Rain, Just In Time For Labor Day!

It's pouring here at the shop as I write this, and thanks to Tropical Depression Fay, we're supposed to get up to 4 inches of rain in the next 2-3 days. That's excellent news, considering we're headed into the Labor Day weekend and the phone has been ringing off the hook with people asking about fishing trips and conditions. Fay's soggy remnants are just what the doctor ordered to bump up our droughty water levels as we head into fall. The North Fork is almost back to her ol' self, and even prior to today's rain, water temperatures were only topping out in the mid-60s thanks to cooler nights. So hopefully the worst of the 2008 drought is behind us and autumn will continue to bring good fishing and ample rain.  

We've had some wonderful days of trout fishing lately, on backcountry brook trout streams, the Davidson and on our private waters, which seemed to weather the drought much better than last August. Guide Mac Marett found some physically fit folks willing to hike into Panthertown and the Pigeon watershed in search of wild brookies, including Jack S. of South Carolina and Mark and Jill H. from Missouri. The water temperatures remained cool enough to keep the "specs" active; everyone hooked fish in the double digits, on dry flies ranging from Mac's Blowfly to Streambank Hoppers. 

On the 15th and 16th, the King family from Chapel Hill took an All-Day School of Trout on the private waters, followed by a public water wade trip on the Davidson. Mrs. King and her son are both natives of France, but both spoke English far better than Mac and I speak French, that's for sure! With their newfound casting skills, everyone landed a bunch of fat rainbows and a few wild browns. Foam terrestrials and tiny nymph droppers on 6X did the trick. Their day on the Davidson was equally as productive, despite brutally low water, thanks to the hard work of Mac and guide Sam Aiken. Trico patterns and #24 midge pupas accounted for most of the fish. 

On Aug. 20-21, guide Justin Howard had back-to-back trips on the private waters that went exceptionally well considering the low water levels. Charles H. from Florida and his buddy stuck a bunch of fish on Day One. Then, Winston F. and his wife, Elizabeth, from Mobile landed some toads the next day, including a 20-plus-inch rainbow Winston landed on his second cast of the day on a Chernobyl ant! It's up on the Wall of Fame slideshow, if you want a look.

Perhaps our most memorable trip of the month involved hosting a group of Alabama state legislators and two lobbyists. They wanted to fish the Davidson, which at the time was running at an 85-year low. Add to that the fact that two of the four were beginners and we knew we had our work cut out for us. However, Mac and I were pleasantly surprised to find that the fish were in the eating mood. Everybody landed 7 or 8 fish apiece, including at least one over 18 inches. We busted off some of the bigger fish, but that's fishing on the big 'D,' right? We heard some hilarious jokes over lunch, but few were clean enough to share here, except maybe this one:

Did you hear that Barack Obama has a chance of winning Alabama?

No way! How is that possible?

Because if you put a 'G' in front of his name, you get, "GoBAMA!"

We haven't been able to float for smallmouth on the French Broad in several weeks, due to record low water. But the wade fishing has been consistently good, especially around the Long Shoals and Bent Creek areas. Going into the Labor Day weekend, the only problem will be visibility. If we get all the rain we're predicted to, the French Broad mainstem will be chocolate milk for several days afterwards, but may clear enough to run some float trips in early September. In the meantime, we're back in the business on the trout front. As always, feel free to call the shop for up-to-date conditions or stop by and pick up some "Hot Flies" on your way to the river -- 828-877-3106.

Tight lines,

Than

The Dog Days of August

 We've officially entered the "Dog Days" of August, with daytime temperatures hovering in the high 80s and lows only dipping into the mid-60s. That means water temps are starting out around 63- to 65 degrees on the North Fork and Davidson, and climbing into the potentially lethal 70s by mid afternoon. In short, it's a tough time to be trout fishing in Western North Carolina. As I write this, the North Fork is running at 1.79, which is the lowest it's been all summer. If you are thinking about going trout fishing in our area, I would wait until we get at least a few inches of rain. Should you be in the area for a limited time, and are just dying to fish, we have had successful days recently on our private waters, the Davidson and on several brook trout streams. But anglers have to change their expectations if they want to have a good day: the days of 20-plus fish days are largely over until September's cooler temps hit, and fishermen have to work hard for each strike. That being said, there are still some quality fish to be caught, if you're willing to work for them. Top flies remain hoppers, beetles, ants, inchworms, Isonychia nymphs, midge pupa and dark bodied mayfly nymphs such as the A.P. Flashback or Zebra Copper Johns. 6X tippet and long leaders are mandatory, except on brook trout waters.

July was hot and largely rain-free, but we still managed to keep our guides very busy, thanks to a never-ending line of anglers walking in the door of our new building. The month started with a bang on the private waters. Guide Mac Marett and I took Bestor W. and his family from Alabama up to the private waters and everybody hooked and landed their "limit," including at least a couple honker fish apiece. One of the cool things about repeat clients like Bestor's group is you get to see them grow over the years, both as anglers and individuals. Bestor's son, who I first guided as a young "tween," is now headed off to Suwannee to play football on a scholarship. For a young man who lives in bowfin country, he's evolved into quite an accomplished trout fisherman. On July 11, Mac took another favorite family of ours, Wes G. and his two sons from Columbia, S.C., up the North Fork. They all landed a mess of nice trout, mostly on dry-and-droppers. Wes even fished up a storm while sitting on a streamside rock -- talk about a man of leisure!

Guide Freddie Raines was handed a plum on July 20, when he took Richard B. from Vail, CO up to the private waters. Not only was Richard an advanced caster who could put the fly on target, but the fish were really amped up that day. He caught numerous trout pushing 18 inches and broke off a few bigger than that. Two days later, the fish were still on when I took Judge Harold A. and his good friend,  Billy W., up to the private waters. I didn't count how many Billy hooked, but the honorable judge landed 21 trout, including several over 17 inches. Considering the low, tepid water, that was a great day. Another pair of repeats, Michael and Misty M. from Florida, came up to fish "The Farm" with their youngest daughter, who they signed up for an All-Day School of Trout. I guided the 'rents, while guide Sam Aiken did the school. The fishing was slow at times, but everybody landed some nice rainbows and browns. Misty smoked them on dry flies, including several foam bodied terrestrials, while Michael put many bends in his Scott rod streamer fishing.  At the end of the day, a frog-choking thunderstorm ran us off the water, but nobody complained because we needed the rain so badly.

Most of that water had run off by the 24th, when guide Justin Howard had Carter D. and his two grandsons on the private waters. Anyone here will tell you that guiding three people is difficult under any circumstances, but Justin did a yeoman's job of getting each of them into fish. On July 27, Mac took Page S. from Mobile, AL on a brook trout fishing expedition that involved 7 miles of hiking, climbing up the sides of several waterfalls (the rock was dry), and throwing a little 2-weight at these native fish. After a lifetime of fly fishing, Page landed his first brook trout, followed by roughly 20 more. Dry flies such as Mac's Blowfly and Parachute Ants did the trick. Despite an arduous hike, Page said he'll be back. Two days later, Mac took Jack H. and his wife up the North Fork on an All-Day School of Trout. Using Bloom's Beetle, craneflies, and a host of midge pupa, the couple landed a brace of trout apiece, despite water temps in the high 60s. 

Although trout fishing is in the doldrums, smallmouth fishing is just hitting its stride. We've been fishing the French Broad, the Little Tennessee and the North Toe, and each river is fishing well using Shenandoah Blue Poppers, Sunfish Sliders, and white streamers. The bass are definitely spooky, but there are a TON of little guys willing to pound a well-presented topwater fly and a few big boys hanging out in the tails of the bigger pools. Until we get some cooler temps or rain, we're offering a special full-day wade trip that involves fishing public wild trout water in the morning and smallie fishing the French Broad in the afternoon. We also have access to a private lake with lots of largemouth and big bream that are willing to eat a popper or streamer. Call me at the shop for details: 828/877-3106.

Tight lines,

Than