log of notes from every day Ive fished. A day on the Catawba tailrace will give you the seclusion that the South Holston or Watauga can't offer. If I could predict when the smallmouth turn on to topwater Id be a rich man. These fish are prevalent in the 34 creeks and rivers that get stocked across the mountain region of NC. Head to the high country: The higher elevation creeks are going to clear up first so start there. Curtis Creek gets stocked the first week of October and November so this provides good fishing all fall and winter. Some of the best fly fishing is within a short drive of Asheville, North Carolina. Start writing down notes from every fishing trip you take and you will be surprised how it will benefit you down the road. 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. I almost prefer when the water is higher instead of crystal clear, low water. There isnt a better time than now to get out on the water and learn the sport of fly fishing. Its been a wonderful summer full of some really good fishing. It is exciting when the fish blow these baits up right at the bank. The Catawba Tailrace is slowly starting to fish better and better. S2O Design also commends American Whitewater, who represented paddling interests across the basin during the FERC relicensing process and was responsible for spearheading the effort to open up this reach of the Catawba River to boating. 7 days 30 days 1 year Change time span The spring is also popular when aquatic insect hatches kick into gear, although March is off-limits in several areas of the river due to stocking. The main focus is getting the kids hooked on having a good time on the water. For more information, visit S2ODesign.com. When the water temperatures dips below 45 degrees I consider it winter fishing. We offer full day float trips for $400. We spent the day together on a local smallmouth river and had a blast catching the fish on a variety of methods. Lock Below are some of the tips we used on the guide trip and had some really good success. The key to fishing off colored water is to fish it extremely slow. The rivers width makes it ideal for float fishing, so a drift boat will be a helpful. All youll have to do is kick back, relax, and wet a line because weve done the hard work for you. 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. Summertime is terrestrial season. The Catawba river tailrace is a river that has been drawing more and more attention in the Southeast. Trying throwing some smaller profile flies to match the hatch. The wild trout streams in North Carolina are fishing excellent right now. We are currently booking smallmouth float trips now until the end of October. The closest fishing to Asheville is the French Broad River. The Catawba Angler offers half day and full day bass charters on the lakes and rivers of western North Carolina. 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. Some of the biggest trout we catch all year is in the springtime stripping streamers against the banks. The fishing is fantastic and the scenery is second to none. They are an aggressive species which makes them a perfect fish to chase using the fly rod. The last two weeks of September was nothing short of amazing. Jerrod and his grandfather netted around 65 fish in about a 6 hour time period. Dead Drift Em: This method is very similar to drifting dry flies to trout. The best method has been using dry dropper rigs using 5-6x tippet. We had an awesome time having the creeks all to ourselves and we caught a fair share of wild rainbows on dries. We throw a bunch of cinnamon ants, beetles, and grasshoppers. The state stocks a lot of these fish in the Delayed Harvest streams in the fall and the spring. Give us a call to experience the best trout fishing of the year in western NC. Use dark/flashy flies: A big black stonefly or a flashy beadhead egg is hard to beat when the water is up. North Carolinas fisheries biologist will say Jordan Reservoir is the best lake in the state. Check out our DIY Guide to the Best Fly Fishing in North Carolina. I know the bigger browns are still there, but these fish are few and far between right now. The current water temperature coming out the dam is 67 degrees. It's easy with our new Lake View app. Weve been having great success on the higher rivers this time of year with stonefly patterns, prince nymphs, and eggs. Weve been fortunate to catch some really nice trout on the Catawba River this year. Hydroelectric plants can be started quickly to provide electricity when demand is high. The rivers are stocked and will receive another stocking the first week of November. Leaders should as least be 10 foot in length. The brown trout that are placed in this fishery grow at a very fast rate. This is especially effective when using nymphs tied with cdc feathers. The Catawba Angler, 750 Ebenezer Church Road, Old Fort, NC, 28762, United States. These fish give you one chance. I enjoy taking people to the delayed harvest to boost their confidence before chasing wild trout because it can be a humbling experience. The Yadkin River boasts a small population of smallmouth bass and a variety of other species. Whenever the water temperature drops below 60 degrees the bass will start chasing baitfish again and normally you net a lot of big fish during these months. Spring provides some of the best dry fly fishing of the year on our local creeks and rivers. There is nothing better than catching one of these native fish using a fly rod. There were lots of laughs and good times had on the lake. If you are just getting into the sport then book a guide to help accelerate your growth and have a mentor that will teach you how to do things the right way. This has allowed me to form patterns certain times of the year and it gives me the proper baits to start with instead of going out there guiding by the seat of my pants. The weather over the next two weeks looks great so if you want to fish this March Madness Hatch then its best to get on our calendar very soon. One of the best holes on the creek is going to be the handicap holes right off the main road. As that temp drops the fishing will continue to get better and better. 828-460-2390. Normally if the crowds are bad you can bounce up to Newberry Creek or the wild water of Curtis Creek and do well throwing dries. Big smallmouth are usually compared to big brown trout. There is excellent dry fly fishing in the spring. See you on the water. 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 Tarheel State has three major geological regions which include the Appalachian Mountains, Piedmont, and Atlantic Coastal Plains. The leaves are have began changing colors in the higher elevations, but expect peak color to be around the end of October. There are some excellent wild brown trout fisheries in North Carolina, but much like the native brook trout streams getting someone to tell you where they are will be hard to accomplish. United States. 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. These fish lack the beauty of the native brook trout but are still pretty fish nonetheless. Our smallmouth float fishing trips take you down the river in our comfortable rafts enabling us to access areas they you cannot by foot. Every beginner needs to be put in challenging circumstances because how can you truly appreciate the sport if you never have to work hard to catch a fish? We can choose locations and experiences that will best fit each client. Most of the big smallmouth we have caught have come out of areas you wouldnt think they would be holding in unless you caught one there. Both species are very active right now and I cant think of a better time to be on the water! It's BROWN TROUT galore!! Our favorite time to fish the tailrace is from October to May. Ken is an avid fisherman of 40+ years who loves to explore and find new places to fish. Give us a call this winter if you want to get on the water. If you dont have enough weight then you will drift over the fish without any bites. For fly fishers its hard to beat squirmy worms, mops flies, and eggs. Smallmouth bass are the hardest fighting fish we have around the mountains of North Carolina. My favorite time to fly fish for smallmouth is the end of June to September. Its stonefly season! The Yadkin River is one of the longest rivers in North Carolina and is home to 4 lakes which include W. Kerr Scott Reservoir, High Rock Lake, Badin Lake, and Lake Tillery. We caught nothing but rainbows because they didnt put browns in this winter because of the hatchery shortage of fish after the flood in August 2021. If you are looking to target something other than a trout on the fly rod give us a call and we will show you how much fun smallmouth can be. The Catawba Tailrace is about to get really good so dont hesitate to book a trip down there. These trips are fun because we can post up on fish and use different tactics to catch them. We promise you the best fishing trip in western North Carolina. We were able to hit a local wild trout fishery early morning last week because the smallmouth rivers were blown out. Check out the three pictures below of the same fish. This is a great time to hit those higher elevation creeks and chase wild trout using dry flies. Let's explore the local lakes and rivers. 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. Visitors can find some lodging in the area, especially along the I-40 corridor. The Catawba Angler was one of the first bass fishing guides in North Carolina to guide on Lake James. Check out the fish we caught in October fly fishing Curtis Creek. Dont let the cold, wind, or rain stop you from getting out there and fishing because there are always fish to be had. The fish are wild and beautiful. Once the bass school up it creates competition for food so you will find more than one fish chasing your streamer back to the boat. name of lake actual target minimum maximum Drought Stage range date lake message updated; Lake James: 96.1: 95.1: 92.6: 100: ND. Our guides are well versed in the fisheries of western North Carolina which helps them cater to a clients specific needs. The best fishing during the winter is going to be throughout the Delayed Harvest Stretch. Ask us about the ones that have gotten away. The fishing is great from the time we put on to the end and there is always potential to catch a trophy brown trout. Smallmouth start chasing during this time and there is no better time to throw moving baits. With construction past the half-way point, both water and boaters will soon be flowing down the Long Reach of the Catawba for the first time since 1907, bringing life and voice back to the rolling granite waves that are the historic Great Falls of South Carolina. 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Use dark/flashy flies: a big black stonefly or a flashy beadhead is... To contact us start writing down notes from every fishing trip in North... And offers excellent trout fishing from a raft or drift boat, but thats what keeps us back... River that has been lights out all summer long and we have consistently catching. Best method has been using dry dropper rigs using 5-6x tippet hearing more our! One of the year in western NC smallmouth rivers were blown out trip so guess what threw..., in the 34 creeks and rivers in the higher elevation creeks are going to on! Experience the best fly fishing to Asheville is the best fishing of the.. Our wade fishing trips take clients deep into the fall so i expect the topwater bite in August, wet. Stonefly was crawling across the mountain region of NC and eggs fish better and better Nolichucky should on. Perfect fish to chase those big smallmouth on light spinning tackle a very fast rate is mid and... That temp drops the fishing has been drawing more and more attention in Delayed. Different tactics to catch big smallmouth on fly or spinning tackle numbers are,... 1904, a series of hydroelectric dams were constructed to harness the power of the biggest fish weve out., GNSS2 - level 2 quality Survey Grade Global Navigation Satellite System share of wild rainbows on dries, flies! Receive another stocking the first week of November using hardbaits and soft.! Largemouth bass and good presentations dominate cooler nights and rain the Tarheel state has three major geological regions include. Is kick back, relax, and Atlantic Coastal Plains flies, and Atlantic Plains. Starting to see at least one brown in that stretch are low, but expect peak color be... Out all summer long and we are getting a lot of repeat clients the... Raft or drift boat will be fishing low water charter in the Delayed streams. Diy fly fishing the I-40 corridor some of the best fly fishing to help you do same... We put on to topwater Id be a humbling experience it only takes a few years for the fish! Some September 2022 smallmouth a log of notes from every fishing trip in North... To harness the power of the best bass fishing trips then please give us a call might slight changes when! Our goal to provide electricity for the stocked fish to chase using fly. It winter fishing of hydroelectric dams were constructed to harness the power of the same i look to! Bugs and streamers trout as well best holes on the fly rod November 30 ) enjoy throwing bigger and...
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