The Catawba Angler provides wade fishing and float fishing trips near Asheville, North Carolina.

Asheville is known for it’s fishing. The Pisgah, Nantahala, and DuPont National Forests that surround the city are home to many excellent wild trout fisheries. These cold mountain streams are a fly angler’s paradise. Anglers could spend a lifetime exploring and fishing every creek or river within an hour’s drive of Asheville. The trout streams and creeks are best explored by wade fishing trip then with one of our local guides. Our local guides will provide all the equipment and gear needed to have a memorable outdoor experience. Rainbow, brown and brook are the three trout species we target around the area. The most important species found in the higher elevation creeks around Asheville is the Southern Appalachian Brook Trout. (Known as “Specks” among the locals) This is the only trout that is native to North Carolina.

Asheville is a great area to set up base camp to fish for wild trout, smallmouth bass, or musky. Most creeks and rivers are all within a day trip’s drive. The French Broad River flows right through downtown Asheville and is home to some excellent smallmouth bass fishing. Other species such as musky, walleye, and catfish are also found in the river making it one of the most diverse rivers in the area. The French Broad River is hard to wade so it’s best to fish it from raft or kayak. Our guides fish it from March to November and would love to show you a different side of Asheville. We provide spin fishing or fly fishing trips for bass on the French Broad River.

Fishing near Asheville, NC

Great fishing is a short drive away from Asheville.

French Broad River:

The French Broad River is arguably the best smallmouth river in the area. It’s best fished using spinning gear, but fly fishing can be fantastic as certain times of the year. The most productive stretches to fish for smallmouth is from Westfeldt Park near the Asheville Airport to Hot Springs.

North Mills River:

The North Mills River is a heavily stocked river for trout in the fall and spring months. These trout are easily caught using bright colored flies using eggs, mop flies, or worms. This is a great river to target if you are a beginner fly angler or visiting the area and are short on time.

Newberry Creek:

Newberry Creek boosts a healthy population of wild rainbow and brook trout. Newberry is a pristine mountain creek that is managed under a Catch & Release designation. The old forest service road that follows the creek provides easy access to hop off of to wade fish. Newberry Creek is the largest tributary to Curtis Creek which is also a great fishery for trout.

Davidson River:

The Davidson River is a freestone river near Brevard that was recognized as one of Trout Unlimited’s top 100 trout streams. The Davidson is known for its big selective trout which humbles the best of anglers, but this is what keeps them coming back again and again. The Davidson has easy roadside access which makes it one of the most popular rivers in western North Carolina. If you are up for the challenge of fishing one of the most technical streams in the area then the Davidson is worth a shot.

Curtis Creek:

Curtis Creek holds both wild and stocked trout. The area surrounding the creek was some of the first acres purchased as National Forest property east of the Mississippi under the Weeks Act of 1911. The fishing close to Hwy 70 is classified as stocked water. Once you reach Curtis Creek Campground the water is classified as wild trout water.

Nolichucky River:

The Nolichucky River is within 60 miles of downtown Asheville. The river is smaller than the French Broad, but holds just as many smallmouth per mile. This river is full of ledges and deep pools which creates an ideal habitat for smallmouth. This river is a special place due to its scenery and fishing.

Catawba River Tailrace

The Catawba Tailrace is the closest tailwater to Asheville, North Carolina. The tailwater is a brown trout fishery that holds some very large trout. This fishery can be wade fished near Bridgewater Dam, but floating it is the best bet. The best fishing is from November to the end of May.

Catawba River:

The Catawba River is stocked through Marion, North Carolina which provides excellent wade fishing opportunities from October to May. The Joseph McDowell Greenway provides river access for 1.75 miles making it one of the longest stocked sections in the state.

Lake James:

Lake James is the only lake on the Catawba River chain where anglers can catch smallmouth, largemouth, musky, and walleye. The deep, cold waters of the lake is fed by the Catawba River and Linville River making it one of the cleanest lakes in the state. The clear water here makes fishing a challenge, but those who are willing has the opportunity to catch the biggest bass of their life.

Great catches near Asheville: