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. Use our interactive map to navigate the river and view points of interest. The wild trout streams in North Carolina are fishing excellent right now. Lake levels are reported with normal full pond elevation of 100 feet. Water data back to 2018 are available online. This fishery should be on everyones list to fish in North Carolina. This healthy brown trout took a stonefly during no generation. Another notable bass fishing lake in close proximity to Falls and Jordan is Shearon Harris Lake. 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. I had the pleasure of taking my best friend fly fishing for the first time and we had an excellent day dry fly fishing and running nymphs under an indicator. If you want to chase these bigger fish using large nymphs and streamers then this trip is for you. CATAWBA RIVER BL LAKE WYLIE DAM FEWELL ISLAND, SC, GNSS2 - Level 2 Quality Survey Grade Global Navigation Satellite System. We throw a lot of terrestrials during this time so its a lot of fun seeing these smaller fish come up for bigger bugs. There are different ways to fish a popper: Dead Drift Em, Pop Em, Twitch Em. For fly fishers its hard to beat squirmy worms, mops flies, and eggs. We should be drying out here in the mountains over the next month and the fishing on the French Broad should be excellent. Current conditions of DISCHARGE, GAGE HEIGHT, and STREAM WATER LEVEL ELEVATION ABOVE NAVD 1988 are available. Chartreuse on the sunny days and black on the overcast days. The Catawba River and Linville River that flows into Lake James offers good wade fishing for smallmouth bass. Give us a call to experience the best trout fishing of the year in western NC. Our favorite time to fish the tailrace is from October to May. Fishing will continue to be good all winter long on the lower elevation creeks and rivers. If you have a trip booked in July be prepared to start early. Similar to Lake Mattamuskeet, Lake Waccamaw is shallow. North Carolinas fisheries biologist will say Jordan Reservoir is the best lake in the state. When youre fishing the one unit the first arent in the normal holding areas when its a no flow release. Our water temperature is mid 70s and we are finally seeing some great topwater action. During this season its time to break out the bigger flies and target the biggest smallmouth in the river. The lakes that make up the Catawba River Chain are Lake James, Lake Rhodiss, Lake Hickory, Lookout Shoals Lake, Lake Norman, and Lake Wylie. Long, accurate drifts without drag can entice big smallmouth to come up from the depths to eat. The best fishing is on days when there is no generation. April 2021 The Catawba Tailrace is a hidden gem in the foothills of North Carolina. Weve been getting just enough rain to keep the rivers higher than years past, but still fishable. Ask us about the ones that have gotten away. Fall time anywhere from the second week of September to the end of October is when you can plan on catching your trophy smallmouth out of the river. Water data back to 1895 are available online. Normally anything over a half of inch will muddy the fishery due to muddy creek. Below are some recent pictures from our most recent outings. Below are some of the tips we used on the guide trip and had some really good success. A lot of times Ill run wool as an indicator since it is such a delicate presentation. There is not much parking available at the time of this writing, but some report construction is underway. Kirk and his son Houston had a great day on the water. Those looking to fish the Yadkin for smallmouth bass should check out Burch Station and Yadkin Shore public fishing areas. Please select a lake to view more details. I think its going to be a dry month so finding creeks and rivers with the most water in it will be key. Both species are very active right now and I cant think of a better time to be on the water! Overall I think this July has been more productive than Ive seen in years past. The trout fishing will be excellent on the delayed harvest stretches on the Catawba, Curtis, Mill, and the Toe Rivers. Poppers have been the fly of choice on both rivers. The water temperature was 59 when we started and 63 when we finished. These fish thrive in cold mountain creeks that can only be reached by foot. The majority of smallmouth in our stretches of water will be in just a few holes. If youve never fished for river smallmouth then let us guide you into a adventure of a lifetime. The Pisgah National Forest surrounds Asheville and lies in 14 surrounding North Carolina counties. Springtime dry fly fishing in western North Carolina! The Catawba Angler provides guided bass fishing trips on the French Broad River starting in March and wrapping up the season in the middle of November. Streamers: What better time than to throw a big streamer than in high water. We are on the water every day and we are doing our best getting back with clients as soon as possible. Check out our DIY Guide to the Best Fly Fishing Gear for recommendations. This is our favorite fishery to guide on because in these waters lurk the biggest trout in the state. We havent had consistent weather since early June so weve had to keep a constant eye on the weather. You will leave feeing like youve just spent the day with an old friend. Brown trout are elusive and considered one of the most difficult trout species to catch. The topwater bite can be very sporadic, but this day it was consistent all day. Stoneflies. If you want to become a better angler and want to test your casting skills then go after some wild fish. 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. Use dark/flashy flies: A big black stonefly or a flashy beadhead egg is hard to beat when the water is up. I look forward to an excellent October for smallmouth as well as trout. The days we have been on the French Broad have been tough, but not impossible. The smallmouth fishing is best from the airport in Asheville to the East Tennessee line. All youll have to do is kick back, relax, and wet a line because weve done the hard work for you. His smile says it all. Its hard to beat catching smallmouth on top water bugs. The Catawba Angler, 750 Ebenezer Church Road, Old Fort, NC, 28762, United States. 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. 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. This is our best fishery from November to the end of May. Remember to still use light tippet this time of year. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS There isnt a better time than now to get out on the water and learn the sport of fly fishing. I met a guy at the boat ramp last week and he said this fishing rivals anything out west this time of year. The dead drifting approach is going to be best when targeting smallmouth bass in the low, clear water throughout summer. After a few years of scouting and many trips down the river we have started guiding the Pigeon River for smallmouth bass. October is usually the month we see our biggest smallmouth hit our nets. Ive got a few dates left in October so dont hesitate to book or they will be gone. In Chester County, S.C. near the North and South Carolina borderan hour's drive south of the U.S. National Whitewater Center in . Information about scheduled releases and the impact on downstream flow on the Mountain Island Lake section of the Catawba River is available on the Duke Energy website or by calling 800-829-5253. If you have never experienced the smallmouth fishing or trout fishing in October then give us a call. If I could predict when the smallmouth turn on to topwater Id be a rich man. There are plenty of wade fishing and float fishing opportunities available on one of the many delayed harvest streams in NC. I look forward to fishing with everyone who has already scheduled a trip this season and I welcome new clients to get on our calendar. The best success on Curtis Creek has been a brown midge. The best midge colors have been black, brown, and olive. ! In creating this solution, S2O Design engineers and hydrologists completed conceptual designs, 1D and 2D computer modeling, construction documents, and construction visualization renderings. These fish are beautiful and live in some of the coolest areas in the state. It is not uncommon to see smallmouth in just a few feet of water chasing minnows or eating mayflies off the surface. The mend is very important when fishing from a raft or drift boat. Current conditions of DISCHARGE, GAGE HEIGHT, and STREAM WATER LEVEL ELEVATION ABOVE NAVD . Right after that first pop will tell you a lot. The water temperatures are still below 50 on the higher elevation creeks, but any warm front will bump those temperatures up to a desirable range. Catawba River Tailrace Kayak Fishing - YouTube 0:00 / 4:25 Catawba River Tailrace Kayak Fishing 635 views Mar 13, 2017 3 Dislike Share Save Fishing RN 1 subscriber Catawba River. 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. The key to fishing off colored water is to fish it extremely slow. Hatches of Giant Stoneflies and caddis are predominant. If its dragging its lagging. Lake James is the best bass fishing lake on the Catawba River chain and is home to both smallmouth and largemouth bass. We caught a decent smallmouth at the end of the float on the Tailrace under an indicator. North Carolina offers some of the best fly fishing in the country. The fish are coming up eating dries in the morning then droppers midday to early afternoon. Below is a resource for some of the lakes and rivers in the state that holds bass in them. 22 inch brown trout caught by Jim Muse. Early Spring which runs from March to the beginning of April is the pre-spawn period. 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 Yadkin River boasts a small population of smallmouth bass and a variety of other species. If float fishing isnt your thing then we got some excellent wade fishing opportunities chasing stocked and wild trout. Sinkers: If you are fishing a deep run and arent catching fish its probably because your flies arent getting down fast enough. As that temp drops the fishing will continue to get better and better. I recently got to help the founder of Mended Fly Fishing with an outing in Greensboro, NC. fish, but hooked up with a true trophy at the end of the day. The topwater bite for the fly fisherman has been excellent some days and mediocre others. Mending is about picking the fly line up off the water either upstream or downstream to combat drag. We value your time as much as ours and will do everything in our power to make sure you have an enjoyable experience on the water. We are targeting fish using dry droppers and single drys. This time of the year is an excellent time to catch your personal best river smallmouth before they start to spawn. Its always a pleasure fishing with Jim Sitts. 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. Explore this 15.5-mile point-to-point trail near Glen Alpine, North Carolina. Trying throwing some smaller profile flies to match the hatch. The bass will let you know if you can pop aggressively or every ten or so seconds. We look forward to fishing with you. The Catawba Angler was voted the best fishing guide service in McDowell County for 2019 and 2020. When fishing midges I wouldnt use any tippet under 5x. When you decided to pick up fly fishing you knew you were at a disadvantage compared to using a spinning rod. The water temperature coming out the dam was 50 degrees and the lower end was 53 degrees. Bennett made a beautiful cast in the deep, slack water and the fish took off with the jig. Below are some pictures of some recent catches. Lock Learn More The waters are pristine and free-flowing in this area, albeit slightly limited in access for fly fishing. The Catawba Tailrace is slowly starting to fish better and better. Wading has been great on the Delayed Harvest sections of the Catawba River, Curtis Creek, and Mill Creek. We catch some of the bigger, smarter fish that survive the influx of people during the wintertime. The takeout ramp in Glen Alpine is currently under construction so this section of river will be shut down for two months. Weve been bringing alot of fish to the net and seeing some holdover fish as well. May 23, 2022 / by / in mbbs doctor jobs in kuwaitmbbs doctor jobs in kuwait If youve got those colors you will catch fish. The USGS stream gauge at Pleasant Gardens, NC provide a good indication of current conditions in the upper Catawba River. North Carolina stocks some very large rainbow trout. We were able to take kids fishing on a private lake and show them the sport of fishing. He created DIY Fly Fishing to help you do the same. This is one of our favorite trips of the year. then its best to move to the next plunge pool. The trout fishing has been excellent and will stay consistent till mid June. Numbers are low, but the potential to catch a good one is always possible. I would have to say if you are looking to catch a lot of fish then you do not want to miss fishing this stretch this time of year. The areas along I-40 are expanding with increased access and parking, so it is likely that we will update this information in the future with additional options for fishing locations on the Catawba River. There are always some big fish that hang out in those holes. In February of 2020, a 7 pound, 3 ounce smallmouth was caught by Ken Whitesides. Another prominent river that flows through the Piedmont region is the Yadkin. See you on the water. Its stonefly season! The Catawba-Wateree project provides 819 megawatts (MW) of clean, economical, and renewable power, which on average is enough electricity to power 103,000 homes. 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. All the delayed harvest waters across western North Carolina have received their first stocking of the year. These guys put a lot of time on the water which is the best teacher of all. Lets dig in to what has been fishing well and whats ahead for early Summer. 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. There is nothing better than clear water and smallmouth bass in the fall because fishing is great! If you like brown trout you will love the Catawba! The lake is home to many different fish species but the largemouth bass is most sought after. Give us a call today to schedule your fishing adventure this summer. The results will bring a positive impact to the health and vitality of the river and create exciting recreation opportunities for paddlers across the region.. Let's explore the local lakes and rivers. 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