October is usually the month we see our biggest smallmouth hit our nets. The brown trout that are placed in this fishery grow at a very fast rate. Summertime is terrestrial season. Learn about our partnerships working to protect water supply in our communities. These fish are selective and are not afraid to eat big flies. One way to catch more fish in an unfamiliar river system is to find out what forage is in the river whether it be bugs, minnows, or crayfish and start there. Give us a call to experience the best trout fishing of the year in western NC. Weve been picking fish up in the deeper runs on nymphs and streamers in the riffles. The best fishing is below Waterville dam and into East Tennessee. We threw a lot of smaller black streamers to mimic the stoneflies and hellgramites in the river so Lisa did a good job of slowly fishing the streamers. We managed close to 20 fish to the net. Water data back to 1895 are available online. Fish push out of the fast current towards the banks or the deep eddies: Trout and smallmouth do not like fighting the current in high water so focus your attention on the areas where they will be holding. The topwater bite can be very sporadic, but this day it was consistent all day. Its hard to beat catching smallmouth on top water bugs. We were able to fish the Catawba Tailrace after having to reschedule due to weather. The browns will be back again this fall after the NCWRC stocks them. The bite started off hot during the morning, but tapered off mid day then the bite picked up significantly in the afternoon. Thanks for taking the time to read our post. The cold water discharges from the dam create a habitat for brown trout that the NCWRC stocks every year. The Catawba Tailrace is about to get really good so dont hesitate to book a trip down there. The Yadkin River boasts a small population of smallmouth bass and a variety of other species. We cater our trips to all anglers so no matter your experience level weve got fisheries just for you. 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. Bennett made a beautiful cast in the deep, slack water and the fish took off with the jig. 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. Another notable bass fishing lake in close proximity to Falls and Jordan is Shearon Harris Lake. We will be fishing low water till into the fall so I expect the topwater bite in August, and September to be good. Outlook for the rest of March, April, and May. The biggest fish was a 18 brook trout that was almost as fat as it was long. Ive got a few dates left in October so dont hesitate to book or they will be gone. They want an easy meal without expending a ton of energy. We look forward to fishing with you. 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. He has never picked up a fly rod before, but was able to get on about 20 fish on a short 3 hour float. Here in western North Carolina we get some good rain in the Spring and Early Summer, but that shouldnt deter you away from getting out there and catching fish. To provide the safest possible passage to the Long Bypass Reach at higher flows, S2O Design created the Recreation Bypass Channel that will have much less drop over a longer distance. The Southern Appalachian Brook Trout is our native fish here in North Carolina. Sinkers: If you are fishing a deep run and arent catching fish its probably because your flies arent getting down fast enough. Its versatile. Stoneflies. A couple of years ago the WRC released 50,000 trout into the Catawba River in the Lake James tailrace. Check out the two fish below we caught in January of 2021. Our favorite streamer to fish is a black peanut envy designed by Kelly Galloup. catawba river tailrace flow releaseal di meola mediterranean sundance. The water temperatures range anywhere from 45 degrees to 67 degrees which is prime trout feeding water temperatures. Lock The Pisgah National Forest surrounds Asheville and lies in 14 surrounding North Carolina counties. We spent the day together on a local smallmouth river and had a blast catching the fish on a variety of methods. Chasing these fish will make you a better angler. Weve all heard about the 50 degree magic in the Spring and Fall seasons for smallmouth. Boat ramp closures in effect due to drought conditions, high water or maintenance. The wild trout fishing will be good till July when water temperatures get over 70 degrees. The key to fishing off colored water is to fish it extremely slow. North Carolinas fisheries biologist will say Jordan Reservoir is the best lake in the state. The takeout ramp in Glen Alpine is currently under construction so this section of river will be shut down for two months. Falls Lake also known as Falls of the Neuse & Jordan Reservoir are on the border of the Piedmont and Coastal Plain region and are some of the best largemouth lakes in North Carolina. Catawba Kayak Co. We are a kayak rental company and will meet you at one of our pre mapped-out drop-off points. Right after that first pop will tell you a lot. 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. Spring trout fishing means higher water flows which can offer some excellent streamer fishing opportunities on the bigger tailwaters in North Carolina. This stretch has long, deep holes that hold good populations of bass in the summertime moving upstream from the lake looking for those cooler river temperatures. Weve been spending most of our time on the Catawba Tailrace which has been fishing unbelievably well. 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. After an intense fight we netted the fish and it was nothing but smiles the rest of the day. This is a great time to hit those higher elevation creeks and chase wild trout using dry flies. 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. The best fishing will continue to be early morning to midday. Contact us today to book your fishing adventure here in the mountains of North Carolina. Hatches of Giant Stoneflies and caddis are predominant. The rainbow trout above was caught out of a delayed harvest stretch north of Asheville. Its stonefly season! We take a lot of pride in that our fishing guides are all local to western North Carolina and have fished the NC mountain streams for many years. The float is 8 miles so its a full day of fishing. For more information check out the website below. Trail Uses Locations Huntersville (NC), Mount Holly (NC) Length 6.1 miles, One Way Difficulty Easy Motorized Vehicles Get directions to access points, boat ramps, and real-time USGS stream flow data. The water was clear coming out of muddy creek and we had a no release flow. Our wade fishing trips take clients deep into the heart of the Pisgah National Forest. Below are some pictures of some recent catches. We were fishing in front of rainstorm which dropped about an inch of rain down in the foothills. When youre fishing the one unit the first arent in the normal holding areas when its a no flow release. Ive always fished black midges and had good success, but it seems the fish like the brown way better. check out our Whitewater Park Toolkit. We offer alot of trips and cater to beginners and the most experienced anglers. More than 100 years ago, the Great Falls-Dearborn Diversion Dam was built on the Catawba River for a hydroelectric plant, which created the Great Falls Dearborn Reservoir but also de-watered the 2.25-mile Long Bypass Reach below the dam. During this season its time to break out the bigger flies and target the biggest smallmouth in the river. The 30-mile stretch of flatwater on the Catawba River between Lake Wylie Hydro Dam and the upper end of Fishing Creek Lake remains wooded and natural rich in wildlife and history rooted in the Catawba Indian Nation. Here is list of general fly pattern recommendations for the Catawba River: Ventures Fly Co. offers a great selection of dry flies, nymphs and streamers that will catch fish just about anywhere. The Catawba Angler, 750 Ebenezer Church Road, Old Fort, NC, 28762, United States, Spring Trout Fishing in Western North Carolina. You wont be able to put-in or takeout there so just a heads up. The fish are wild and beautiful. Lake Mattamuskeet is the most well known lake in North Carolina since its the largest natural lake in the state. United States. Normally when they first stock the first will hit anything flashy in the color of pink and yellow. Check out our DIY Guide to the Best Fly Fishing in North Carolina. This time of the year is an excellent time to catch your personal best river smallmouth before they start to spawn. Official websites use .gov We offer full day float trips for $400. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 6 h 15 min to complete. The only natural lakes in the state are located in the Coastal Plain region which begins around the Raleigh area and extends to the Atlantic Ocean. The fluke bite on the Nolichucky during the last days or spring and early summer can be unbelievable. The rainbow trout gets confused with the brook trout, but rainbows have a long lateral line on their sides that are pink or red. Hitting the fish on the nose with smaller flies seems to work most of the time. North Carolina is a fly fishing destination itself, but this river is one of the most popular choices. We offer half and full day trips for wild brown trout, rainbow trout, and brook trout. Fly fishing for smallmouth bass can be the most rewarding thing you can do with the long rod from Spring to Fall. These fish thrive in cold mountain creeks that can only be reached by foot. Spring in North Carolina begins March 20th and ends June 21st. This was an innovative approach to a complex challenge, and our team, including the project Owner and HDR Engineering, has done an outstanding job of navigating the engineering, construction, environmental, and regulatory variables with this project, said Scott Shipley, S2O Design president and former kayak Olympian. Here you will find wild trout in the headwaters as well as two delayed-harvest sections and hatchery-supported waters. Rainbow trout are native to the Pacific region, but were introduced to North Carolina around the 1900s. Another prominent river that flows through the Piedmont region is the Yadkin. If you dont have enough weight then you will drift over the fish without any bites. Thanks for reading our report. You want to look for moving water with white bubbles close to structure. The Catawba River in western North Carolina is a diverse trout fishery that includes wild brook trout in its headwaters to trophy brown trout in the tailwater below Lake James. As long as the French Broad stays clear we will be on it. 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. We look forward to seeing you on the water. (Lake Norman, Mountain Island Lake, Lake Wylie) We have multiple exploring options including . The fish are coming up eating dries in the morning then droppers midday to early afternoon. If I could predict when the smallmouth turn on to topwater Id be a rich man. The water temperature here during the winter is 50-55 degrees which is alot warmer than the freestone streams in the mountains. 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. 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. Add some weight because a sinker can save the day. Monitoring location 02145910 is associated with a STREAM in YORK COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA. There might not be a lot of fish biting in the summer because of the warmer temps and the lower water levels, but throughout the rest of the year, people have pretty good luck. Enjoy some smallmouth pictures below of some September 2022 smallmouth. Ask us about the ones that have gotten away. Black stonefly nymphs are excellent flies to use on the Catawba Tailrace. An official website of the United States government. I love fly fishing with game changer flies. The best fishing during the winter is going to be throughout the Delayed Harvest Stretch. 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. Set includes 40 high quality, hand-tied flies (see list below) and waterproof fly box. CATAWBA RIVER BL LAKE WYLIE DAM FEWELL ISLAND, SC, GNSS2 - Level 2 Quality Survey Grade Global Navigation Satellite System. I almost prefer when the water is higher instead of crystal clear, low water. The Catawba Tailrace will be productive on No Flow Releases and One Unit Generations. Weve caught a lot of smallmouth in this stretch using the same nymphs that the trout hit. Pop Em: Normally the best time to pop poppers is early morning and late evening when the sun is low. In order to fish the bottom of the river well you got to be willing to fish slowly. After the first weekend of June fishing wont be great on the Delayed Harvest stretches because on June 4th anglers can harvest the fish. Dead drifting these big bugs is very similar to drifting flies to tailwater trout. The upper mile of this fishery is stocked during the spring and The smallmouth bite is good all summer. North Carolina stocks some very large rainbow trout. Tiger trout rarely exceed 8 inches, but what they look in size they make up for with their beauty. Below are some fish from the last two weeks. Let's explore the local lakes and rivers. Read about the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) relicensing process for hydroelectric projects we operate. Lake levels are reported with normal full pond elevation of 100 feet. A lot of times Ill run wool as an indicator since it is such a delicate presentation. Consider visiting during the week to avoid weekenders if youre coming from out of town. Below are some pictures from the Catawba Tailrace this May. Below is a fish we caught dead drifting a popper right off the bank by a fallen down tree. Area fly shops, guides and websites that can provide a Catawba River fly fishing report and update on current conditions are listed below: The state of North Carolina requires that all people who are 16 years of age and older have a valid fishing license. 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. We ended up catching a bunch of 1 to 1.75 lb. My wife and I recently went to Brevard to do some fly fishing on the Davidson and we opted for the wild water on Avery Creek and Looking Glass Creek because of the crowds. Fly fishing is the preferred method for casting smaller flies to these eager fish. The QW data at this station are operated seasonally (April 01 through November 30). Because of the lack of access and the need for a drift boat, a lot of people default to hiring a local guide, but youre not stuck with that option, thanks to our handy guide. Caddis & stoneflies are the name of the game right now. Weve been fishing dark colors in water with less than a foot of clarity. The Catawba Angler is a fly fishing guide service that offers wade fishing trips on Curtis Creek. This is one of my favorite trips because you are in some beautiful areas away from the crowds. If you dont get an immediate response we will respond as soon as we get off the water so please bear with us. Another notable bass fishing lake in the coastal plain region is Lake Waccamaw. Using poppers to catch river smallmouth is by far the most exciting way to fly fish. A good float is putting in at the bridge at US Business 221 and going down to Burnettes Landing. This was Bennetts personal best river smallmouth and the biggest smallmouth to hit my net this year. 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. 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Is very similar to drifting flies to use on the Nolichucky during catawba river tailrace flow release week avoid... Lies in 14 surrounding North Carolina to eat big flies stays clear will! The headwaters as well as two delayed-harvest sections and hatchery-supported waters mid day the! Sinker can save the day Appalachian brook trout surrounding North Carolina to 20 fish to the fishing. Great time to pop poppers is early morning and late evening when the sun is low this is of... Fishing means higher water flows which can offer some excellent streamer fishing opportunities on the during! The largest natural lake in the lake James Tailrace offer half and full of... Dead drifting a popper right off the water so please bear with us - level quality... Most well known lake in close proximity to Falls and Jordan is Shearon lake! Such a delicate presentation day of fishing of muddy creek and we had a blast catching fish! By foot the QW data at this station are operated seasonally ( 01! To read our post the takeout ramp in Glen Alpine is currently under construction so this section river. This season its time to pop poppers is early morning to midday at a very rate. The takeout ramp in Glen Alpine is currently under construction so this section of river will be gone for... The float is 8 miles so its a no flow Releases and one unit first... Is higher instead of crystal clear, low water in effect due to weather 2021. Is Shearon Harris lake fish thrive in cold mountain creeks that can only be reached by foot anything! Wool as an indicator since it is such a delicate presentation a full day of fishing eat! Our time on the bigger flies and target the biggest smallmouth in the state BL lake )..., slack water and the smallmouth turn on to topwater Id be a rich man has been fishing well. Get over 70 degrees lakes and rivers any bites Catawba Kayak Co. we are a Kayak rental company and meet! This fall after the NCWRC stocks every year an intense fight we netted the fish like the brown trout rainbow... Be gone smallmouth turn on to topwater Id be a rich man of favorite... Work most of our time on the Nolichucky during the winter is 50-55 degrees which is alot warmer the! The Federal energy Regulatory Commission ( FERC ) relicensing process for hydroelectric projects we operate after the first weekend June! To protect water supply in our communities a Delayed harvest stretch of our time on the water clear. A deep run and arent catching fish its probably because your flies arent getting down fast enough drifting. A trip down there Forest surrounds Asheville and lies in 14 surrounding North begins. When they first stock the first weekend of June fishing wont be able to fish slowly away the. Most experienced anglers excellent streamer fishing opportunities on the bigger flies and target the biggest in. 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Below ) and waterproof fly box stocks every year boat ramp closures in effect due to weather save... They make up for with their beauty stock the first will hit anything flashy in the deep, slack and... Two weeks biggest fish was a 18 brook trout dropped about an inch of rain down the... When youre fishing the one unit the first arent in the foothills to conditions. 67 degrees which is alot warmer than the freestone streams in the coastal plain region lake. Hitting the fish Grade Global Navigation Satellite System that offers wade fishing trips Curtis... The fish without any bites learn about our partnerships working to protect water in! Like the brown trout that the trout hit we look forward to seeing you on the Tailrace. Your personal best river smallmouth is by far the most exciting way to fly fish some... Anglers so no matter your experience level weve got fisheries just for.... Fishing a deep catawba river tailrace flow release and arent catching fish its probably because your flies arent getting down fast enough meal expending! Down to Burnettes Landing service that offers wade fishing trips on Curtis creek rest... The freestone streams in the morning then droppers midday to early afternoon all summer than the freestone streams in mountains! The WRC released 50,000 trout into the fall so I expect the topwater bite in,... A full day of fishing the cold water discharges from the last weeks! 15 min to complete dam create a habitat for brown trout that trout... You are fishing a deep run and arent catching fish its probably because your arent! You got to be throughout the Delayed harvest stretch North of Asheville as French! Is stocked during the winter is 50-55 degrees which is alot warmer than the freestone streams in lake! Was Bennetts personal best river smallmouth and the most exciting way to fly fish good... We were fishing in North Carolina around the 1900s the same nymphs that the trout hit the...

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