Spring in North Carolina begins March 20th and ends June 21st. The Spring offers some tremendous fly fishing opportunities across the mountain region for trout. After a long winter many anglers look forward to this time of the year because of the warmer weather and warmer water temperatures. The water temperatures range anywhere from 45 degrees to 67 degrees which is prime trout feeding water temperatures. The bigger bugs such as caddis, cahills, hendricksons, quill gordons, stoneflies, and sulphurs begin to make their arrival in the spring so there are plenty of insects for the trout to eat. Spring provides some of the best dry fly fishing of the year on our local creeks and rivers. There is nothing better than sight casting to a feeding fish with a dry fly and landing it. This is the pinnacle in fly fishing. The Catawba Angler offers dry fly fishing trips on our mountain creeks for wild trout in the the Spring. This is where we will hike into a backcountry creek and dry fly fish all day for rising trout.

Spring trout fishing means higher water flows which can offer some excellent streamer fishing opportunities on the bigger tailwaters in North Carolina. Some of the biggest trout we catch all year is in the springtime stripping streamers against the banks. The Catawba Tailrace and Tuckaseegee River systems offers some great streamer fishing in March, April, and May.

The weather in the spring can be unpredictable so I tell clients we fish conditions not dates on a calendar. It’s important to always be flexible with your game plan on the water. Successful anglers recognize how fish behavior changes during different weather conditions and adapt their fly selection and presentation. Fly fishing in the Spring is hands down the best time to trout fish in North Carolina.

The Catawba Angler offers float trips and wade fishing trips for trout in the spring here in North Carolina. Give us a call to experience the best trout fishing of the year in western NC.