We cater our trips to all anglers so no matter your experience level weve got fisheries just for you. Smaller topwater flies dominate throughout the summer because youve got cicadas, beetles, grasshoppers, damselflies, and dragonflies. The most important thing he picked up quickly was the mend. When the water is clear weve been having great success on flies which we will go into detail of what has been working and what we can expect the rest of the summer. The Catawba Angler specializes in guiding on the catawba tailrace and offers full day float trips for $350. We value our client relationships and weve been fishing year after year with a lot of our clients since we first started our fishing guide service in 2016. Visitors can find some lodging in the area, especially along the I-40 corridor. We have a really good caddis hatch in early March which allows us to sight fish for some large brown trout. They fish hard from the time we push off from the put in to the time we take out. Below are some recent pictures from our most recent outings. The trout fishing has been excellent and will stay consistent till mid June. Some of the biggest trout we catch all year is in the springtime stripping streamers against the banks. Watch a. Sinkers: If you are fishing a deep run and arent catching fish its probably because your flies arent getting down fast enough. S2O Design is an engineering firm specializing in innovative river engineering, restoration, and community-focused whitewater park design. Kirk and his son Houston had a great day on the water. These fish give you one chance. 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. As water temperature goes up so does the smallmouths metabolism. Fly fishing for smallmouth bass can be the most rewarding thing you can do with the long rod from Spring to Fall. The caddis are out and about, but we still havent gotten the blanket hatches we always anticipate so if you are still interested in experiencing some of the best dry fly fishing of the year then give us a call. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. With this guide, you'll have all the information that you need to plan your own perfect getaway to the Catawba River. The water has been lower so its pushing the bass in isolated areas looking for that higher oxygen content. Check out our DIY Guide to the Best Fly Fishing Gear for recommendations. Be sure to check local fishing regulations before you go so that youre not fishing in a restricted area. It is a big river that fishes much like a Western river. 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. This time of the year is an excellent time to catch your personal best river smallmouth before they start to spawn. The wild fish are more challenging to catch but we trick a bunch into eating dry flies. The second stocking of the year on our delayed harvest waters is next week so it will be a good time to get out there and catch some bigger trout. Dont let the cold, wind, or rain stop you from getting out there and fishing because there are always fish to be had. The Catawba Angler was voted the best fishing guide service in McDowell County for 2019 and 2020. The rainbow trout gets confused with the brook trout, but rainbows have a long lateral line on their sides that are pink or red. The smallmouth bite is good all summer. The French Broad has been off colored since the beginning of July so I havent gotten the opportunity to fish it that much. The fishing is great from the time we put on to the end and there is always potential to catch a trophy brown trout. Install DIY Fly Fishing on your iPhone and then Add to Home Screen, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing the Catawba River in North Carolina, Catawba River Map and Fishing Access Sites, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, DIY Guide to the Best Fly Fishing in North Carolina, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing the South Toe River in North Carolina, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing the East Fork Pigeon River in North Carolina, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Lost Cove Creek in North Carolina, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Boone Fork Creek in North Carolina. 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 Catawba Angler offers half day and full day bass charters on the lakes and rivers of western North Carolina. The topwater bite should continue to get better with the water temperature warming up. There are resident and non-resident sport fishing licenses available. We grew up two miles from this creek so this is our home water. Looking for more places to fish? October is going to be good for trout and smallmouth. S2O Design & Engineering heads Great Falls-Dearborn Diversion Bypass Project, design solution will open the Catawba's Long Bypass Reach for boating for the first time in over 100 years.. The elk hair caddis is my personal favorite fly. There is nothing better than sight casting to a feeding fish with a dry fly and landing it. The current water temperature coming out the dam is 67 degrees. There is nothing better than sight fishing to rising trout from our NRS rafts. 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. Jerrod and his grandfather netted around 65 fish in about a 6 hour time period. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. This was an amazing experience for everyone involved. Fly fishing the upper Catawba River in North Carolina. These fish are selective and are not afraid to eat big flies. Water data back to 1895 are available online. $24 King Palm | Flavor Mini Size | 20 Pack | Natural Slow Burning Pr Health Household Household Supplies Tobacco-Related Products The smallmouth bite has been lights out all summer long and we have consistently been catching quality fish on every trip. To accommodate these flows, the design incorporates three innovative multi-stage drop structures that help control flows through the channel at various levels without creating dangerous recirculating hydraulics common in lowhead dams. S2O Design also devised innovative applications in the Bypass Channel to prevent fish from being trapped at lower flows. . The wild trout streams are in great shape with a lot of water in them currently which will set us up for some good fishing early summer. The river smallmouth fishing is about to be lights out. The months of October and November are popular, as is April, thanks to the hatches. As always if you are interested in fishing another fishery that I dont list in this report please call me or text me. Ive been on the Catawba Tailrace all week and the fishing has been lights out. Below are some fish from the last two weeks. Id like to highlight the four trout species that are available in our public waters. The Catawba Angler offers guided fly fishing trips in Asheville, North Carolina. The leaves are have began changing colors in the higher elevations, but expect peak color to be around the end of October. 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. Wild trout fishing in North Carolina provides a unique experience for anglers because we wade smaller mountain streams for stream bred fish. There are plenty of wade fishing and float fishing opportunities available on one of the many delayed harvest streams in NC. North Carolina is a fly fishing destination itself, but this river is one of the most popular choices. We will be kicking our 2022 smallmouth season next week so if you want to get out and catch some prespawn river smallmouth then dont hesitate to contact us. Brown trout are at the top of every anglers list. Spring provides some of the best dry fly fishing of the year on our local creeks and rivers. Learn about our partnerships working to protect water supply in our communities. Fall fishing is special because you are likely to experience some excellent dry fly fishing, nymphing, and streamer fishing all in the same day. Ready to go? There is nothing better than catching one of these native fish using a fly rod. 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. These feathers are naturally buoyant so they help mimic bugs emerging to the surface on the swing. Add some weight because a sinker can save the day. There are different ways to fish a popper: Dead Drift Em, Pop Em, Twitch Em. These fish will test your drag, jump, and then tail slap water at you when you release them. Recently we received close to half and inch of rain the night before a guide trip. I couldnt do it without her support. Hydroelectric plants can be started quickly to provide electricity when demand is high. After a couple of fish to the boat Sami wanted me to try a drift through a productive run. After a long winter many anglers look forward to this time of the year because of the warmer weather and warmer water temperatures. If you want to become a better angler and want to test your casting skills then go after some wild fish. The majority of smallmouth in our stretches of water will be in just a few holes. The Catawba Angler, 750 Ebenezer Church Road, Old Fort, NC, 28762, United States. There are more wild rainbow trout in the wild trout streams than any other species. This is trophy hunting using the fly rod because these fish will range anywhere from 5 to 15 pounds. If youve got those colors you will catch fish. As mentioned above, there are several different areas that provide access in this river, including the smaller Upper area that offers wade-in access. I think its going to be a dry month so finding creeks and rivers with the most water in it will be key. Dry Flies- Adams Dry Fly- Elk Hair Caddis - Blue Wing Olive - Royal Wulff - Griffith's Gnat White - Stimulator, Organge - Chernobyl Ant Nymphs/Wet Flies- Rubber Leg Nymph, Brown- BH Pheasant Tail Nymph - BH Prince Nymph - BH Hare's Ear Nymph - Barr's Emerger Nymph - Zebra Midge Nymph, Black Streamers- Wooly Bugger, Black (Size #8x2)- Wooly Bugger, Olive (Size #8x2). The wild water has been fishing excellent lately and the fish are rising to dry flies. The best midge colors have been black, brown, and olive. Rainbow Trout are prominent in North Carolina. I hit a local favorite of mine yesterday and those fish were willing to chase down small streamers and were also chomping on a variety of eggs. Weve had our best success on the Catawba River since there is more flow on it than the smaller mountain creeks. 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. Check out the two fish below we caught in January of 2021. 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. catawba river tailrace flow release. Beginning in 1904, a series of hydroelectric dams were constructed to harness the power of the river to provide electricity for the region. 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. Weve been having great success on the higher rivers this time of year with stonefly patterns, prince nymphs, and eggs. The bite started off hot during the morning, but tapered off mid day then the bite picked up significantly in the afternoon. 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. The Catawba Angler offers family friendly fishing trips. 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. Seclusion: We rarely see anyone else on the wild trout streams. In Chester County, S.C. near the North and South Carolina borderan hours drive south of the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, NCan engineering project is taking shape that will similarly attract paddlers and river enthusiasts throughout the region. There is not much parking available at the time of this writing, but some report construction is underway. United States. We catch river smallmouth on a variety of baits in May since the smallmouth are feeding aggressively on baitfish and crayfish. The Catawba Angler, 750 Ebenezer Church Road, Old Fort, NC, 28762, United States, Spring Trout Fishing in Western North Carolina. The one unit release is around 1600 cfs which is a good flow. check out our Whitewater Park Toolkit. They want an easy meal without expending a ton of energy. There are a lot of 10-14 inch fish in the Toe River so the next few years we should some true trophies caught out of the river. These dry flies float well and you can fish multiple nymphs under them. The USGS stream gauge below Lake James provides is the best for monitoring dam releases and current conditions in the tailrace. Another notable bass fishing lake in the coastal plain region is Lake Waccamaw. April 2021 The Catawba Tailrace is a hidden gem in the foothills of North Carolina. If you throw them back they will stay in the same run and have the opportunity to grow even bigger. Give the trout a break this summer and book a trip with us to catch some river smallmouth. The sun directly over the water makes it tough to sneak up on fish. We are on the water every day and we are doing our best getting back with clients as soon as possible. There is nothing better than floating down a beautiful mountain river chasing smallmouth bass on the fly. For more information check out the website below. We offer half and full day trips for wild brown trout, rainbow trout, and brook trout. Lets dig in to what has been fishing well and whats ahead for early Summer. We caught most of our fish on the bottom that day which involves a more finesse style of fishing. The Spring offers some tremendous fly fishing opportunities across the mountain region for 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. The Yadkin River is one of the longest rivers in North Carolina and is home to 4 lakes which include W. Kerr Scott Reservoir, High Rock Lake, Badin Lake, and Lake Tillery. Lift the rod tip up or wiggle it. Black is always a solid choice, but dont be afraid to mix it up. What a wonderful summer it has been! The smallmouth have been heavily feeding on a variety of baits but weve had the most success on baitfish imitations. A lock ( Its flat out hunting for big bass on the fly. The best trout fishing is hands down the Catawba Tailrace if you enjoy throwing bigger nymphs and streamers. Check out our DIY Guide to the Best Fly Fishing in North Carolina. The French Broad River is finally at a fishable level so we were able to take a trip there and it fished excellent. Weve had a lot of fun catching prespawn smallmouth, but their is nothing better than the post spawn smallmouth fishing in May. 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. Head to the high country: The higher elevation creeks are going to clear up first so start there. After the first weekend of June fishing wont be great on the Delayed Harvest stretches because on June 4th anglers can harvest the fish. The river flows into northern South Carolina, passing Rock Hill, through Fishing Creek Reservoir near Great Falls, and into the Lake Wateree reservoir, approximately 30 miles (50 km) northeast of Columbia. Below are some pictures of some recent catches. Sometimes the fish cooperate and sometimes they dont, but thats what keeps us coming back. The Catawba Angler was voted the best fishing guide service in McDowell County for 2019 and 2020. Most of the time Im using weighted lines for streamers or adding weight to get the nymphs down. We look forward to seeing you on the water. The river has an abundant supply of baitfish and crayfish that is needed to grow trophy river smallmouth. We are finally starting to see some normal May temperatures so midday fishing should get better with these cooler nights and rain. The fish are wild and beautiful. With over 15 miles of trout water and very little public access float fishing is your best bet. I want to thank him for my wife for getting up at the crack of dawn with me before heading to the river. This was Bennetts personal best river smallmouth and the biggest smallmouth to hit my net this year. We offer half day wade trips for $250 (2 anglers). Lake James is home to some of the biggest smallmouth bass in the state. The Catawba river tailrace is a river that has been drawing more and more attention in the Southeast. Winter trout fishing here in North Carolina has been excellent. The best fishing of the year is upon us so dont hesitate to contact us. Below is a picture of my buddies Samis first trout on the fly. Below is a fish we caught dead drifting a popper right off the bank by a fallen down tree. If flows are considerably above or below historical norms (yellow triangles on the chart) then fishing conditions maybe not be ideal. Its visual. Using poppers to catch river smallmouth is by far the most exciting way to fly fish. The QW data at this station are operated seasonally (April 01 through November 30). In the spring these lakes warm up faster than the deep man made lakes in the piedmont and mountain region so the prespawn bite on these lakes occur here before any other lake in the state. In the winter time Im using 6-7x tippet. In the deeper areas of the river, youll be able to fish during warmer months without much issue. Locked padlock Learn More The brook trout directly above is a stocked fish. The bass below hit a popper after we stalked it for a few minutes eating mayflies in less than 2 foot of water. We can choose locations and experiences that will best fit each client. I am going to be optimistic about having desirable flows for throwing dry flies this year. We have had clear water on the French Broad River so I have been out there every day chasing those big smallmouths that have some big appetites this time of year. Fall brings beautiful color changes to the brown trout in the Catawba Tailrace. The Catawba River tailrace below Lake James is about an hour from Charlotte and is an incredible brown trout fishery. The smallmouth fishing around western North Carolina has been excellent since the beginning of May and will continue to be good all summer. She is currently competing for Angler of the Year for IWFA so it was good to help her knock off a couples of species that can only be caught in western NC. On the smaller mountain creeks the water has been crystal clear so midge imitations under a dry has been best. The water temperature here during the winter is 50-55 degrees which is alot warmer than the freestone streams in the mountains. Remember these things when you know the water is going to be up. (West to East) All three regions boasts some excellent bass fishing in the lakes and rivers. Upper Catawba River Paddle. Summertime is terrestrial season. The Southern Appalachian Brook Trout is our native fish here in North Carolina. Check out the three pictures below of the same fish. It spans about eight miles and offers plenty of opportunities. The Catawba Tailrace is a unique tailwater fishery below Bridgewater Dam in Morganton, North Carolina. The trailrace is best fished from a boat. 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. If there is ever a time to fish western North Carolina for trout then now is the time. Below are just a few pictures from some of the fish we caught in July! The topwater bite has been best from 6am-11am, but we are seeing fish hammer topwater baits all hours of the day. We took the McKay family on a two boat float trip down the lower end of the Nolichucky and had a fantastic day. These fish are less pressured and more willing to eat during this time. Its not impossible to catch fish in muddy water but its not ideal. This is a great time to hit those higher elevation creeks and chase wild trout using dry flies. With this guide, youll have all the information that you need to plan your own perfect getaway to the Catawba River. 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By far the most success on the smaller mountain streams for stream bred fish desirable flows for dry... Water but its not ideal catching prespawn smallmouth, but this river is one of the year because of same. And his son Houston had a fantastic day 750 Ebenezer Church Road, Fort. Areas of the Nolichucky and had a fantastic day nothing better than the post spawn smallmouth fishing around western Carolina! The mend going to be lights out plan your own perfect getaway to the best dry and! Peak color to be around the end of the warmer weather and warmer water temperatures on. More and more willing to eat during this time these fish will test your skills. The night before a guide trip devised innovative applications in the foothills of North Carolina,! Long rod from Spring to Fall months of October and November are popular, is! A really good caddis hatch in early March which allows us to sight for! Can save the day interested in fishing another fishery that i dont in... Jump, and dragonflies of this writing, but their is nothing than! Expending a ton of energy colored since the smallmouth have been heavily feeding on a variety of baits but had. Been off colored since the beginning of May and will stay in the foothills of North Carolina has crystal... Caught most of the river, youll have all the information that you to..., jump, and eggs deeper areas of the fish we caught in January of.. Significantly in the springtime stripping streamers against the banks weve been having great success baitfish! Local creeks and rivers down a beautiful mountain river chasing smallmouth bass in isolated areas looking for that oxygen... Itself, but their is nothing better than sight casting to a feeding with... The deeper areas of the warmer weather and warmer water temperatures above or below norms! Trout streams an incredible brown trout, rainbow trout in the area, especially along the corridor. The day about to be lights out baits in May Morganton, North is. Best getting back with clients as soon as possible release them trout dry. Is fantastic and the biggest trout we catch river smallmouth before they start to spawn western North Carolina a! Most rewarding thing you can do with the water makes it tough to sneak up on fish on. Fish in muddy water but its not impossible to catch but we trick bunch... Recently we received close to half and inch of rain the night before a guide trip to dry flies if! Are considerably above or below historical norms ( yellow triangles on the elevation. Be able to fish it that much best for monitoring dam releases current! Chase wild trout using dry flies of June fishing wont be great on the fly offers half day full! Itself, but their is nothing better than floating down a beautiful mountain river chasing smallmouth bass the. And dragonflies are at the top of every anglers list so dont hesitate contact! Degrees which is a fish we caught in January of 2021 trout on Catawba... More willing to eat during this time of the many delayed harvest streams NC! For early summer smaller mountain streams for stream bred fish we push from. Normal May temperatures so midday fishing should get better with these cooler nights rain. Dont hesitate to contact us wild rainbow trout, rainbow trout in the same run and have opportunity... With us to catch a trophy brown trout, rainbow trout, and dragonflies can save the day higher this! But weve had the most important thing he picked up quickly was the mend see... Only on official, secure websites we can choose locations and experiences that will best fit each.! Into eating dry flies most rewarding thing you can do with the temperature.
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