Let’s dig in to what has been fishing well and whats ahead for early Summer. We received our last stocking of trout the first week of May so the Delayed Harvest stretches have been fishing well. The best fishing has been early morning because it’s been abnormally hot since we’ve had some 90 degree days. We are finally starting to see some normal May temperatures so midday fishing should get better with these cooler nights and rain.
We have had some stupid, good days on the Catawba Tailrace over the last month so it’s good to see the rainbow trout that were stocked back in the winter doing so well. Whenever you can catch the water clear on the Tailrace from November to May you need to be on it. The takeout ramp in Glen Alpine is currently under construction so this section of river will be shut down for two months. You won’t be able to put-in or takeout there so just a heads up.
This fishery should be on everyone’s list to fish in North Carolina. The fishing is great from the time we put on to the end and there is always potential to catch a trophy brown trout. This year we have caught only a handful of holdover browns, but the rainbows have been a ton of fun. The browns will be back again this fall after the NCWRC stocks them. I’ve got a feeling rainbow trout streamer patterns are going to catch some big fish over the next few years down there. Below are some pictures from the Catawba Tailrace this May.
We won’t be fishing the Catawba Tailrace until the fall unless you have an interest in chasing striper on the fly in August & September. There aren’t many striper in the Tailrace, but if you are looking to grind and catch your first striper on the fly then we welcome you. This is trophy hunting using the fly rod because these fish will range anywhere from 5 to 15 pounds. These fish come up the river eating the trout so you can imagine how big the flies are we will be throwing.
The Delayed Harvest stretches on Curtis Creek and the Catawba have been fishing really well. The fish are coming up eating dries in the morning then droppers midday to early afternoon. Normally your best fishing will be 7am to 11am so we’ve been out there early this month. After the first weekend of June fishing won’t be great on the Delayed Harvest stretches because on June 4th anglers can harvest the fish. This is when we head to the hills to chase wild fish where the water temperatures are lower and there isn’t a ton of fishing pressure. The wild fish are more challenging to catch but we trick a bunch into eating dry flies. We throw a lot of terrestrials during this time so it’s a lot of fun seeing these smaller fish come up for bigger bugs. Below are just a few pictures from the DH stretches in May.
Wild trout fishing in North Carolina provides a unique experience for anglers because we wade smaller mountain streams for stream bred fish. The fish are wild and beautiful. I enjoy taking clients to these areas because of the 3 reasons below:
Wild Fish: These fish are born in the stream instead of being raised in the hatchery. These fish are beautiful and live in some of the coolest areas in the state.
Seclusion: We rarely see anyone else on the wild trout streams.
Challenge: In order to catch these fish you must get good presentations with drag free drifts. If a wild fish comes up and eats your fly and you set the hook and miss…. then it’s best to move to the next plunge pool. These fish give you one chance.
If you want to become a better angler and want to test your casting skills then go after some wild fish. Chasing these fish will make you a better angler. I enjoy taking people to the delayed harvest to boost their confidence before chasing wild trout because it can be a humbling experience. Every beginner needs to be put in challenging circumstances because how can you truly appreciate the sport if you never have to work hard to catch a fish? Below are some clients chasing wild fish this past month.
Smallmouth fishing has been fantastic. We’ve brought a bunch of good quality fish to the net this year and the outlook for summer fishing is great. We are currently getting some rain which will bump those river levels up right in time for our June trips. The smallmouth have been heavily feeding on a variety of baits but we’ve had the most success on baitfish imitations. 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. Ever since I’ve been guiding I’ve kept a log of notes from every day I’ve fished. This has allowed me to form patterns certain times of the year and it gives me the proper baits to start with instead of going out there guiding by the seat of my pants. I track water temperatures, pressure, weather, water levels, and make notes of every fly or bait that caught fish. Start writing down notes from every fishing trip you take and you will be surprised how it will benefit you down the road.
Below are some of the smallmouth bass we’ve caught this spring.
Mended Fly Fishing
I recently got to help the founder of Mended Fly Fishing with an outing in Greensboro, NC. The mission of this organization is to bring hope and the love of Christ to youth through free guided fly fishing trips. This was an amazing experience for everyone involved. We were able to take kids fishing on a private lake and show them the sport of fishing. There were lots of laughs and good times had on the lake. All praise and glory goes to God because all good things come from his goodness, grace, mercy, and unfailing love. God has given us the passion for fly fishing, and if we can use that as an outlet to become a friend to fatherless children then that is a beautiful thing. If you are interested in this mission and know of a kid who could benefit from Mended Fly Fishing then please reach out to Patrick Hayes (Founder) or myself. For more information check out the website below.
https://www.mendedflyfishing.com
