The Southern Appalachian Brook Trout is our native fish here in North Carolina. Fish in the morning. The Catawba Tailrace is about to get really good so dont hesitate to book a trip down there. catawba river tailrace flow release. September has come to an end but it was definitely a month to remember. Below its confluence with the Catawba, however, the heavier river flow dilutes the water's dingy state, and the anglers in the two boats began catching yellow perch, sunfish, largemouth bass and smallmouth. The current water temperature coming out the dam is 67 degrees. The biggest fish was a 18 brook trout that was almost as fat as it was long. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS We are currently booking in August so please dont hesitate booking. These fish are less pressured and more willing to eat during this time. There are a lot of June bugs out so weve been having some good luck using smaller bugs on the Toe River. There is nothing better than floating down a beautiful mountain river chasing smallmouth bass on the fly. The smallmouth fishing is best from the airport in Asheville to the East Tennessee line. You want to look for moving water with white bubbles close to structure. Smallmouth bass are the hardest fighting fish we have around the mountains of North Carolina. Lake James is home to some of the biggest smallmouth bass in the state. This is our best fishery from November to the end of May. We received our last stocking of trout the first week of May so the Delayed Harvest stretches have been fishing well. Normally a half of inch of rain in an isolated area is going to cause the creeks and rivers to present high water conditions. We have had some stupid, good days on the Catawba Tailrace over the last month so its good to see the rainbow trout that were stocked back in the winter doing so well. We did hook into a nice holdover brown on the lower end of the float, but it got off at the boat. Normally Ill run lighter tippet because the water is usually very clear this time of year. Remember these things when you know the water is going to be up. After a long winter many anglers look forward to this time of the year because of the warmer weather and warmer water temperatures. Fish over 10 pounds have been caught in Jordan Reservoir. Of course, depending on when you go, you might not have as much competition. After a few years of scouting and many trips down the river we have started guiding the Pigeon River for smallmouth bass. Its been a long cold winter so getting out there and doing away with the nymphs has been nice. Lake Mattamuskeet is the most well known lake in North Carolina since its the largest natural lake in the state. These fish are prevalent in the 34 creeks and rivers that get stocked across the mountain region of NC. The fishing is slower in the summertime because they open the creek up for harvest on June 4th, but there are always some bigger, smarter fish that will make throughout the summer so this time of year is perfect for stalking big fish. If you want to become a better angler and want to test your casting skills then go after some wild fish. Check out our interactive map of over 30,000 of the best places to fly fish in the US. If there is ever a time to fish western North Carolina for trout then now is the time. With over 15 miles of trout water and very little public access float fishing is your best bet. Overall I think this July has been more productive than Ive seen in years past. Its important to check the water temperatures on the wild trout streams because catching wild trout in water temperatures above 70 degrees can be fatal to the trout. His smile says it all. The rainbow trout gets confused with the brook trout, but rainbows have a long lateral line on their sides that are pink or red. Our wade fishing trips take clients deep into the heart of the Pisgah National Forest. North Carolinas fisheries biologist will say Jordan Reservoir is the best lake in the state. When the water temperatures dips below 45 degrees I consider it winter fishing. Install DIY Fly Fishing on your iPhone and then Add to Home Screen, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing the Catawba River in North Carolina, Catawba River Map and Fishing Access Sites, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, DIY Guide to the Best Fly Fishing in North Carolina, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing the South Toe River in North Carolina, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing the East Fork Pigeon River in North Carolina, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Lost Cove Creek in North Carolina, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Boone Fork Creek in North Carolina. This river consistently produces trophy smallmouth year after year. All Rights Reserved. July and August is excellent for catching smallmouth on topwater! The waters are pristine and free-flowing in this area, albeit slightly limited in access for fly fishing. After the first weekend of June fishing wont be great on the Delayed Harvest stretches because on June 4th anglers can harvest the fish. Seclusion: We rarely see anyone else on the wild trout streams. The Nolichucky has been clear and low so weve been taking the majority of fly fishing clients there. . Weve caught a lot of smallmouth in this stretch using the same nymphs that the trout hit. The Catawba Angler is a fly fishing guide service that offers wade fishing trips on Curtis Creek. Learn about our partnerships working to protect water supply in our communities. Gage height, feet. Numbers are low, but the potential to catch a good one is always possible. It is not uncommon to see smallmouth in just a few feet of water chasing minnows or eating mayflies off the surface. A trophy smallmouth out of the river is anything over 18. We throw a lot of terrestrials during this time so its a lot of fun seeing these smaller fish come up for bigger bugs. 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. 19 inch Catawba Tailrace Brown Trout that ate a white streamer. The lakes that make up the Catawba River Chain are Lake James, Lake Rhodiss, Lake Hickory, Lookout Shoals Lake, Lake Norman, and Lake Wylie. The Catawba Angler, 750 Ebenezer Church Road, Old Fort, NC, 28762, United States. We are currently booking smallmouth float trips now until the end of October. When fishing midges I wouldnt use any tippet under 5x. The trout fishing has been excellent and will stay consistent till mid June. There were lots of laughs and good times had on the lake. During this time the leaves are changing colors and most people are occupying the trout streams again. Most of the time Im using weighted lines for streamers or adding weight to get the nymphs down. I hit a local favorite of mine yesterday and those fish were willing to chase down small streamers and were also chomping on a variety of eggs. Trout fishing has been fantastic this month and will continue to be good the entire month of May! The cold water discharges from the dam create a habitat for brown trout that the NCWRC stocks every year. Recent fishing report for North Carolina trout fishing. 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. Ken is an avid fisherman of 40+ years who loves to explore and find new places to fish. Monitoring location 02145910 is associated with a STREAM in YORK COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA. Add some weight because a sinker can save the day. 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. 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. To learn more about the smallmouth fishing around Asheville click the learn more link at the bottom of this page. The confluence of the South Fork Catawba River and Catawba River is submerged by Lake Wylie near the NC/SC state line. We have had clear water on the French Broad River so I have been out there every day chasing those big smallmouths that have some big appetites this time of year. Dam Modification Spawning New Whitewater Park on the Catawba River. We offer multiple float trips on our local fisheries so if you are interested in getting in the boat with your significant other, best friend, or child then let us know. These and other enhancements are part of ongoing efforts by the local utility to further open local lakes and rivers to recreational use. Learn More It is exciting when the fish blow these baits up right at the bank. The tailrace, perfect for drifting and float fishing, is really where the majority of the action can be found. If you werent within a foot of the bank you were catching fish. The crowds are nonexistent this time of year so come enjoy the river to yourself. The brown trout that are placed in this fishery grow at a very fast rate. S2O Design & Engineering, the worlds premier river engineering and whitewater design company, was tapped to devise a solution to allow flows through the diversion dam in a controlled manner and to provide safe bypass for paddlers who wish to traverse past the Diversion Dam into the beautiful corridor of class II-III whitewater. 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. If float fishing isnt your thing then we got some excellent wade fishing opportunities chasing stocked and wild trout. The logging operations at the turn of the century almost depleted the native brook trout populations so thats when non-native trout were introduced in NC to help bring back trout populations. Trail Uses Locations Huntersville (NC), Mount Holly (NC) Length 6.1 miles, One Way Difficulty Easy Motorized Vehicles I am going to be optimistic about having desirable flows for throwing dry flies this year. There are alot of fish in the river right now so let us take you to them and show you how to be a better angler. They are a cross between a brown trout and a brook trout. We provide fly fishing and spin fishing trips for trout and smallmouth bass close to downtown Asheville. The best bite has been when we get a cold front come through and the water temps get around 75 degrees again. Rainbow trout are native to the Pacific region, but were introduced to North Carolina around the 1900s. It is a big river that fishes much like a Western river. The best success on Curtis Creek has been a brown midge. Here you wont find the crowds like you do on the tailwaters in East Tennessee or the Tuck. If you are looking to float a tailwater without the boat traffic give the Catawba Tailrace a try sometime between November and June. Using poppers to catch river smallmouth is by far the most exciting way to fly fish. We were able to hit a local wild trout fishery early morning last week because the smallmouth rivers were blown out. There isnt a better time than now to get out on the water and learn the sport of fly fishing. Ive booked trips on the Tailrace all the way out to the fish of June because we should have suitable water temps until mid june. July is hot, but so is the fishing for river smallmouth. We offer full day float trips for $400. The wild trout streams in North Carolina are fishing excellent right now. Towards the end of September all the way into November the smallmouth will leave their summer territories and find the deeper water again where they will stay all winter. There are a lot of bugs hatching this time of year so when drifting nymphs always allow them to swing at the end of your drift. Spring is my favorite time to fish Curtis Creek because we get some excellent caddis, March brown, and Hendrickson hatches throughout March, April, and May. Weve been having great success on the higher rivers this time of year with stonefly patterns, prince nymphs, and eggs. This is why catch and release is cool. Tiger trout are extremely rare in North Carolina. Ive got a few dates left in October so dont hesitate to book or they will be gone. Out of all the fish stocked by the state 40% of them are rainbow trout. The Catawba Angler specializes in guiding on the catawba tailrace and offers full day float trips for $350. The river smallmouth fishing is about to be lights out. Brown trout are native to Europe, but were introduced in the 1920s in alot of the streams in North Carolina. Its visual. If you are interested in hearing more about our bass fishing trips then please give us a call. Below are some recent pictures from our most recent outings. The delayed harvest fish on the smaller mountain creeks wont entertain trash flies so be sure to have some natural patterns readily available. I couldnt do it without her support. Most likely the fins were rubbed off during the time this fish was in the holding walls of the hatchery. To accommodate these flows, the design incorporates three innovative multi-stage drop structures that help control flows through the channel at various levels without creating dangerous recirculating hydraulics common in lowhead dams. 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