O.k., so you know how fishing writers (and fly shop stream reports) tend towards hyperbole. "The river is on fire!" (Really? Is it the Cuyahoga?) "We're having 60-fish days without even trying!" (If that includes suckers and warpaint shiners...) And my all-time favorite, "The fishing has been epic!" (Which means they've been catching some fish, or they have a guide named Homer.)
Well, the fishing hasn't been exactly epic, but it's been so good that I might get a little gushy writing about it. April started out with some great hatches, and they've gotten better and better, but also spottier and spottier during mid-day. Now, the best dry fly fishing has shifted to a summer-like pattern, with Cahills, yellow sallies, and sulphurs coming off best towards dusk. There are some gray-winged yellow quills popping during the day, along with the odd March Brown, lots of cream midges, giant craneflies, cinnamon caddis and yellow sallies here and there. We got into a little burst of March Brown activity around the Caddis Riffle on the North Fork the other day and it was a blast, with 10-12" browns pounding MB dries that even Mr. Magoo could see. But the Davidson has offered the most consistent dry fly fishing of late, so stake out a spot early and prepare for some company. Parachute Cahills in #16, #14-#18 Sulphur Comparaduns, and Lowe's Little Yellow Sallies have been the best producers at the witching hour.
There's not a small stream we've fished in the last month that isn't producing well right now: Looking Glass, Avery, Courthouse, the Big East Fork, the upper West Fork of the Pigeon, they're all "on fire!" Lime Humpies, yellow Turk's Tarantulas in #14 & #16 and Puterbaugh's Foam Caddises all will produce on top, while a #16-#18 tungsten Prince or SHPT is all you need down below. If you don't own a 3-weight for this blueline fishing, we've got a sweet Thomas & Thomas on sale for $368.
This is the first time in about three years that our Delayed Harvest waters held so many fish late into March and April. Whether that's due to more rain/water or better enforcement by Wildlife Resources, I don't know, but it's working to our benefit. Mac and I both ran trips on the East Fork this week and it fished great despite a lot of angling pressure. Medium-sized brook trout still dominate, with the occasional brood stock beast and even some better-sized browns this month. The Little River can't compete as far as numbers are concerned, but it got stocked with a few 20-inch browns, which have definitely gotten harder to catch as the month has worn on. We took a couple over to the West Fork of the Pigeon, across the divide, last week and the area around the Iron Bridge was brimming with stockers, so its poaching problem must have abated, too.
Our North Fork private waters have been stupendous recently, so great in fact that we're having trouble getting fish to the net some trips. They're going ballistic, streaking off like a steelhead, going airborne, thrashing around on the surface. Mac endured a torrential downpour up there last Saturday with a father-daughter pair, but the subsequent bump in water just turned the fish on even more. I've guided up there a bunch this month and people are always awed by the scenery, the quiet and the great fishing. We haven't seen conditions this good on "The Farm" since we first leased it three years ago. BTW, a gift card for a private waters trip makes a fantastic birthday/anniversary/graduation gift.
And if trout aren't your thing, the smallie and muskie fishing are heating up as well. Michael Sprouse says he's been catching some quality bass in the French Broad despite stained water. He landed 15 or 20 in a couple of hours yesterday and one went 3 pounds. Float with Michael in his Hog Island drift boat soon if you want to get in on the action. And if you've crossed permit off your life list and want the ultimate challenge of catching a muskie on the fly, Mac has a new johnboat/motor that's custom-made for the "Muskie Mile" special regulations waters. He stuck a 35-incher two weeks ago that flared its gills so hard it could probably be seen on Google Earth. EPIC!
Tight lines,
Than
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Streamer Mornings, Dry Fly Afternoons
As part of our School of Trout all-day class, we use a kick net to sein up bugs off the bottom of the river. I've done three classes this past week alone, and the samples we're taking tell an interesting story. Dump the sein contents into a white tray filled 1/8" deep with water, and what first catches your eye are all the Baetis nymphs, which undulate through the water by pumping their abdomens up and down. Next you notice all the clinger mayflies, which have flattened heads and thick biceps (not unlike Arnold Swarzenegger.) Some are Quill Gordons, which are coming off right now, and some are March Browns, which - despite their name - start emerging in April. Lots of stoneflies crawl through the debris, too, especially little brown ones.
All of these bugs are active right now, and the dry fly fishing is starting to get really, really good with each 60-degree day that passes. Fortunately, we've had a bunch of those recently and we are catching lots of fish on top. We fished the Davidson day before yesterday and there were fish rising steadily all day long, from the upper river above the spillway dam all the way down to the C&R boundary. A #16 black Elk Hair Caddis was the best producer, but at times when the Quill Gordons were flying, a #12 Quill Gordon dry was unbeatable. You had to get the drift absolutely perfect, though. Any drag was rejected and with so much water pushing through, a 10-foot leader was key in many places. On the East Fork, we caught numerous wild fish on 3/9 and 3/12 that were eating Blue Winged Olives on top. A #18-#20 Brooks Sprout Baetis did the trick.
Still, streamer fishing has been our bread-and-butter of late. Michael Sprouse, Freddie Raines and I all floated the Tuckaseegee River on Sunday, the 14th, our first major trip of the season down there. Despite temps in the mid-40s and a constant rain, we boated more than 60 fish and 95% of them ate a streamer. We fished Clousers, Woolly Boogers, Beldar Buggers and J.J. Specials, and all of them produced for us. Some really fine looking browns ended up in the net below Webster Bridge - they almost looked like wild fish, they were so colored up. If you want to fish from the comfort of a drift boat, anytime between now and late May is the time to book. Bring some band-aids for your stripping fingers!
Speaking of fishing streamers, our very own Michael Sprouse made it to the fishing finals of the Pisgah Fly Masters, a tournament to benefit the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education. He came in fourth out of 17 or 18 professionals that competed in the casting competition, which meant he made it to the "Big Show," fishing against nine other anglers on Sunday. Fishing a top-secret streamer, he hooked and fought a 25"-plus fish for several minutes before the hook pulled out. Even his competition acknowledged it was the biggest fish hooked all morning. That's just the way it goes with fishing, competitive or not. You land some, you lose some. He'll get 'em next year! Meanwhile, he'll be oaring people down the French Broad and putting them on a bevy of smallies. Bass season is almost here and June and July weekends are already filling up.
If trout are more your thing, get up here quick. Late March/early April offer the most fishable hatches of the year. And unlike the past three years, we've got plenty of water to float a fly in!
Tight lines,
Than
All of these bugs are active right now, and the dry fly fishing is starting to get really, really good with each 60-degree day that passes. Fortunately, we've had a bunch of those recently and we are catching lots of fish on top. We fished the Davidson day before yesterday and there were fish rising steadily all day long, from the upper river above the spillway dam all the way down to the C&R boundary. A #16 black Elk Hair Caddis was the best producer, but at times when the Quill Gordons were flying, a #12 Quill Gordon dry was unbeatable. You had to get the drift absolutely perfect, though. Any drag was rejected and with so much water pushing through, a 10-foot leader was key in many places. On the East Fork, we caught numerous wild fish on 3/9 and 3/12 that were eating Blue Winged Olives on top. A #18-#20 Brooks Sprout Baetis did the trick.
Still, streamer fishing has been our bread-and-butter of late. Michael Sprouse, Freddie Raines and I all floated the Tuckaseegee River on Sunday, the 14th, our first major trip of the season down there. Despite temps in the mid-40s and a constant rain, we boated more than 60 fish and 95% of them ate a streamer. We fished Clousers, Woolly Boogers, Beldar Buggers and J.J. Specials, and all of them produced for us. Some really fine looking browns ended up in the net below Webster Bridge - they almost looked like wild fish, they were so colored up. If you want to fish from the comfort of a drift boat, anytime between now and late May is the time to book. Bring some band-aids for your stripping fingers!
Speaking of fishing streamers, our very own Michael Sprouse made it to the fishing finals of the Pisgah Fly Masters, a tournament to benefit the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education. He came in fourth out of 17 or 18 professionals that competed in the casting competition, which meant he made it to the "Big Show," fishing against nine other anglers on Sunday. Fishing a top-secret streamer, he hooked and fought a 25"-plus fish for several minutes before the hook pulled out. Even his competition acknowledged it was the biggest fish hooked all morning. That's just the way it goes with fishing, competitive or not. You land some, you lose some. He'll get 'em next year! Meanwhile, he'll be oaring people down the French Broad and putting them on a bevy of smallies. Bass season is almost here and June and July weekends are already filling up.
If trout are more your thing, get up here quick. Late March/early April offer the most fishable hatches of the year. And unlike the past three years, we've got plenty of water to float a fly in!
Tight lines,
Than
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Winter Fishing Advice
Fly fishing in winter is what separates the casual fly dunker from the stalwarts, the fair-weather fisherman from the hard-core trout bum. And yes, it often distinguishes the crazy from the sane. Let's face it, it takes a certain amount of mental instability to crack through ice, wade into 40-degree water and break ice out of your guides all day long. But there are distinct advantages to such craziness.
For one, you can fish in virtual solitude, even on notoriously crowded rivers like the Davidson. I fished the 'D' three times in the past two weeks without seeing another soul, much less another angler. My secret? I avoided the hatchery stretch. About 95% of the Davidson is abandoned during the winter and the fishing can be great. I caught several fish over 17" above Looking Glass last week, all on midge pupa and tiny Baetis nymphs. Never saw another angler. Most of my fish were in slow-moving pools or the outside seams of languid runs. Some ate BWO dries on top (a #20 Lawson's Thorax Baetis worked great), but most ate a #22 Cardinal Midge or a #24 Gnatty Bumpo on the bottom. Use enough shot that you're ticking occasionally and set on any little thing that looks odd. The takes in such cold water are very, very subtle. Another tip - there are a bunch of spring holes on the Davidson, where the incoming water is significantly warmer than the prevailing current. Where you find springs, you'll generally find willing takers even on bitterly cold days. How do you find these spring holes? Wet wade the river in the summer and you'll find spots that are distinctly cooler than surrounding areas. Such areas are treasure troves in the winter.
We've been hearing a lot about Delayed Harvest streams like the East Fork and Little River being "poached out" lately. This happens every winter, it seems. People go over there, use the same flies and techniques that worked for them last spring or fall, catch little to nothing and then chock it up to poaching. There's no doubt that poaching (and mishandling by law-abiding anglers) have thinned out the populations some, but our guides haven't had any trouble putting rank amateurs onto fish on the E. Fork, Little River or the Tuck this winter. We haven't fished the N. Mills, but get away from the campground and I'll bet there are fish to be had. The key is changing from a "freshly stocked" mindset to a "holdover" mindset. Forget woolly buggers and other streamers stripped upstream. That will produce the odd suicidal brook trout, but most DH fish have become too educated for such shenanigans. Likewise, leave the #12 Princes and #14 Red Fox Squirrels at home and tie up some #18 A.P. Nymphs and #20 TB black or green Copper Johns. Not only are these more likely to be taken by holdovers jaded by the old standbys, they more accurately represent the size, color and silhouette of naturals found this time of year, which are primarily small and dark. Check out our winter hatch chart for more insight. If you're still not hooking up, try trading out that giant red Thingamabobber or yellow yarn pom-pom for a small white football indicator. DH fish can and will become indicator-shy. With the water so clear, 6X tippet helps, too, though 5X usually is fine if you're getting good drifts.
We still have two spots open for our British Columbia destination trip, scheduled for Aug. 15-22. With our partners at Home Waters Guide Service in Fernie, Headwaters Outfitters is offering a special package rate: 6 nights of lodging in a luxury condo, with private baths and river views, and 5 days of guided fishing for cutties, rainbows and bulltrout, plus three squares a day and transportation from the airport in Kalispell, MT -- all for $1,800 per person (based on double occupancy, excluding taxes, tips and licenses.) If you've ever wanted to catch 30+ cutthroats in a day on dry flies, or tossing hoppers to 20-inch rainbows on a private ranch in Alberta sounds like fun, you need to get in on this trip. We have a great group of anglers signed up, so the company should be as fine as the fishing. Call Than for details at (828) 877-3106.
We have a bunch of special events coming up, most of which are totally free! On Feb. 12, we're sponsoring a special showing of "Red Gold," a documentary film by Felt Soul Media that follows Alaskan fishermen as they fight an open-pit copper and gold mine proposed for the headwaters of two Bristol Bay trout and salmon rivers. It starts at 7 p.m. and the film (in Surround Sound!), popcorn and candy are all free. Great footage of grizzlies, salmon runs and big rainbows being caught on the fly. Our free fly casting clinics are totally full now, even though we just added 12 more spots/2 more dates last week. But we still have room in our free "Guide Flies" fly tying classes. On Feb. 13, smallmouth guide Michael Sprouse will demonstrate how to tie his own "Mike's Hellgrammite," as well as the trusty Clouser minnow. All the materials necessary to tie the flies will be available for sale in handy pre-proportioned packets, but you don't have to tie along with Mike - just come and watch. There's still room in Mac's muskie fly class on March 113, too. You need a rotary vise for that one. Call to reserve a spot either day - (828) 877-3106.
Tight lines,
Than
For one, you can fish in virtual solitude, even on notoriously crowded rivers like the Davidson. I fished the 'D' three times in the past two weeks without seeing another soul, much less another angler. My secret? I avoided the hatchery stretch. About 95% of the Davidson is abandoned during the winter and the fishing can be great. I caught several fish over 17" above Looking Glass last week, all on midge pupa and tiny Baetis nymphs. Never saw another angler. Most of my fish were in slow-moving pools or the outside seams of languid runs. Some ate BWO dries on top (a #20 Lawson's Thorax Baetis worked great), but most ate a #22 Cardinal Midge or a #24 Gnatty Bumpo on the bottom. Use enough shot that you're ticking occasionally and set on any little thing that looks odd. The takes in such cold water are very, very subtle. Another tip - there are a bunch of spring holes on the Davidson, where the incoming water is significantly warmer than the prevailing current. Where you find springs, you'll generally find willing takers even on bitterly cold days. How do you find these spring holes? Wet wade the river in the summer and you'll find spots that are distinctly cooler than surrounding areas. Such areas are treasure troves in the winter.
We've been hearing a lot about Delayed Harvest streams like the East Fork and Little River being "poached out" lately. This happens every winter, it seems. People go over there, use the same flies and techniques that worked for them last spring or fall, catch little to nothing and then chock it up to poaching. There's no doubt that poaching (and mishandling by law-abiding anglers) have thinned out the populations some, but our guides haven't had any trouble putting rank amateurs onto fish on the E. Fork, Little River or the Tuck this winter. We haven't fished the N. Mills, but get away from the campground and I'll bet there are fish to be had. The key is changing from a "freshly stocked" mindset to a "holdover" mindset. Forget woolly buggers and other streamers stripped upstream. That will produce the odd suicidal brook trout, but most DH fish have become too educated for such shenanigans. Likewise, leave the #12 Princes and #14 Red Fox Squirrels at home and tie up some #18 A.P. Nymphs and #20 TB black or green Copper Johns. Not only are these more likely to be taken by holdovers jaded by the old standbys, they more accurately represent the size, color and silhouette of naturals found this time of year, which are primarily small and dark. Check out our winter hatch chart for more insight. If you're still not hooking up, try trading out that giant red Thingamabobber or yellow yarn pom-pom for a small white football indicator. DH fish can and will become indicator-shy. With the water so clear, 6X tippet helps, too, though 5X usually is fine if you're getting good drifts.
We still have two spots open for our British Columbia destination trip, scheduled for Aug. 15-22. With our partners at Home Waters Guide Service in Fernie, Headwaters Outfitters is offering a special package rate: 6 nights of lodging in a luxury condo, with private baths and river views, and 5 days of guided fishing for cutties, rainbows and bulltrout, plus three squares a day and transportation from the airport in Kalispell, MT -- all for $1,800 per person (based on double occupancy, excluding taxes, tips and licenses.) If you've ever wanted to catch 30+ cutthroats in a day on dry flies, or tossing hoppers to 20-inch rainbows on a private ranch in Alberta sounds like fun, you need to get in on this trip. We have a great group of anglers signed up, so the company should be as fine as the fishing. Call Than for details at (828) 877-3106.
We have a bunch of special events coming up, most of which are totally free! On Feb. 12, we're sponsoring a special showing of "Red Gold," a documentary film by Felt Soul Media that follows Alaskan fishermen as they fight an open-pit copper and gold mine proposed for the headwaters of two Bristol Bay trout and salmon rivers. It starts at 7 p.m. and the film (in Surround Sound!), popcorn and candy are all free. Great footage of grizzlies, salmon runs and big rainbows being caught on the fly. Our free fly casting clinics are totally full now, even though we just added 12 more spots/2 more dates last week. But we still have room in our free "Guide Flies" fly tying classes. On Feb. 13, smallmouth guide Michael Sprouse will demonstrate how to tie his own "Mike's Hellgrammite," as well as the trusty Clouser minnow. All the materials necessary to tie the flies will be available for sale in handy pre-proportioned packets, but you don't have to tie along with Mike - just come and watch. There's still room in Mac's muskie fly class on March 113, too. You need a rotary vise for that one. Call to reserve a spot either day - (828) 877-3106.
Tight lines,
Than
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Late Fall Fishing Has Been On Fire!
Phew! That's all I can say after the busy Thanksgiving holiday week we just had. Thanks to over 28 inches of rain we've received since September, our water conditions in the beginning of the week weren't exactly ideal, but we managed to get folks into a bunch of fish anyway. Lots of split shot and big dumbbell eyes sure helped cut through all that water and the fish were turned on enough to eat some streamers, too, which certainly helped. By the time Turkey Day was upon us, the water levels on the Davidson and upper French Broad tribs had dropped to a great level. All in all, it was a fun way to bid good-bye to fall and say hello to the colder conditions of winter.
With water temps in the low 40s, the trout definitely have moved into their winter holding lies. We didn't find many willing takers in the shallow riffles or pocket water this last week. The deeper holes and slow-moving runs produced the bulk of our fish, which ate blue-winged olive emergers, dun caddis pupa and any small nymph with a tungsten bead (a #18 amber Tung-Stud was killing it.) Given the chilly water, the fish were surprisingly willing to eat swung flies on our private stretch, with many of the bigger trout eating Caddis Borealis soft hackles just as they lifted off the bottom at the end of the drift. On the Davidson, we caught some hefty browns both streamer fishing (Butt Monkeys and white Zonkers) and dead-drifting small Baetis nymphs just off the bottom. A #20 olive Pulsating Emerger was our #1 producer overall.
Looking for a Christmas present for the brookie fanatic in your family? We still have a few clearance items available at deep end-of-the-year discounts: a 7' 6" Thomas & Thomas LP 3-wt. for $368.55 (down from $567!), two 7'6" Wright & McGill boron 3-wts for $239.20 and our last remaining Scott E2 7'6" 3 wt. travel rod for $350! All of these rods come with a lifetime warranty and aluminum rod tubes with socks. Call the shop at (828) 877-3106 or email me at thana@headwatersoutfitters.com for details.
We're headed back to British Columbia this coming summer to fish for Westslope cutthroats and giant bull trout, and we'd like you to join us! Imagine catching 30-40 cutties in one day from the comfort of a Clackacraft drift boat, all on dry flies. Or how about spending a day on a private ranch in Alberta, casting hoppers at 20-inch wild rainbows, or sight-fishing to a pod of giant bull trout miles from any road? If that sounds fun, you need to sign up for our B.C. trip that runs Aug. 15-21, 2010. The cost is ridiculously affordable: $1,800 covers 6 nights of riverside lodging, five days of guiding, three square meals a day and transportation to Fernie, B.C. from the airport in Kalispell, MT (excluding taxes, tips and licenses.) We still have a few spots left, but we need a 50% deposit by Dec. 15 to confirm your reservation. Call me if you have any questions -- (828) 877-3106.
Tight lines,
Than
With water temps in the low 40s, the trout definitely have moved into their winter holding lies. We didn't find many willing takers in the shallow riffles or pocket water this last week. The deeper holes and slow-moving runs produced the bulk of our fish, which ate blue-winged olive emergers, dun caddis pupa and any small nymph with a tungsten bead (a #18 amber Tung-Stud was killing it.) Given the chilly water, the fish were surprisingly willing to eat swung flies on our private stretch, with many of the bigger trout eating Caddis Borealis soft hackles just as they lifted off the bottom at the end of the drift. On the Davidson, we caught some hefty browns both streamer fishing (Butt Monkeys and white Zonkers) and dead-drifting small Baetis nymphs just off the bottom. A #20 olive Pulsating Emerger was our #1 producer overall.
Looking for a Christmas present for the brookie fanatic in your family? We still have a few clearance items available at deep end-of-the-year discounts: a 7' 6" Thomas & Thomas LP 3-wt. for $368.55 (down from $567!), two 7'6" Wright & McGill boron 3-wts for $239.20 and our last remaining Scott E2 7'6" 3 wt. travel rod for $350! All of these rods come with a lifetime warranty and aluminum rod tubes with socks. Call the shop at (828) 877-3106 or email me at thana@headwatersoutfitters.com for details.
We're headed back to British Columbia this coming summer to fish for Westslope cutthroats and giant bull trout, and we'd like you to join us! Imagine catching 30-40 cutties in one day from the comfort of a Clackacraft drift boat, all on dry flies. Or how about spending a day on a private ranch in Alberta, casting hoppers at 20-inch wild rainbows, or sight-fishing to a pod of giant bull trout miles from any road? If that sounds fun, you need to sign up for our B.C. trip that runs Aug. 15-21, 2010. The cost is ridiculously affordable: $1,800 covers 6 nights of riverside lodging, five days of guiding, three square meals a day and transportation to Fernie, B.C. from the airport in Kalispell, MT (excluding taxes, tips and licenses.) We still have a few spots left, but we need a 50% deposit by Dec. 15 to confirm your reservation. Call me if you have any questions -- (828) 877-3106.
Tight lines,
Than
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Fall Fishing Should Be Great!
What a difference a couple of months can make! When last we blogged, all the region's meterologists were saying the three-year drought was officially over and regular rain was back in our forecast. Indeed, this spring and early summer, we had some of the best water levels (and temperatures) we've had in several years and the fishing was generally excellent. Then July's heat arrived and the afternoon thunderstorms we rely on to keep our rivers in good shape evaporated. We were back to the French Broad being about 20% of its normal flow and the Davidson was even worse. However, we muddled through the dog days and now things are once again looking up as we head into the fall season.
For one, our water temperatures are back into the 50s and 60s, depending on what elevation you fish. That's good news, because the fish are definitely happier than they were in August and early September. They're fighting longer, stronger and are putting on a more acrobatic show when hooked. They're also much less susceptible to being accidently killed by playing them too hard. Nonetheless, water levels are still substantially below where we'd like them to be and the water clarity is very clear because we haven't had any leaf fall yet (which tints things up a bit with tannic acid.) Fishing on our private waters has been tough. Almost everyone has hooked up with big fish, but landing them has been a struggle. We've put lots of the medium-sized and smaller fish in the net, though; they're just harder to fool because the water is so slow and clear. Small flies (Juju midges, small PTs and black caddis pupa in #18-#20) and ultra-light tippet (6X and 7X) seems to help a lot, but the real key - as usual - is a solid, realistic dead drift.
We've done okay on the big 'D' (we even had a 9-pound brown landed by a client on his birthday last month!) but the fishing is definitely slower than it was last year at this time, especially on the hatchery stretch. Most likely, it can be attributed to the massive amount of chow the hatchery is flushing out into the river. Apparently, the state bought some chow in bulk that the fish really don't like, because they're not eating it in the hatchery and lots of uneaten food is being deposited into the river. Fortunately, they begin to cut down on the amount of chow that's fed as the water cools, which should mean fewer "pellet hatches" as we get into fall.
Whether or not we get a big slug of tropical moisture in September, Delayed Harvest starts October 1, which means our trout fishing options open up tremendously. Hopefully the state will stock the Little River, East Fork and North Mills at normal levels this fall, rather than short-changing us like they did last year due to the drought.
Meanwhile, the early fall smallie fishing is on fire, according to drift boat guide Michael Sprouse, who had several 100-fish days around Ledges Park in early September. "The wading is great right now," Michael said. "If it is cloudy the clouser bite is amazing along with crease flies and wiggle minnows and when the sun comes out bottom bouncers are still catching them great. Anything in black, brown or olive on the bottom seems to work."
For one, our water temperatures are back into the 50s and 60s, depending on what elevation you fish. That's good news, because the fish are definitely happier than they were in August and early September. They're fighting longer, stronger and are putting on a more acrobatic show when hooked. They're also much less susceptible to being accidently killed by playing them too hard. Nonetheless, water levels are still substantially below where we'd like them to be and the water clarity is very clear because we haven't had any leaf fall yet (which tints things up a bit with tannic acid.) Fishing on our private waters has been tough. Almost everyone has hooked up with big fish, but landing them has been a struggle. We've put lots of the medium-sized and smaller fish in the net, though; they're just harder to fool because the water is so slow and clear. Small flies (Juju midges, small PTs and black caddis pupa in #18-#20) and ultra-light tippet (6X and 7X) seems to help a lot, but the real key - as usual - is a solid, realistic dead drift.
We've done okay on the big 'D' (we even had a 9-pound brown landed by a client on his birthday last month!) but the fishing is definitely slower than it was last year at this time, especially on the hatchery stretch. Most likely, it can be attributed to the massive amount of chow the hatchery is flushing out into the river. Apparently, the state bought some chow in bulk that the fish really don't like, because they're not eating it in the hatchery and lots of uneaten food is being deposited into the river. Fortunately, they begin to cut down on the amount of chow that's fed as the water cools, which should mean fewer "pellet hatches" as we get into fall.
Whether or not we get a big slug of tropical moisture in September, Delayed Harvest starts October 1, which means our trout fishing options open up tremendously. Hopefully the state will stock the Little River, East Fork and North Mills at normal levels this fall, rather than short-changing us like they did last year due to the drought.
Meanwhile, the early fall smallie fishing is on fire, according to drift boat guide Michael Sprouse, who had several 100-fish days around Ledges Park in early September. "The wading is great right now," Michael said. "If it is cloudy the clouser bite is amazing along with crease flies and wiggle minnows and when the sun comes out bottom bouncers are still catching them great. Anything in black, brown or olive on the bottom seems to work."
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Our Best Summer In Years
Good news for anglers considering a fly fishing trip in the mountains of Western North Carolina: the state this month officially lifted our three-year drought advisory, thanks to over 15 inches of rain we've received this spring. It appears we're now back into our typical summertime pattern of afternoon thundershowers, which will keep flows and dissolved oxygen levels high enough for good fishing all summer. Our guides have muddled through three straight summers of brutally low flows and high water temperatures, so needless to say, we are all stoked for a summer of normal stream conditions. Pack your raingear and head up here to Appalachian's temperate rainforest - the fishing should be great!
We've had a busy -- and somewhat strange -- spring that started out with kickin' hatches of Quill Gordons, Hendricksons, Blue Quills and March Browns. But then the hatches during the day seemed to peter out when the mercury shot up into the mid to upper 70s, which is unseasonably warm for April. We're currently seeing good sulphur hatches, particularly on the Davidson, and modest yellow sally and golden stone hatches on the North and West Forks of the French Broad. Some Light Cahills are hatching at dusk and there have been some Yellow and Green Drakes emergences and spinnerfalls on some of our siltier stretches, but nothing like years past. It may be the last three years of low water and higher water temperatures hurt the bug populations somewhat. But it appears like the worst drought in NC history had at least one positive impact: we have more young-of-the-year and advanced fingerling trout in our rivers than I can ever recall. All of which means our next three years of fishing should be fantastic as these youngster grow to catchable size; plus, in the meantime, it means lots of prey for the larger trout. We've been streamer fishing with white Zonkers, small white bunny leeches and baby rainbow Clousers with great results.
Other good patterns to try right now are Yellow Lab Trout Retrievers, purple and yellow Sparkle Princes, and when the water's up and murky, a #8-#10 Bitch Creek or Red-Bellied Yuk Bug with a Y2K dropper is the way to go. Make sure to hit the slower moving outer seams and along the banks when the water is up.
Despite some poaching, our local Delayed Harvest waters are holding their own as we reach the end of the catch-and-release period. The May stocking included more rainbows and browns than we've previously seen, and a good portion of them are bigger than the 10" brookies that got stocked all spring. The Little River is fishing better than we've ever seen it, but we've gotten several reports that the North Mills is being heavily poached. We still have a week of catch-and-release regulations remaining on DH waters (they open up to general harvest on June 6), after which your best bets will be the Davidson, small wild streams, or booking a day on our private stretch of the North Fork. Our private water is fishing well, with lots of wild fish being caught and at least a few big boys making it to the net every trip. With water levels up where they are, all signs point to a banner June, July and August.
Tight lines,
Than
We've had a busy -- and somewhat strange -- spring that started out with kickin' hatches of Quill Gordons, Hendricksons, Blue Quills and March Browns. But then the hatches during the day seemed to peter out when the mercury shot up into the mid to upper 70s, which is unseasonably warm for April. We're currently seeing good sulphur hatches, particularly on the Davidson, and modest yellow sally and golden stone hatches on the North and West Forks of the French Broad. Some Light Cahills are hatching at dusk and there have been some Yellow and Green Drakes emergences and spinnerfalls on some of our siltier stretches, but nothing like years past. It may be the last three years of low water and higher water temperatures hurt the bug populations somewhat. But it appears like the worst drought in NC history had at least one positive impact: we have more young-of-the-year and advanced fingerling trout in our rivers than I can ever recall. All of which means our next three years of fishing should be fantastic as these youngster grow to catchable size; plus, in the meantime, it means lots of prey for the larger trout. We've been streamer fishing with white Zonkers, small white bunny leeches and baby rainbow Clousers with great results.
Other good patterns to try right now are Yellow Lab Trout Retrievers, purple and yellow Sparkle Princes, and when the water's up and murky, a #8-#10 Bitch Creek or Red-Bellied Yuk Bug with a Y2K dropper is the way to go. Make sure to hit the slower moving outer seams and along the banks when the water is up.
Despite some poaching, our local Delayed Harvest waters are holding their own as we reach the end of the catch-and-release period. The May stocking included more rainbows and browns than we've previously seen, and a good portion of them are bigger than the 10" brookies that got stocked all spring. The Little River is fishing better than we've ever seen it, but we've gotten several reports that the North Mills is being heavily poached. We still have a week of catch-and-release regulations remaining on DH waters (they open up to general harvest on June 6), after which your best bets will be the Davidson, small wild streams, or booking a day on our private stretch of the North Fork. Our private water is fishing well, with lots of wild fish being caught and at least a few big boys making it to the net every trip. With water levels up where they are, all signs point to a banner June, July and August.
Tight lines,
Than
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Spring Has Sprung
You don't need to set foot in a stream around here to know that spring has sprung. Daffodils are blooming along the roads, and deep in the woods, hepatica, bloodroot, and trout lily leaves are poking up out of last fall's leaves. Bugs are flying, too, including decent hatches of Quill Gordons, Blue Quills, black caddis and Blue-winged Olives. You can also tell that spring is here because we've seen a lot more traffic on our streams and in the shop. After a long, cold winter filled with depressing economic news, it's good to see people are still willing to support local businesses like Headwaters. We appreciate everyone who has come in or taken a guide trip with us.
We started the month of March out on private waters, guiding Paul T. and three friends on the Farm stretch of the North Fork. The fishing was good, despite water temps in the low 40s. Black caddis pupa and clinger mayfly nymph imitations were the top sellers. On the 8th, I took out repeat client Mark S. from Nashville and we netted several dozen fish over the course of the day on Bird's Nests, Hotwire Caddis nymphs and Bloom's Soft Hackles, among others.
On March 17, I got to take my favorite repeat clients, Dave and Marty M. from Florida on a trip to the East Fork, which was low and clear but fished well. Dave hooked up 10 trout in the first hole he fished, including a 17-inch brown that dragged him 25 yards downstream. Meanwhile, Marty and I snuck up on a bunch of risers in the head of a big pool upstream. They were pounding Quill Gordons and a few Blue Quills and we had fun hooking up a few on both a Parachute Hare's Ear and a Hare's Ear dropper.
The next day, I was tickled to take Don P. and Steve F. up to our private waters, where we spent the morning perfecting our dead drifts and hooking a slew of nice-sized rainbows on a variety of nymphs, including Karnopp's Keystones and San Juans. Thanks to higher water levels, most of the bigger fish we hooked pulled out or broke us off on limbs that had washed downstream, but it was a thrill to watch the larger fish take off up into the whitewater.
This past weekend, guide Mac Marett and I both had trips on public and private water. Mac took out Sid J. and his son on the private waters, where they wore them out on clinger nymph patterns and even streamered up some fish. On the 22nd, I took one of my favorite clients, Jimmy L. from Florida up to the Farm and we were blessed by an awesome Brachycentrus hatch in the morning that had all of the fish in our first pool suspended and feeding actively. We had to tinker with the weight and depth, but after we dialed in, Jimmy hooked more than a dozen trout, including an 18-inch wild brown with bright red spots. Just as we were preparing to move upstream, a sharp-shinned hawk buzzed by his rod tip and divebombed some songbirds in the rhododendron across from us. He must have hit his mark, because feathers flew, literally.
We're getting a good soaking rain as I write this, and temperatures are forecasted to climb into the 60s all next week, so we couldn't ask for better fishing conditions heading into April. All of the Delayed Harvest streams will get another stocking in early April, and our private waters are fishing very well. If you're in town for a trip, come check out some of the special closeout deals we're having on fly rods from Thomas & Thomas, Wright & McGill and Redington. We have a couple of sweet 7'6" 3-weights that would be perfect for brookie fishing this summer.
Tight lines,
Than
We started the month of March out on private waters, guiding Paul T. and three friends on the Farm stretch of the North Fork. The fishing was good, despite water temps in the low 40s. Black caddis pupa and clinger mayfly nymph imitations were the top sellers. On the 8th, I took out repeat client Mark S. from Nashville and we netted several dozen fish over the course of the day on Bird's Nests, Hotwire Caddis nymphs and Bloom's Soft Hackles, among others.
On March 17, I got to take my favorite repeat clients, Dave and Marty M. from Florida on a trip to the East Fork, which was low and clear but fished well. Dave hooked up 10 trout in the first hole he fished, including a 17-inch brown that dragged him 25 yards downstream. Meanwhile, Marty and I snuck up on a bunch of risers in the head of a big pool upstream. They were pounding Quill Gordons and a few Blue Quills and we had fun hooking up a few on both a Parachute Hare's Ear and a Hare's Ear dropper.
The next day, I was tickled to take Don P. and Steve F. up to our private waters, where we spent the morning perfecting our dead drifts and hooking a slew of nice-sized rainbows on a variety of nymphs, including Karnopp's Keystones and San Juans. Thanks to higher water levels, most of the bigger fish we hooked pulled out or broke us off on limbs that had washed downstream, but it was a thrill to watch the larger fish take off up into the whitewater.
This past weekend, guide Mac Marett and I both had trips on public and private water. Mac took out Sid J. and his son on the private waters, where they wore them out on clinger nymph patterns and even streamered up some fish. On the 22nd, I took one of my favorite clients, Jimmy L. from Florida up to the Farm and we were blessed by an awesome Brachycentrus hatch in the morning that had all of the fish in our first pool suspended and feeding actively. We had to tinker with the weight and depth, but after we dialed in, Jimmy hooked more than a dozen trout, including an 18-inch wild brown with bright red spots. Just as we were preparing to move upstream, a sharp-shinned hawk buzzed by his rod tip and divebombed some songbirds in the rhododendron across from us. He must have hit his mark, because feathers flew, literally.
We're getting a good soaking rain as I write this, and temperatures are forecasted to climb into the 60s all next week, so we couldn't ask for better fishing conditions heading into April. All of the Delayed Harvest streams will get another stocking in early April, and our private waters are fishing very well. If you're in town for a trip, come check out some of the special closeout deals we're having on fly rods from Thomas & Thomas, Wright & McGill and Redington. We have a couple of sweet 7'6" 3-weights that would be perfect for brookie fishing this summer.
Tight lines,
Than
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Even photographers occasionally get to fish, as Michael Justus proved with this scrappy rainbow