Fishing has been consistent on the French Broad and Nolichucky Rivers. Our water temperature is mid 70’s and we are finally seeing some great topwater action. The topwater bite has been best from 6am-11am, but we are seeing fish hammer topwater baits all hours of the day. Fish are beginning to favor the faster moving water when the water temps are getting up past 75 degrees so that’s where our focus has been with the soft plastics. Poppers have been the fly of choice on both rivers. Chartreuse on the sunny days and black on the overcast days. There are a lot of June bugs out so we’ve been having some good luck using smaller bugs on the Toe River. Smaller topwater flies dominate throughout the summer because you’ve got cicadas, beetles, grasshoppers, damselflies, and dragonflies. Bigger isn’t always better. Trying throwing some smaller profile flies to “match the hatch”.

Outlook For July:

The best fishing will continue to be early morning to midday. If you have a trip booked in July be prepared to start early. Topwater will continue to be good the rest of the summer. As long as the French Broad stays clear we will be on it. The Nolichucky has been clear and low so we’ve been taking the majority of fly fishing clients there. It’s been one of the best smallmouth seasons we’ve ever had so I’m very thankful for that. We are currently booking in August so please don’t hesitate booking. Below are some pictures of some recent catches. Thanks for reading.