Fly Fishing for Trout in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia

Not much else to report; but, NC Wildlife did re-stock the appropriate streams on May 1st. The trout fishing has been superb throughout trout country. We are having rain storms move through the area on a consistant basis; as a result, the rivers are in great shape, water temps in the 50's with nice flows. Look for moderate temps and a mix of precipitation in the extended forecast, so.... the trout fishing should remain as good as it has been all winter and early spring. Water temperatures will continue to rise within the next month; as a result, hatching activity will increase. In fact, look for a plethura of mayflies; march browns, red quills, dark hendricksons, blue quills, BWO's, and the sulphurs and green drakes will be here soon. At this point, we are seeing cream and black midges (sz.22-26), early black stones (sz.12), black and tan caddis (sz.16-20), and tiny BWO's (20-24); as well as, sporadic activity from the above mentioned mayflies, including yellow drakes (sz.10-12). 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. Try a dry with an emerger or pupae at the end of your rig. Or, fish an average sized nymph pattern (PT, hare's ear, copper john, etc.) and an eggi juan or medusa for some HOT action. Nymph fishing and streamer fishing are still the best bet due to the recent river levels.

SOUTH HOLSTON
Same as usual. The sulphur hatch is just around the corner. Use midge larvae (like disco midges, bionic brassies) and small dark nymphs (like PT's) but throw 'em a curve and try various other patterns; Rosenbauer's rabbit foot, Travis para-emergers, hi-vis parachutes, RS2's, WD40's, WD50's, sparkle duns, scuds, krystal midges, rainbow warriors, Griffith's gnats, Hise's Medusa's and Hise's Eggi Juan Kenobis.

WATAUGA (TENNESSEE)
Get ready! Caddis time is almost here. The system has been fishing well with a variety of small bead head nymphs fished under an indicator (pheasant tails, scuds, San Juan worms, egg patterns, serendipities, Hise's Eggi Juan Kenobis, copper johns, Hise's sili skin caddis, and hares ears, to name a few). Not to mention, the usual midge larvae and pupae are fishing great.

WATAUGA (DELAYED HARVEST NORTH CAROLINA)
Fishing is still on FUEGO! The river is in great shape. Fish some big nasties (i.e. black bunny leeches) or fish a variety of nymph patterns under an indicator; copper johns, pheasant tails, Y2K's, Hise's Eggi Juan Kenobi's, bead head flashback hares ears, San Juan worms, Hise's hetero-genius nymphs, various midge larvae, Hise's ooey gooey grubs, and Holy Grails, to name a few. Try a small woolly bugger for ships and giggles. Hint: Bump your nymphs sporadically as you drift them; it has been a deadly technique.

HELTON CREEK
Helton Creek is fishing excellent with numerous nymph patterns. Bead head flashback hare's ears are working particularly well but also try pheasant tails, San Juan worms, Hise's Eggi Juan Kenobi's, Holy Grails, rainbow warriors, Hise's ooey gooey grubs, Hise's tellico-nesis, muddler minnows, disco midges, and copper john's, to name a few. Don't hesitate to run a double rig with a standard nymph and an emerger or pupa as your lead fly.

DAVIDSON RIVER
The Davidson, below the hatchery, has been fishing well with the usual suspects; TINY BUGS! Fish BWO nymphs and midge larval patterns smaller than size 20 for the best results. Try rainbow warriors, disco midges, flash midges, RS2's, WD40's, WD50's, bionic brassies, brassies, as well as, eggs, San Juan worms, Hise's Eggi Juan Kenobi's, and Hise's Medusa's. Some rather large fish have been taken on larger streamers that resemble small trout.

MITCHELL RIVER
The Mitchell is still fishing well, as are most of the Delayed Harvest streams. Use patterns that are productive on any delayed harvest stream (Watauga, Helton Creek, the Tuck, etc.).

SOUTH MOUNTAIN STATE PARK
It seems as though the poachers have cleaned out the stream once again; the fish were there and now they are few and far between. Fish it the first week of May and you may catch a few. Use the usual suspects; Hise's Eggi Juan Kenobis, San Juan worms, PT's, Holy Grails, hare's ear nymphs, copper johns, egg patterns, wooly buggers, etc.

STONE MOUNTAIN STATE PARK
We have heard similar reports to that of South Mountain; the poachers have done a good job of cleaning out the streams. It's not a good sign when you see mono and a hook hanging from a tree with a dried worm attached to it. Fish it the first week of May and you may catch a few. Use the usual suspects; Hise's Eggi Juan Kenobis, hare's ears, San Juan worms, PT's, Holy Grails, hare's ear nymphs, copper johns, egg patterns, wooly buggers, etc.

LINVILLE RIVER
The Linville has been fishing superb. We've seen small BWO's in the morning, caddis in the early afternoon and the larger spring mayflies in the late afternoon. This should be the trend for the next few weeks if the water temps stay similar to what they are now- low to mid 50's. Use the usual suspects; Hise's Eggi Juan Kenobis, San Juan worms, PT's, Holy Grails, hare's ear nymphs, copper johns, egg patterns, wooly buggers, etc. The real hot pattern was Hise's heterogenius nymph.

PRIVATE STREAM ACCESS
The private streams in Virginia are still fishing superb. We are consistanlty landing 16-22 inch fish and on occassion are lucky enough to land fish between 22 and 30 inches (4-10lb. fish). Water temps are in the mid 40's and the water levels are superb. Use the usual suspects for flies; prince nymphs, tellicos, bead head black stones, pheasant tails, serendipities, San Juans, Hise's Eggi Juan Kenobi's (pink), Hise's hetero-genius nymphs, Hise's tellico-nesis, black and olive conehead woolly buggers, black bunny leeches, peachy zonker, Hise's gettin jiggy wit' it, and egg patterns. Swing streamers under a sink-tip or indicator nymph the deeper pools and tailouts and retreive the flies accordingly; as to represent the insects (and stream critters) natural behavior as they meander along the stream bed. Good luck!

YOUR FAVORITE WILD STREAMS
The wild streams are beginning to fish a little better; but, should turn on soon. Water temps are still chilly but the little twinkies are still warming up. Get out and take a hike!

Get out and enjoy the outdoors this Spring--- fly fish North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee ; )

Useful links:

Link to the NCWRC stocking reports and other information----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 from the Weather Channel----The Weather Channel