Virginia River Report | Tennessee River Report

 

NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL SYNOPSIS 03/05/2010

River and stream trout fishing reports from the mountain region of Western North Carolina.

Call 1-800-POACHER or 919-707-0030 to report illegal activity on the rivers and streams, or in the woods. Do your part, take a bite out of poaching.

The mountain region of NC, VA, TN, GA, and SC has great water levels and a nice snow pack. The 7 day forecast is showing temps in the 40's and 50's for daytime highs and the 20's and 30's for lows with a bit of rain mixed in for early/mid next week. Get out and enjoy the great early spring weather. NCWRC has restocked most of the Delayed Harvest streams (check the NCWRC link at the bottom of the page for the schedule); so there should be a ton of hold-overs as well as the new additions. Remember, no need to be on the water at the crack of dawn because the fishing will be at its best during the warmest part of the day. Be sure to look at the forecast before you head out. DRESS FOR SUCCESS BY WEARING THE APPROPRIATE LAYERING PIECES. Please dont wear cotton garments as layering. Cotton stops the wicking process and, in turn, you will be clammy and cold.

It is all dependent on the stream you fish and the time of day you fish it but look for various insects on the rivers and streams this time of the year- midges (sz.22-30), stoneflies (sz.18-20), tiny BWO's (sz.20-24). Look for most of these during the afternoon when temperatures are at their peak.

If you see bugs in the air and fish slashing near the surface, these are great indicators of fish that are willing to feed on or near the surface. In this case, try to determine what insects they are consuming and the stage of the lifecycle these insects are at (emerger/pupa, cripple, dun, spinner). Then, prepare your 2 fly rig accordingly (cripple and emerger, dun and emerger, etc.).

If you dont see this behavior, fish a double nymph rig (pheasant tails, stripper midges, zebra midges, disco midges, Hise's hetero-genius nymphs, egg patterns, Mercer's micro mayflies, copper John's, shop vacs, serenstupidies, rainbow warriors, Duke's Prince John, sili skin caddis, gooey caddis larva, Sly and the family stone, squirmie wormy, etc.) for the most consistent success. Nymphs fished deep is always a great way to go, day in and day out on any trout stream in the world. Remember, most of the time, larger trout will move laterally for their food as opposed to vertically, especially during the winter chill. Also, be ready to toss some streamers around with the first few flushes of the spring. Big trout are on the prowl; lots of food is kicked around during these high water periods and the trout are coming out of hybernation. Use big fly big fish, sumpin' ugly series leeches, minnows, and sculpins, little rascals, woolly buggers, Trina's big head Todd's, Kyle's super yummies, Norm's sculpins, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, and leadeye krystal buggers.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

WATAUGA- NC

Watauga County: Delayed Harvest Section of Watauga River (intersection of S.R. 1557 and S.R. 1558 to N.C. 105 bridge and S.R. 1114 bridge to N.C. 194 bridge at Valle Crucis). Call 1-800-POACHER or 919-707-0030 to report illegal activity on the rivers and streams, or in the woods. The Watauga River is a beautiful North Carolina mountain stream located in the vicinity of Boone, Blowing Rock, and Foscoe. It is within easy access to anglers traveling from Charlotte, Morganton, Lenoir, and Statesville. Water levels are excellent and the river has been fishing great. Fish a variety of nymph patterns under an indicator for the best results; copper John's, Sly and the family stones, black rubber legged copper John's, Mercer's micro mayflies, pheasant tails, Y2K's, Hise's eggi juan kenobi's, squirmy wormies, Hise's gooey caddis larvae, sili skin caddis, bead head flashback hares ears, Czech nymphs, depth charge Czech nymphs, San Juan worms, Hise's hetero-genius nymphs, various midge larvae, Hise's ooey gooey grubs, Holy Grails, Duke's Prince John, and lightning bugs, to name a few. Also, dont forget black or white woolly buggers and look for the above mentioned aquatic insects (in the General Synopsis) to be fluttering about throughout the day. Good Luck!

BOONE FORK CREEK- NC

Boone Fork Creek is a catch and release stream that starts at Price Lake dam off of the Blue Ridge Parkway. This stream flows into the Watauga River near Foscoe, NC. Julian Price Park, which is located just outside of Boone, NC, offers the best access. Be aware of the POSTED signs because there are various private stretches on this stream. Use the usual suspects for the wily brown trout, brook char, and rainbow trout in this stream; black woolly buggers, prince nymphs, red hot midges, Hise's hetero-genius nymphs, copper John's, squirmy wormies, San Juan Worms, y2k's, and rainbow warriors have been the most productive patterns.

CURTIS CREEK- NC

McDowell County: Delayed Harvest Section of Curtis Creek (the game land portion downstream of the U.S. Forest Service boundary at Deep Branch). Try fly patterns that produce on any trout stream in North America; bead head flashback hare's ears, pheasant tails, San Juan worms, Hise's eggi juan kenobi's, Holy Grails, rainbow warriors, Hise's ooey gooey grubs, muddler minnows, Hise's hetero-genius nymphs, disco midges, copper John's, glo bugs, and other egg patterns. Keep your eye out for poachers.

NORTH TOE RIVER- NC

Mitchell County: Delayed Harvest Section of North Toe River (U.S. 19E bridge to N.C. 226 bridge). The North Toe is within close proximity to Burnsville, Marion and Spruce Pine, North Carolina. Spruce Pine was recently deemed a Mountain Heritage Trout City for NC Fly Fishing. Your best bet will be to fish under the surface with nymphs and small midge larvae patterns. Try Y2K's, Hise's hetero-genius nymphs, Hise's eggi juan kenobi's, glo bugs, copper John's, pheasant tails, bead head flashback hare's ears, sili skin caddis, rainbow warriors, lightning bugs, gooey caddis larva, squirmie wormy's, ooey gooey grubs, zebra midges, stripper midges, red hot midges, etc..

CANE CREEK- NC

Mitchell County: Delayed Harvest Section of Cane Creek (N.C. 226 bridge to N.C. 80 bridge). Cane Creek is also classified as Mountain Heritage Trout Waters, please refer to the NC Wildlife Commission's Regulations Digest for additional information. Your best bet will be to fish under the surface with woolly buggers and nymphs. Try Y2K's, Hise's hetero-genius nymphs, Hise's eggi juan kenobi's, glo bugs, copper John's, pheasant tails, bead head flashback hare's ears, sili skin caddis, rainbow warriors, lightning bugs, gooey caddis larva, Barr's emergers, squirmie wormy's, ooey gooey grubs, etc..

HELTON CREEK- NC

Ashe County: Delayed Harvest Section of Helton Creek (Virginia state line to the New River confluence). Helton Creek is running flush and the angling has been fair this winter. Fish a variety of nymph patterns under an indicator for the best results; copper John's, Mercer's micro mayflies, pheasant tails, Y2K's, Hise's eggi juan kenobi's, squirmy wormies, Hise's gooey caddis larvae, sili skin caddis, bead head flashback hares ears, Czech nymphs, depth charge Czech nymphs, San Juan worms, Hise's hetero-genius nymphs, various midge larvae (like red hot midge), Hise's ooey gooey grubs, Holy Grails, Duke's Prince John, and lightning bugs, to name a few. Also, dont forget black or white woolly buggers.

DAVIDSON RIVER- NC

The catch and release regulated section of the Davidson River is known, to many anglers, as one of the top fly fishing rivers on the east coast. This is due, in part, to its excellent population of large trout and regularly occurring hatches (look for mostly midges and occassionally tiny BWO's this time of the year). The river is flowing great so you'll want to fish with mostly tiny bugs and fine tippet (from the tubes upstream of the hatchery to just below the parking lot). Try miniscule BWO nymphs, small black stones, midge larvae patterns (size 22-30), and small worm patterns. Specific patterns include zebra midges, red hot midges, Hise's hetero-genius nymphs, pheasant tails, rainbow warriors, epoxy buzzers, disco midges, stripper midges, Sly and the family stones, black rubber leg copper John's, flash midges, RS2's, WD40's, WD50's, Mercer's micro mayflies, bionic brassies, and brassies.

MITCHELL RIVER- NC

Surry County: Delayed Harvest Section of Mitchell River (0.6 mile upstream of the end of S.R. 1333 to the S.R. 1330 bridge below Kapps Mill Dam). Mitchell River is within close proximity to Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Elkin, and Greensboro. Fish a variety of nymph patterns under an indicator for the best results; copper John's, Mercer's micro mayflies, pheasant tails, Y2K's, Hise's eggi juan kenobi's, squirmy wormies, Hise's gooey caddis larvae, sili skin caddis, bead head flashback hares ears, shaky worms, Czech nymphs, depth charge Czech nymphs, San Juan worms, Hise's hetero-genius nymphs, various midge larvae, Hise's ooey gooey grubs, Holy Grails, Duke's Prince John, and lightning bugs, to name a few. Also, dont forget black or white woolly buggers.

SOUTH MOUNTAIN STATE PARK- NC

Burke County: Delayed Harvest Section of Jacob Fork Creek (from Shinny Creek to lower South Mountains State Park boundary). The Delayed Harvest section of Jacob Fork Creek in South Mountain State Park is in close proximity to Charlotte, Hickory, Morganton, Valdese, and Statesville. Call 1-800-POACHER or 919-707-0030 to report illegal activity on the rivers and streams, or in the woods. Use the usual suspects; pheasant tails, rainbow warriors, glo bugs, Y2K's, Hise's hetero-genius nymphs, Holy Grails, Mercer's micro mayflies, copper John's, zebra midges, disco midges, Hise's eggi juan kenobi's, lightning bugs, squirmy wormies, etc.. Fish the dark water until you find fish, then change your flies frequently to catch them.

STONE MOUNTAIN STATE PARK- NC

Wilkes County: Delayed Harvest Sections of East Prong of the Roaring River (the mouth of Bullhead Creek downstream to Stone Mountain State Park boundary line), and Stone Mountain Creek (from falls at Alleghany County line to confluence with East Prong Roaring River and Bullhead Creek). There are more than 17 miles of trout streams in Stone Mountain State Park which is located near Elkin, North Carolina. There are numerous classifications of streams to fish, including a "trophy" section on Bullhead Creek. On Bullhead Creek, anglers pay $15 to fish one of eight beats (or sections) for the entire day. Check out the beautiful Wild Trout streams that can be hiked into and fished. Use the usual suspects; prince nymphs, Hise's hetero-genius nymphs, pheasant tails, lightning bugs, Holy Grails, rainbow warriors, zebra midges, stripper midges, red hot midges, Sly and the family stones, black rubber legged copper John's, hare's ear nymphs, and Y2K's, to name a few.

RAVEN FORK OF THE OCUNALUFTEE RIVER- NC

Roughly 2 miles of the Raven Fork within the Cherokee Indian Reservation (in Western North Carolina) is now open to FLY FISHING ONLY, CATCH AND RELEASE angling. This is an absolutely beautiful, crystal clear river which flows out of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Anglers must possess a valid Cherokee Indian Reservation Enterprise Waters Fishing Permit ($7.00) and the additional Special Use Permit ($20.00 annually) associated with Cherokee Trophy Trout, Catch and Release Waters. Once the river level subside, you'll want to try zebra midges, stripper midges, Sly and the family stones, copper John's, pheasant tails, Barr's emergers, Mercer's micro mayflies, squirmy wormies, white or black woolly buggers, prince nymphs, Hise's hetero-genius nymphs (orange or copper), Ian's brass asses, bionic brassies, and egg patterns, to name a few. When in doubt, go small.

LINVILLE RIVER- NC

The Linville River originates near the Blue Ridge Parkway and a few miles later plunges 85 feet over Linville Falls into the extremely rugged Linville Gorge. The river flows through the Linville Gorge Wilderness for 17 miles, during which it drops 1,880 feet and offers one of the most difficult stretches of whitewater in the eastern United States. Recent reports from the gorge were good. Be careful if you decide to go in; boulder hopping can be dangerous. Use the usual suspects; Hise's Eggi Juan Kenobis, San Juan worms, pheasant tails, Holy Grails, hare's ear nymphs, copper John's, heavyweight stones, Kaufmann's stones, woolly buggers, stimulators, elk hair caddis, and terrestrial patterns.

WILSON CREEK- NC

Caldwell County: Delayed Harvest Section of Wilson Creek (the game lands boundary downstream of Lost Cove Creek to Phillips Branch). The Wilson Creek area is part of the Grandfather District of the Pisgah National Forest. The area is just south of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Grandfather Mountain (just north of Morganton). Wilson Creek was added to the National Wild and Scenic River System in 2000. The headwaters are below Calloway Peak and the creek stretches over 23 miles before emptying into the John's River. Andrews Creek, Lost Cove Creek, and Wilson Creek (upper) are all managed under the NCWRC's Catch and Release, Artificial Lures Only regulations. Other notable streams in the area include North Harper and South Harper Creeks which are managed under the NCWRC's Wild Trout regulations. The Delayed Harvest section (roughly 3 miles) is open and the reports have been excellent up to this point. River levels are high but the fishing has been good. Use the usual suspects; copper John's, Mercer's micro mayflies, Sly and the family stones, pheasant tails, Y2K's, Hise's eggi juan kenobi's, squirmy wormies, Hise's gooey caddis larvae, sili skin caddis, bead head flashback hares ears, Czech nymphs, depth charge Czech nymphs, San Juan worms, Hise's hetero-genius nymphs, various midge larvae, Hise's ooey gooey grubs, Holy Grails, Duke's Prince John, red hot midges, disco midges, stripper midges, and lightning bugs, to name a few. Also, dont forget black or white woolly buggers.

NANTAHALA RIVER- NC

Macon County: Delayed Harvest Section of Nantahala River (Whiteoak Creek to Nantahala hydropower discharge canal). The river is running high due to problems with the dam. Utilize dark or bright, heavily weighted patterns to get down to the trout. Go with black stone nymphs, dark mayfly nymphs, and patterns such as woolly buggers (white or black), Hise's big fly big fish, eggi juan kenobis, butt ugly boogers, medusas, and egg patterns.

TUCKASEEGEE RIVER- NC

Jackson County: Delayed Harvest Section of Tuckasegee River (N.C. 107 bridge at Love Field to the Dillsboro dam). NCWRC put close to 20,000 new fish in the system this fall. The Tuckaseegee River flows through the towns of Sylva, Webster, and Dillsboro North Carolina. It is a large river that fishes well throughout the year. Fish with similar patterns to those used on other Delayed Harvest streams and Tail Water rivers. Don't forget egg and worm patterns. Be sure to check the generation schedules before you make the trek.

SMOKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK- HAZEL CREEK, FORNEY CREEK, EAGLE CREEK, etc. NC

More reports in the spring.

MOUNTAIN WILD TROUT STREAMS- NC

Stealth on the approach and a good presentation are the keys to success while fishing these small streams. Always remember, wild trout (and brook char) are very opportunistic and will eat just about anything when it is presented properly (and if not spooked). Try pheasant tails, Hise's heterogenius nymphs, tellico nymphs, Mercer's micro mayflies, hare's ears, lightning bugs, Ian's brass asses, Hise's sili skin caddis, and copper John's. Also, muddler minnows, Mickey Finn's, wooly buggers, and black nosed dace swung and stripped around can be quite productive.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Useful Links:

Link to the Duke Energy generation schedule----Duke Energy Generation Schedule

Link to the NCWRC stocking reports and other information----North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

Link to the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission Home Page----North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

Link to the USGS stream and river levels for North Carolina and beyond----United States Geological Survey

Link to weather conditions in North Carolina from the Weather Channel----North Carolina Weather Report

Link to professional fly fishing reports which are updated weekly by Orvis Endorsed Operations throughout the world. They include information like flows and tides, conditions, recommended flies and equipment, and special fishing tips for the most important fly-fishing destinations in North America. Plan your next fishing trip knowing you'll arrive without any surprises or discover some new fishing destinations in your area. Check it out, it was created by Tom Rosenbauer. Orvis Endorsed Fishing Reports

__________________________________________________________________________________________