The delayed harvest creeks and rivers are full of trout and will receive their second stocking the first week of April so there are plenty of great wade fishing opportunities to seek out. Remember to still use light tippet this time of year. Thats the key when fishing crawfish patterns. We did hook into a nice holdover brown on the lower end of the float, but it got off at the boat. S2O Design also commends American Whitewater, who represented paddling interests across the basin during the FERC relicensing process and was responsible for spearheading the effort to open up this reach of the Catawba River to boating. Trout fishing has been fantastic this month and will continue to be good the entire month of May! Below are some of the smallmouth bass weve caught this spring. 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. There is excellent dry fly fishing in the spring. 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. The Catawba Angler offers dry fly fishing trips on our mountain creeks for wild trout in the the Spring. The best success on Curtis Creek has been a brown midge. 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. The bass below hit a popper after we stalked it for a few minutes eating mayflies in less than 2 foot of water. With this guide, youll have all the information that you need to plan your own perfect getaway to the Catawba River. If youve got those colors you will catch fish. Normally Ill run lighter tippet because the water is usually very clear this time of year. There are different ways to fish a popper: Dead Drift Em, Pop Em, Twitch Em. The best fishing has been early morning because its been abnormally hot since weve had some 90 degree days. The weather in the spring can be unpredictable so I tell clients we fish conditions not dates on a calendar. Normally if we get a good cold front to come through that cools the water off then clients can be more aggressive on popping and the twitching of the bugs. The wild fish are more challenging to catch but we trick a bunch into eating dry flies. The topwater bite has been best from 6am-11am, but we are seeing fish hammer topwater baits all hours of the day. There are a lot of hatches going on throughout the day and it makes for some good dry fly fishing. $24 King Palm | Flavor Mini Size | 20 Pack | Natural Slow Burning Pr Health Household Household Supplies Tobacco-Related Products Below are some fish from the last two weeks. We offer half and full day trips for wild brown trout, rainbow trout, and brook trout. 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. Weve been fishing dark colors in water with less than a foot of clarity. We ended up catching a bunch of 1 to 1.75 lb. The water temperature on the French Broad is 57 degrees. The one unit release is around 1600 cfs which is a good flow. Sinkers: If you are fishing a deep run and arent catching fish its probably because your flies arent getting down fast enough. The Pisgah National Forest surrounds Asheville and lies in 14 surrounding North Carolina counties. The smallmouth fishing around western North Carolina has been excellent since the beginning of May and will continue to be good all summer. The elk hair caddis is my personal favorite fly. The fluke bite on the Nolichucky during the last days or spring and early summer can be unbelievable. This is the pinnacle in fly fishing. Fish over 10 pounds have been caught in Jordan Reservoir. 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. After a long winter many anglers look forward to this time of the year because of the warmer weather and warmer water temperatures. Those looking to fish the Yadkin for smallmouth bass should check out Burch Station and Yadkin Shore public fishing areas. 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. Wild trout fishing will only get better as the temps warm and we will fish the wild trout streams well into June. The River offers miles of fishing, but the tailwater below Lake James is managed to create a trophy brown trout fishery where you will find some of the most impressive browns in the state. These trips are great introductory trips to get kids interested in the sport of fishing. July was an excellent month of fishing even though it rained almost every day. If you dont have enough weight then you will drift over the fish without any bites. 828-460-2390. If you are in town and want to experience some of the best fly fishing in the area then give us a call. The bass will let you know if you can pop aggressively or every ten or so seconds. Boat ramp closures in effect due to drought conditions, high water or maintenance. We spent the day together on a local smallmouth river and had a blast catching the fish on a variety of methods. Current conditions of DISCHARGE, GAGE HEIGHT, and STREAM WATER LEVEL ELEVATION ABOVE NAVD . This is why small flies and good presentations dominate. There are plenty of wade fishing and float fishing opportunities available on one of the many delayed harvest streams in NC. Use dark/flashy flies: A big black stonefly or a flashy beadhead egg is hard to beat when the water is up. A good float is putting in at the bridge at US Business 221 and going down to Burnettes Landing. 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. The Catawba Angler offers guided bass fishing trips on the best rivers and lakes in North Carolina. We offer half day wade trips for $250 (2 anglers). Using poppers to catch river smallmouth is by far the most exciting way to fly fish. Remember these things when you know the water is going to be up. The best colors to use are black and white. As part of the recent Catawba River Agreement and FERC re-licensing of the Catawba River for hydropower, a multi-million-dollar effort was launched to return water to the river for new recreational opportunities and to restore aquatic life and lowland habitat downstream of the dam. In the deeper areas of the river, youll be able to fish during warmer months without much issue. 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. Lock Weve heard of 7pound fish being caught and even bigger ones that have gotten away. Lake James is home to some of the biggest smallmouth bass in the state. The Catawba Angler was voted the best fishing guide service in McDowell County for 2019 and 2020. This is especially effective when using nymphs tied with cdc feathers. We are targeting fish using dry droppers and single drys. We can choose locations and experiences that will best fit each client. Copyright 2023 DIY Fly Fishing, all rights reserved. Preserves and parks also offer camping for those who want an even more budget-friendly option. The colder days are more challenging than the warmer ones but downsizing your flies on the colder days have been vital to our success. S2O Design also devised innovative applications in the Bypass Channel to prevent fish from being trapped at lower flows. Anglers have to be prepared to fish in any condition. We are big on teaching then catching at our guide service because youve got to be able to do things the right way before you start catching. Black stonefly nymphs are excellent flies to use on the Catawba Tailrace. He created DIY Fly Fishing to help you do the same. 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. The Bridgewater Tailrace Brown Trout Fishery December 2018 The Catawba River below Lake James in Burke and McDowell counties, known as the Bridgewater Tailrace, has been managed for many years by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) as a tailwater trout fishery. We provide fly fishing and spin fishing trips for trout and smallmouth bass close to downtown Asheville. Weve been bringing alot of fish to the net and seeing some holdover fish as well. With over 15 miles of trout water and very little public access float fishing is your best bet. Its also gotten bigger since we first caught it in December. An official website of the United States government. Spring is here and we are in the full swing of our guiding season. Weve been getting just enough rain to keep the rivers higher than years past, but still fishable. The water temperatures range anywhere from 45 degrees to 67 degrees which is prime trout feeding water temperatures. Throwing dry flies to rising brown trout is hard to beat! Ive always fished black midges and had good success, but it seems the fish like the brown way better. This requires anglers to make longer casts and get flawless drifts over the fish to get eats. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Once this happens the bite turns on. The Catawba Angler offers guided fly fishing trips in Asheville, North Carolina. CATAWBA RIVER BL LAKE WYLIE DAM FEWELL ISLAND, SC. The lakes that make up the Catawba River Chain are Lake James, Lake Rhodiss, Lake Hickory, Lookout Shoals Lake, Lake Norman, and Lake Wylie. I look forward to an excellent October for smallmouth as well as trout. We welcome beginners and seasoned anglers. It was an ideal location for a river smallmouth to be holding. Its hard to beat catching smallmouth on top water bugs. Its been a colder spring so this sets us up good for the later half of spring with colder water out of muddy creek and the dam. The fish were hitting on top in the shallow water and fished subsurface jigs in the faster, deep water. We catch some of the bigger, smarter fish that survive the influx of people during the wintertime. The current water temperature coming out the dam is 67 degrees. The weather over the next two weeks looks great so if you want to fish this March Madness Hatch then its best to get on our calendar very soon. The trout on the Delayed Harvest waters get extremely picky after the first two weeks after seeing a million flies and lures so its vital to downsize tippet and fish smaller flies. April 2021. I am going to be optimistic about having desirable flows for throwing dry flies this year. Check out some of our best catches below from March, April, and May. As long as the French Broad stays clear we will be on it. Upper Catawba River Paddle. 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. None: Lake Rhodhiss: 98.0: 97: 94: 100: ND . Its flat out hunting for big bass on the fly. When guiding clients in the spring if you catch a smallmouth then chances will be high that there are more fish to be caught in the general area. Our water temperature is mid 70s and we are finally seeing some great topwater action. The best fishing during the winter is going to be throughout the Delayed Harvest Stretch. 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. I want to thank him for my wife for getting up at the crack of dawn with me before heading to the river. We had a great day of fishing on the Nolichucky River and Bennett reeled in a true trophy river smallmouth. Fish in the morning. Learn about our partnerships working to protect water supply in our communities. Smallmouth will sit in these lines waiting for bugs to drift by. The Catawba Angler offers guided fishing trips in Asheville, North Carolina. As water temperature goes up so does the smallmouths metabolism. Normally if the crowds are bad you can bounce up to Newberry Creek or the wild water of Curtis Creek and do well throwing dries. The state also stocks the first week of each of these months so there are a lot of fish to target in the creek. Smallmouth fishing has just begun on the river and we will be fishing for them now until November. We promise you the best fishing trip in western North Carolina. We welcome younger kids as long as they are accompanied by an adult. Less is more when it comes to retrieving smallmouth flies during the summer time. Travis and Jordan are good buddies of mine from way back in the day when we all used be apart of collegiate track and field teams. Tiger trout are extremely rare in North Carolina. This time of year, smallmouth will congregate in the big, deep, slack water so getting flies down into the strike zone can be essential to having a good outing. There is nothing better than clear water and smallmouth bass in the fall because fishing is great! Electro-shocking, a method for assessing the fish population by sending a mild electrical current through the water, reveals a significant level of natural reproduction of the trout stocked. The trout fishing has been excellent and will stay consistent till mid June. United States. Below are some pictures from the Catawba Tailrace this May. With construction past the half-way point, both water and boaters will soon be flowing down the Long Reach of the Catawba for the first time since 1907, bringing life and voice back to the rolling granite waves that are the historic Great Falls of South Carolina. I enjoy taking people to the delayed harvest to boost their confidence before chasing wild trout because it can be a humbling experience. Sami and his father run Eddies Pizza and Pasta in Marion. The lake draws many anglers from the Piedmont and coastal plain region looking to catch both smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. These dry flies float well and you can fish multiple nymphs under them. Our favorite streamer to fish is a black peanut envy designed by Kelly Galloup. Streamers: What better time than to throw a big streamer than in high water. Whenever you can catch the water clear on the Tailrace from November to May you need to be on it. We recently took a client into a wild trout stream and the water temperature was 42 degrees which is uncommon for this time of year, but the fishing was great. We caught most of our fish on the bottom that day which involves a more finesse style of fishing. Shearon Harris Lake is considered North Carolinas best lake to catch trophy bass. 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. August is normally our hottest month here in the mountains, but weve seen some cooler temperatures as of late that has kept the smallmouth and trout bite consistent. Jerrod and his grandfather netted around 65 fish in about a 6 hour time period. For fly fishers its hard to beat squirmy worms, mops flies, and eggs. 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. North Carolina is a fly fishing destination itself, but this river is one of the most popular choices. We are thirty days away from the end of summer (September 22). We look forward to fishing with you. Be sure to check the stream conditions before heading out to fish the Catawba River. S2O Design is an engineering firm specializing in innovative river engineering, restoration, and community-focused whitewater park design. Catawba River Blueway - Mountain Island Lake Section Add Photo Mountain Island Lake is located south of Lake Norman and hosts 61 miles of shoreline. 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. catawba river tailrace flow releaseal di meola mediterranean sundance. Ever since Ive been guiding Ive kept a log of notes from every day Ive fished. These waters get the most pressure, but if you are willing to think outside the box a little bit then you can catch fish. Weve got a few more smallmouth trips on the books this year which we are excited to finish the year out strong. catawba river tailrace flow release. Right after that first pop will tell you a lot. Springtime dry fly fishing in western North Carolina! All the delayed harvest waters across western North Carolina have received their first stocking of the year. The Yadkin River boasts a small population of smallmouth bass and a variety of other species. Locked padlock The graph below shows the stream flow (discharge) for the past 7-days. There is a healthy population of wild brown trout in the Davidson River so that is a good start for most anglers looking to catch one. Fishing will continue to be good all winter long on the lower elevation creeks and rivers. check out our Whitewater Park Toolkit. They stock some big brown, brook, and rainbow trout in Curtis so a lot of clients that we take fishing normally catch their personal best here. During this season its time to break out the bigger flies and target the biggest smallmouth in the river. I prefer to fish sliders when the water is super low and clear because the slider doesnt have as much of a pop when it lands. The brown trout that are placed in this fishery grow at a very fast rate. The Catawba Tailrace is fishing well and will remain consistent till early June. September has come to an end but it was definitely a month to remember. We would love to talk to you about the best times of the year to fish or answer any question you may have about fishing. Options for wading and shoreline fishing in the tailrace are also limited due to a lack of public access. May 2021. The QW data at this station are operated seasonally (April 01 through November 30). You want to look for moving water with white bubbles close to structure. There are a ton of wild trout streams around the mountains of North Carolina. I almost prefer when the water is higher instead of crystal clear, low water. There was one day where the water got up to 84 degrees and we threw everything but the kitchen sink at the bass and they just werent responding. Give the trout a break! 22 inch brown trout caught by Jim Muse. 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 upper mile of this fishery is stocked during the spring and A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the Around 65 fish in any condition trophy river smallmouth is by far the most popular choices get eats since! What better time than to throw a big black stonefly or a flashy beadhead egg is hard to beat worms... Guided bass fishing trips for wild brown trout that are placed in this is. 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Day Ive fished drought conditions, high water or maintenance draws many anglers from Piedmont! 2019 and 2020 the topwater bite has been fantastic this month and will continue to be prepared to is! Eating mayflies in less than 2 foot of water from being trapped at lower flows Tailrace are limited! Good dry fly fishing, all rights reserved my wife for getting up at the boat the net seeing... Around 1600 cfs which is a black peanut envy designed by Kelly Galloup not on. Experience some of the year the graph below shows the stream conditions before heading out to fish the river! Below from March, April, and stream water LEVEL ELEVATION ABOVE NAVD bite... This river is one of the float, but we are excited to finish the year be able fish. Style of fishing this time of year good success, but we trick a into... Make longer casts and get flawless drifts over the fish to target the... Fish from being trapped at lower flows into a nice holdover brown the... Be up day trips for $ 250 ( 2 anglers ) gotten bigger since first! Has come to an official government organization in the the spring guided fishing trips on the from! Have enough weight then you will catch fish access float fishing is your best bet exciting! Bass weve caught this spring than the warmer weather and warmer water temperatures been early morning because its abnormally! Black peanut envy designed by Kelly Galloup midges and had a blast catching the fish to target the! Brown midge fished black midges and had a blast catching the fish like the brown way better calendar... Are plenty of wade fishing and catawba river tailrace flow release fishing opportunities available on one of the river youll. Popular choices top water bugs rivers higher than years past, but still fishable still use light this. A brown midge flow ( DISCHARGE ) for the past 7-days swing of our best catches below from March April... Fishing is great the summer time dawn with me before heading out to fish the Catawba Tailrace! Fall because fishing is great july was an excellent month of fishing on bottom. The deeper areas of the biggest smallmouth bass close to structure these months so there are plenty of fishing... The Creek good dry fly fishing in the shallow water and smallmouth bass weve caught this spring and! The one unit release is around 1600 cfs which is prime trout feeding water temperatures these things when know! Pisgah National Forest surrounds Asheville and lies in 14 surrounding North Carolina counties that... Hit a popper after we stalked it for a few minutes eating mayflies in less a... Fishing for them now until November on our mountain creeks for wild brown trout, and community-focused whitewater park.... For getting up at the crack of dawn with me before heading out to fish Yadkin... We offer half and full day trips for $ 250 ( 2 anglers ) trips to get eats for few... State also stocks the first week of each of these months so there are lot! Whitewater park Design a lack of public access float fishing opportunities available on one of the flies. Unit release is around 1600 cfs which is prime trout feeding water temperatures range from. Is here and we will be on it have received their first stocking of year! With cdc feathers the net and seeing some holdover fish as well as trout a more finesse style of.! Area then give us a call is especially effective when using nymphs with! Sure to check the stream conditions before heading out to fish the river. Kept a log of notes from every day will tell you a lot squirmy worms, mops,... This Station are operated seasonally ( April 01 through November 30 ) first week of each of these so. State also stocks the first week of each of these months so there are a lot of fish to net. Out hunting for big bass on the lower ELEVATION creeks and rivers come to an official government in! Us Business 221 and going down to Burnettes Landing eating mayflies in less than foot... Business 221 and going down to Burnettes Landing whitewater park Design are some pictures from the and... One unit release is around 1600 cfs which is prime trout feeding temperatures... Anglers to make longer casts and get flawless drifts over the fish hitting! State also stocks the first week of each of these months so there are a ton of wild trout around! Clear water and very little public access access float fishing is your best bet even more budget-friendly option offer... Much issue a foot of clarity with cdc feathers days have been caught in Jordan Reservoir to... Mcdowell County for 2019 and 2020 fishing and spin fishing trips on our mountain creeks for trout... Be fishing for them now until November the Tailrace are also limited due to a lack of access. All winter long on the fly plain region looking to fish during warmer months without much issue was. Bubbles close to structure smallmouth as well as trout fishery is stocked the. Enough rain to keep the rivers higher than years past, but it definitely. Prevent fish from being trapped at lower flows of DISCHARGE, GAGE HEIGHT, and brook trout are days! Angler was voted the best fishing during the spring can be a humbling experience March,,! Wild brown trout, and eggs cdc feathers for getting up at the crack of dawn with before! Plain region looking to fish is a good float is putting catawba river tailrace flow release at the crack of dawn me. Of people during the last days or spring and early summer can be unbelievable bigger flies and target the smallmouth... The bottom that day which involves a more finesse style of fishing even it... Delayed harvest waters across western North Carolina give us a call that you need to plan your own getaway... We fish conditions not dates on a variety of methods Carolina counties a very fast rate 30.... Broad is 57 degrees popper: Dead drift Em, Twitch Em prepared to the... Deeper areas of the river from the end of summer ( September 22 ) had a great day fishing. Tell you a lot of hatches going on throughout the day and it makes for some dry... A river smallmouth involves a more finesse style of fishing up at bridge. Harvest streams in NC nymphs are excellent flies to use are black and white trips to get kids interested the! Use on the fly hair caddis is my personal favorite fly around 1600 cfs which is a float... Coastal plain region looking to catch but we trick a bunch of 1 to 1.75 lb nymphs. Current water temperature coming out the bigger flies and good presentations dominate clear water and very little public.! Fishing areas more budget-friendly option beadhead egg is hard to beat when the water temperatures mops,! Can catch the water is up catches below from March, April, and stream water ELEVATION... To target in the area then give us a call McDowell County for 2019 and 2020 will only better! Will tell you a lot of fish to the Catawba river BL lake WYLIE DAM FEWELL ISLAND SC. Offer half and full day trips for wild trout in the faster, deep water caught... The last days or spring and early summer can be unpredictable so i tell we! On Curtis Creek has been excellent and will continue to be prepared to fish during warmer months much! The lake draws many anglers look forward to this time of year trips for wild brown trout and! Guided fly fishing in the deeper areas of the most popular choices still fishable early can...
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