Smallmouth Bass Fishing In North Carolina

Smallmouth Bass Fishing in Western North Carolina

Smallmouth bass fishing in May and June has been lights out and the bite will remain consistent through late summer into early fall. This has been one of the better years I have seen on the river as far as size and quantity goes. We have landed some really nice bass on flies and spinning gear with the biggest going 20 inches pushing 4 1/2 pounds.

With more time on our hands this Spring due to COVID-19, our guides were able to scout new water and try some different techniques and tactics that have proved to be highly effective on the rivers we guide. Finding methods on your own and then educating clients on how to effectively catch fish on these methods is very rewarding.

Our rivers are seeing more and more pressure as the sport of fishing increases every year, so it is important to always be thinking outside the box as far as choosing flies and lures. Just as the waters are ever changing, so does what fish are choosing to eat.

At The Catawba Angler we spend ample time on the water learning how to target these fish, so our pulse for what to choose is always up to date.

Fly Fishing for Smallmouth Bass

Fly fishing for smallmouth bass is challenging, but very rewarding when you get that first fish on the fly. When targeting smallmouth on the fly you must know where smallmouth hold in the river. On our smallmouth trips we get a lot of anglers who have never targeted these fish before, so it’s important to first educate them on the holding areas for bass.

The rivers we guide on offer many different fishing scenarios that includes riffles, drop offs, eddies, and seams where we approach each one using a specific tactic.

Late May and Early June offers excellent streamer and topwater fishing with poppers. We will fish both methods using floating line without any sink tip. Most of the streamers we fish are tied with heavy enough material to get down in the water column without the assistance of a weighted line. Color choices depend on water clarity and weather of the day. Our most successful color for both flies are black. Dark colored flies look more natural to the forage that the bass eat.

Mr. Baker caught this 20” smallmouth bass on a black marabou streamer.

Fly fishing with poppers can produce some ferocious takes from smallmouth.

Exploring New Smallmouth Territory

We mentioned we have devoted a lot of time exploring new water this Spring due to the virus. One of the fisheries we explored had some really good smallmouth. This new fishery is one where we are now offering trips and are really excited on how well it has been fishing.

18 1/4 inch bruiser caught on a new fishery we began guiding on this year.

Smallmouth on the fly.

Surprise brown trout from a smallmouth float trip caught on a client’s hand tied streamer.

The Catawba Angler would love the opportunity to take you on your next fly fishing adventure for smallmouth bass. We have some of the best smallmouth fishing in the South.

Spin fishing for Smallmouth Bass

We also offer light spinning gear trips to target bass. This is a great option for the advanced angler looking to catch trophy bass or even younger kids who want to get their first one ever.

Kurt has been fishing with us for the past 3 years. We put a lot of nice fish in the boat this day in muddy water.

Healthy North Carolina Smallmouth.

15 year old Max with a 16 inch fish that hammered a topwater plug.

JB came down from Virginia to catch this 18 inch beauty.

This 18inch smallmouth denied a topwater plug but couldn’t refuse a subsurface bait.

Rainbow Trout caught on the French Broad on one of our smallmouth floats.

Jason’s face says it all.

Lake James Guided Fishing Trips

Lake James fishing has been tough but our guide Kelsey Minish has been putting clients on some great fish. On one of Kelsey’s recent trips he was able to put Mr. Kneisl on his personal best largemouth that’s weight 6.5 pounds. To top it off, the fish was caught on topwater.

6 1/2 pound largemouth.

Lake James Largemouth.

Nothing better than a father son trip on Lake James.

Surprise catch on Lake James.

Guide Kelsey Minish was a monster walleye caught out of Lake James.

Summer Trout Fishing

The Catawba Angler still guides for trout this time of the year, but we go high to catch wild trout because those creeks are still cold enough to catch fish without harming them. If you enjoy solitude and eager trout willing to hit dry flies, then we’ve got some excellent fisheries around McDowell County for you.

Dry fly fishing is the name of the game this time of year for wild trout.

Jack’s first fish on the fly.

Native brook trout.

Nice brook trout fooled into eating a fly.

Chris with his personal best brown trout on the fly.

No need for waders this time of the year.

THANK YOU!

I would personally like to thank everyone who trusted The Catawba Angler to take them fishing and supporting us during a time of uncertainty. Your business means the most to Courtney and I and we look forward to fishing with new clients as well as old.

April Fishing Report 2020

Update On Coming Out Of A Pandemic

COVID-19 still has the world upside down, but the entire month of April we have been able to find peace on the river. The river is where we all go to find peace and solitude especially in a time of chaos. With that being said the creeks and rivers have been busier than usual, but fishing has been outstanding.

I had more cancellations in the month of April than I did all of last year, but was fortunate to reschedule a few clients while adding some new ones in between. The trips we took this month were with people who had quarantined and were taking the virus just as serious as we were. I am excited about getting clients back on the water in May.

Dry fly fishing in April

One of my favorite times to guide is when the trout are looking up for dry flies in the Spring. We had some excellent dry fly fishing the entire month of April and this will continue into the summer on our wild water creeks. There were some clients this month that preferred to only fish dry flies and ones that wanted to experience dry fly fishing for the first time. As I have said many times before, there is nothing like tricking a fish into eating a dry fly off the surface. I personally would rather catch one on a dry than 10 on a nymph.

When guiding clients using dry flies we cover the following tips and tactics so we walk away successful.

1. A good presentation is more important than the choosing the right fly.

   A drag free drift is key to enticing a trout to eating a dry fly.
   

2. Fly line management is key on short and long casts.
   Longer casts increases the chances of drag problems so an emphasis is placed on shorter casts.

3. Have a methodical approach.
   Many times anglers cast straight to the “prime” holding areas and spook nice fish holding in the areas often overlooked.
   

4. Don’t waste a cast.
   Bad casts are going to happen. Fish it out and focus on making a better cast on your next attempt.
   

We have multiple locations that we take people to catch wild trout here in McDowell County.

Client with a nice wild rainbow trout caught on a royal wulff.

Wild rainbow trout tricked into eating a dry fly.

Nothing better than fishing a dry fly deep in the National Forest.

Scott is a long time client and friend of mine and we always have a good time “picking” apart trout water. He has improved tremendously as an angler over the last few years.

Our streams most prized catch is a wild brook trout. This public water trout was caught in a mountain creek here in Old Fort.

We take pride in only providing guided trips on public water.

Wild brown trout taken on a purple haze fly.

Exploring New Water

With more time on our hands we were able to explore some new fisheries around the county. Anytime you explore a new fishery it’s best to keep your expectations low in case the fishing isn’t what you expect it to be. The areas we explored by foot and raft were more than what we could have asked for. The scenery and fishing was superb.

We decided to raft a river that I had wade fished before, but never rafted. The river was low and I had to drag the raft across certain sections, but the fishing was excellent. We caught trout, smallmouth bass, red horse suckers, and sun perch.

Exploring new water is always an adventure and you always walk away satisfied because you accomplish something that most people wouldn’t consider doing.
I’d encourage everyone to get out and explore new areas that are hard to get to because a lot of times these areas are the ones that are most rewarding.

New fishery we explored yielded a great wild rainbow.

New fishery we rafted also yielded a couple of nice smallmouth!

Exploring new water.

Red horse suckers put up tremendous fights.

8 mile round trip in search of wild brook trout

Courtney and I decided to tackle a trip deep into the Pisgah National Forest to find some wild fish. The trip was a strenuous hike across a rugged mountain to get to the pristine water full of wild brook trout. We missed one of the largest wild brook trout I have ever seen in this area, but caught some really nice fish.

Brook Trout Heaven.

Wild Brook Trout. What they lack in size they make up for in beauty.

Biggest fish of the month

The biggest fish of the month was Kathy Webb’s brook trout caught on a pat’s rubber legs. The coolest part of this catch was that we ended up hooking and breaking off on a very large rainbow the day before so when we landed this fish it was a huge relief.

19 inch brook trout.

Seconds before the massive rainbow broke us off. These are the moments that bring us back for more.

Lake James was on fire!

We were fortunate to run a few lake trips this month with some clients that had been quarantining for over 14 days. We were able to keep our distance on our bass boats and get into some excellent largemouth and smallmouth bass. April and May are two of the best months to catch good numbers of bass at Lake James. We offer trips year round, but the Spring is hard to beat!

Lake James is hard to beat in the spring for big bass.

Nice largemouth from Lake James.

Lake James Smallmouth.

Guide Kelsey Minish with a nice bag of bass from Lake James.

My lovely fiancé with nice smallmouth caught on a fluke.

River Smallmouth Fishing

We have started fishing for river smallmouth and now is the time to start booking your trips. May through September is the best time to catch river smallmouth. These trips take you through some of the prettiest areas in western NC and these hard fighting smallmouth will make you quickly forget trout fishing. I have been dedicating the last month to smallmouth fishing and I’m excited for what May and the rest of the summer holds! Check out some of our catches from the river.

River smallmouth caught on a chatterbait.

Western NC is home to some of the best river smallmouth fishing in the South!

Here are some pictures from last years trips in the month of May:

May Fishing

The creeks and rivers are full of active fish. Whether you want to go after stocked or wild trout there are ample opportunities. Our smallmouth trips provides a new opportunity to chase a different species after a long winter and spring chasing trout. Lake James will continue to fish great throughout the summer.

We are a full time guide service and hope to see you on the water in May. Give us a call so we can cater to your fishing needs.

My Best Catch

On April 25th I asked the love of my life to marry me! Courtney means the world to me and is truly my best catch! I took her to one of our favorite spots where we often pray and reflect on how good God has been to the both of us. Enjoy some of the few photos we took that day.

In Closing

I want to thank all of our clients that believe in us and allow us the opportunity to share our passion with them. I hope everyone stays safe and healthy during these chaotic times. If you are wanting to get on the water then do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you all for the support!

Stay fishy!

Matt Evans

COVID-19 & FISHING

The virus has had a negative impact on many small business owners in the area especially fly shops and independent guides. Independent guides and shops rely on a constant cash flow to keep them afloat during the guide season. When trips are cancelled or rescheduled, cash flow comes to a halt which is bad for businesses that owe rent or have outstanding debt on equipment. Once this chaos ends be sure to support your favorite local businesses first.

I am still guiding currently, but am assessing each client and case closely as well as following local and state regulations. The “6 foot rule” is in full effect on all wade fishing trips and proper sanitation on all equipment is performed before and immediately after each trip. If you want to get out on the water I would encourage you to look at our wade trip options because we can abide by the 6 foot rule better than if we are in the boat.

As of late, dry fly fishing on our backcountry creeks has been fantastic. This is a trip where you will be casting dry flies to wild trout in a backcountry setting away from people. Half day trips are $250. Enjoy some of our photos from recent outings.

Wild brown taken on a dry fly.

Wild rainbow caught on a tributary of a local creek. The royal wulf is one of my all time favorite flies this time of year.

Fish are starting to look up for these tasty bugs this time of year!

Don Pittman caught this wild trout on a Caddis on a local McDowell County creek.

I am hopeful that things in the world return to normal at the end of April. The good news is that these backcountry creeks will be fishing good all the way through the summer if you are hesitant to book in April due to the current pandemic.

Dry fly fishing for wild trout in a backcountry experience is one of my favorite trips because you get to see the trout explode on well presented dry flies. We use 7’6 three weight rods to target these fish so the fight is much more enjoyable. Most fish range anywhere from 8-10 inches but the opportunities to catch the bigger fish in the 14-18 inch range is not uncommon.

Rescheduling Trips

I am advising all clients who have had to cancel their fishing trip to reschedule at a later date. We are rescheduling a lot of trout trips in April to late fall, but I want to inform people about our smallmouth float trips which will ramp up the end of April and continue all the way into late September. These float trips for smallmouth is a great option and will get you on the water sooner than waiting till the fall trout bite.

Smallmouth Float Trips

Western NC provides some of the best river smallmouth fishing in the Southeast! I have wrote an article on the two rivers we guide on for smallmouth. If you are interested in how we target them and where we go to fish for them then go back my homepage and click on Western North Carolina Smallmouth.

The smallmouth action is starting to heat up. We have caught a few smallmouth on our recent float trips for trout down the Catawba River. The fishing is only getting better, so book your trip today to get in on the smallmouth action. There will be an influx of trip bookings at the end of April once this virus settles down. Book now so we can reserve your spot!

Kurt Bush with a nice Catawba River smallmouth.

Catawba River Smallmouth.

Smallmouth caught on March 11th on the Catawba.

Surprise catch on the Catawba Tailrace.

March float trips were awesome!

Our float trips down the Catawba River were awesome during the month of March. I took complete beginners and advanced anglers down the river and every trip was successful. I consider trips successful if the clients personally tell me they enjoyed the fishing. I received great feedback from all the clients and couldn’t have been more happy for them. As a full time guide, I strive to give each client the best fishing experience on and off the water. I want every angler to walk away more knowledgeable and confident in their angling ability after a guided trip with The Catawba Angler. My goal is to set them up for success when they go fishing on their own in our area. Check out our pics from the float trips in March.

Catawba River Brown Trout.

Tony Atkins with a big brown trout.

Holdover brown trout from the lower end of the Catawba River.

Jackson Dowdle put some great fish in the net in some tough fishing conditions.

Bald eagle checking out our fishing spot.

Fly fishing from a raft is one of the best adventures in western NC.

A lot of nice brown trout came to the net in March.

Lake James Fishing Charters

Lake James is a tough lake to fish, but our guides have been fishing it their entire lives. Let us show you some of the local knowledge needed to be successful out there. If you are interested in a trip contact us today.

3 lb. Lake James Smallmouth.

Good bag of bass caught at the lake.

In closing, I’d like to thank all the first responders and healthcare workers on the front lines helping combat this virus. We will all walk away stronger from this and hopefully I will see you on the river in the near future. Remember to support your local businesses during and after all this smoke from the virus clears. I appreciate all of you because I wouldn’t be able to pursue a career in the fishing industry if it wasn’t for you.

Stay Fishy,

Matt

French Broad River Fishing

Brown trout caught on a smallmouth float trip down the French Broad River.

French Broad River Smallmouth

The French Broad is known for its diversity when it comes to the fish species that occupy its waters. We recently took a float trip down the French Broad River and our goal was to catch some pre-spawn river smallmouth. We accomplished that goal, but also caught a big brown trout where a tributary comes into the river. The brown trout crushed a plug and we were fortunate to land this fish in the swift current.

We have caught walleye, largemouth bass, sauger, white bass, and now a brown trout on the river while fishing for smallmouth. You never know what you will catch on the French Broad, but first you have to get out there and try. Contact us today to explore one of the oldest rivers in the world and one that has some of the best smallmouth bass fishing on the east coast.

North Carolina Brook Trout

Trophy Trout in NC Delayed Harvest Waters.

20 inch brook trout taken from a small creek in McDowell County.

The Delayed Harvest waters around western N.C. have been stocked and there are many opportunities to land trophy trout. I was fortunate to land this brook trout in a delayed harvest creek on a black stonefly pattern. The fish was in a challenging spot since there were fallen trees to the top and sides of the run. I spotted the fish and knew I had one chance to make a good cast without spooking the fish in the crystal clear water. I made the cast and it actually bounced off the fallen tree in the top of the run and landed close to where I wanted it to. The stonefly I was using had two tungsten beads on it so it went straight to the bottom of the run where the trout was holding. As I began to raise my rod, my sighter went straight and I immediately knew it was the big trout because it pulled like a freight train. The fish ran straight for the fallen tree and I prayed the 5x tippet I had on wouldn’t break. Low and behold my tippet held and I was able to land the trophy fish after a fight that seemed like forever.
I have been fly fishing for over ten years now and fishing the delayed harvest creeks and rivers will never get old because of the trophy fish that are stocked in them. Whether your a beginner or experienced fly angler the delayed harvest waters have opportunities at catching the biggest trout of your life. The coolest thing about it is that all delayed harvest water is public water! Contact us today so we can show you the great fishing opportunities we have right here in McDowell County, North Carolina.

March & April Fishing Report

ON THE RISE!

Spring time in North Carolina is a guide’s dream. Water temperatures are rising and so is the metabolism of the fish. Our streams will begin to see caddis, stoneflies, and mayflies which allows us to fish dry flies which is exciting after nymph fishing all winter. The trout will leave their winter holding spots and begin to feed on these hatches in the shallower water and tailouts of pools. One of my favorite flies to fish in the spring with clients is the parachute adams because the fly has excellent visibility and mimics a variety of different bugs this time of year.

Trout taken on a parachute adams. This fly should be in every anglers fly box this time of year.

Remember hatches are based on water temperature so if the temperature is cold in the morning it can be best to wait till midday or evening to fish so the water temps warm up.

Our wild water streams can produce excellent dry fly fishing this time of the year! We guide on three wild trout water streams right here in McDowell County and catch all three species of wild trout in them.

Wild rainbow trout taken on the fly!

Wild brook trout caught on a March guide trip.

Wild brown trout!

The wild trout streams do not yield big fish, but what these fish lack in size they make up for it in beauty. This fishing takes place deep into the Pisgah National Forest. We are fortunate to have obtained the necessary permits to guide here last Spring.

The Catawba Angler has permits to take clients on wild trout streams in the Pisgah National Forest.

Delayed Harvest Waters Open in March

Delayed Harvest waters are creeks and rivers that receive trout stockings from the NCWRC. The waters will provide the best trout fishing of the year! We guide on Curtis Creek, Mill Creek, and the Catawba River which have delayed harvest sections. We specialize in guiding on the Catawba River and offer float and wade fishing trips. The float trips allow us to cover more water and fish the sections wading anglers cannot get to, so keep that in mind when booking your fishing trip. Expect to catch good quantities of fish and don’t be surprised when you catch that 20” trout you’ve always been after. There are some huge trout that get put in the Catawba. Check out some of our pictures from the Catawba below after they stock in March!

Large brook trout caught on a delayed harvest wading trip last spring.

Father and son trip on a delayed harvest stream.

Monster brook trout caught in a delayed harvest section on one of our trips last spring.

The Catawba holds some big rainbows too!

Another big brook trout!

Float Trips Down The Catawba

Hooked up on the Catawba!

Our float trips allows us to hit those hard to reach places that wade anglers can’t fish.

Great fish landed on one of our float trips down the Catawba.

Hard to beat a day of trout fishing from one of our rafts!

The best time to fish the delayed harvest waters is after the first stocking in March and all the way through the end of May! The regulations only allow anglers to fish single hook, artificial flies/lures, and the fish must be released to keep the fish around. The delayed harvest waters do not fish very well after May because anglers are able to keep a certain amount of fish, so book your trips before then to get in on the action.

As soon as the fish are stocked they tend to hit anything and everything. We normally fish worm and egg patterns then switch to more natural patterns once the fish get smarter.

Lake James In The Spring

Lake James is arguably one of the best lakes in western NC to have a chance at catching a good sized smallmouth and largemouth bass on the same trip. The crystal clear waters and the mountain scenery surrounding the lake is unmatched by any other lake in the area.

Fishing in late March, April, and May is hard to beat on Lake James. Most anglers enjoy fishing before and after the spawn when the bass feed aggressively. This makes the larger fish vulnerable because they tend to hit about anything that is casted in front of them.

We are fortunate to have Kelsey Minish apart of The Catawba Angler and he will be your guide on Lake James. Last year he placed fifth in the Carolina Bass Challenge which brings some of the best anglers to the lake to compete in a bass fishing tournament, so that was quite the accomplishment. Check out some of the quality fish that can be found on Lake James.

Largemouth and smallmouth bass populations are good on Lake James.

Lake James Largemouth caught on one of our trips.

Pound for pound you cannot beat the fight of a smallmouth.

Smallmouth Float Trips

Smallmouth fishing in late March and early April can be really good on the river! We don’t guide for numbers but we look to hook our clients up with a few of the biggest! The fish are aggressive this time of year and look for larger baitfish and crayfish. If you have never fished for smallmouth from a raft then let us show you why it’s our favorite type of fishing! Check out some of our catches from March and April.

Big smallmouth caught in early April on a spinnerbait!

Big river smallmouth caught in late March on one of our float trips.

We offer light spinning tackle and fly fishing trips for big river smallmouth.

Catawba Tailrace Caddis Hatch

The Tailrace provides great dry fly fishing in March because the black caddis make their appearance. I was on the river last week and saw some sporadic hatches! The fish aren’t keying in on them yet, but I will update this post once they start. Check out the Caddis I saw last week below.

Black Caddis on the Catawba Tailrace. 2/25/20.

Black stones and streamers are always good choices for the Tailrace.

Enjoy More Pics From This Time Of Year

January/February 2020 Fishing Report

Fishing in January and February can be very rewarding to those who brave the colder weather.

Paul Atkins fishing a wild water stretch in McDowell County during the snow.

January and February brings some of the coldest weather of the year in North Carolina, but fishing is still great. The key to fishing in these colder months is to layer up. I try and tell people that it’s better to have more on than not enough. You can always take clothes off if you get too warm.

We brought excellent numbers and some good sized fish to the net in January. Fishing tends to be best midday or late afternoon when air and water temps are highest so we meet clients around 9:30 or 10am. Water temperature was below 50 degrees most days in January which required us to go with smaller flies. Clients did well on midges, pheasant tail jigs, and eggs.

One fascinating thing is that we didn’t see anyone else on the creeks and rivers during the month of January. If solitude is what your after on the trout streams then I would recommend going this time of year.

Nice brown caught in the Pisgah National Forest in January.

Floating the Catawba River in January is a great option for catching a lot of trout and staying dry by fishing from our raft. (This picture was actually taken after a rainstorm)

Fishing from our NRS raft keeps clients warmer than if they were wading in the water during January because they stay dry. I encourage clients to wear waders on our float trips in the winter for that extra layer of protection against the rain and snow.

Wild trout caught on a stonefly. (January 30, 2020)

Perdigon flies are excellent to fish on wild trout streams in the winter months.

February was one for the books!
People always ask what’s your favorite time to fish and it’s hard not to say February. February is one of those months where you can have 60 degree days or 20 degree days. No matter the temperature it always seems the fish are willing to eat as long as you present the flies correctly. I have found that the trout tend to hover around the bottom of the creeks and rivers during February because the water is still below 50 degrees. The key to catching good numbers is to get your flies to where the fish are lying. This requires heavier flies with tungsten bead heads or simply adding split shot. There are some people that don’t believe in adding split shot, but it can make turn a good day into a great day.

A good friend and I floated the main river here in McDowell County and we had one of the best days of fishing we have ever had. We fished for 4 hours and caught 67 trout. This wasn’t all luck. We were getting our flies down to where the fish were and the fish cooperated. Normally on float trips I’ll fish indicators or use dry dropper combos. These certain techniques are effective but the nymphs only cover one section of the water column. Daniel and I tight lined nymphs from the boat and this ended up being something I’ll be applying on all future guide trips because of how effective it is. The waters we guide on range anywhere from 2 to 15 feet in depth which further justifies why “tight lining” is so effective because we can adjust the depth our nymphs cover by simply raising or lowering the rod tips.

We caught 67 trout in a 4 hour float.

Michael Hill and his son Matt enjoying a warmer February day.

Second Chances

I took Mr. Hill and his son Matt on a half day wade trip to teach them Euro Nymphing on a wild trout stream in McDowell County. We had an excellent day in the higher water. I prefer to fish this particular section during higher water because the bigger wild trout tend to move out of their normal hiding spots making them more vulnerable to catch. We netted some good fish early that morning, but Matt ended up hooking one of the biggest wild trout I have seen on this stretch.

Solid fish Matt caught earlier in the day on our half day wade trip.

I was upstream retying flies for Micheal when I looked back and seen Matt’s rod bent over. He yelled out and said I’ll need some help netting this one. I quickly go back downstream and get in position to net this fish. I remained calm and so did Matt, but we both realized what was on the other end of the line. The fish was peeling drag using the higher water to its advantage. Matt played the fish perfectly and we ended up getting the fish over to still water. Just as I was about to go in for the net job the 5x tippet broke and we both let out sighs of disappointment, but still happy for what just took place. Matt and Micheal went on to catch more fish, but we all wondered what that fish would have measured and would have loved to document it.

The Catawba Angler only guides on public water and we will always keep it that way because I appreciate taking anglers to creeks and rivers they can return to.

I had a feeling Matt and Micheal would go back for that fish we broke off at a later date, but wasn’t expecting them to catch the same fish. Two days later Matt and his dad went back to the stretch I guided them on and caught the same exact fish we broke off on! When he sent me the picture of the fish I was so excited for him because a public water fish like that is a fish of a lifetime.

Matt’s fish he caught two days after being broke off on our guide trip.

Second look at Matt’s catch. 19” wild rainbow.

Upgrade!!

I am excited to announce we have upgraded our fishing raft to create a more enjoyable fishing experience for clients on float trips. We have now added fishing platforms to the front and back of the raft so it’s just like fishing from a drift boat! This was a long time coming and i appreciate all the business from our clients because without your support we couldn’t have done it. See the upgrades below.

The casting platforms provides anglers the chance to now stand and fish from the raft just like you would from a drift boat.

Enjoy these other pics from January and February!

Courtney’s first fish using a euro nymphing set up!

The Catawba Angler provides guide trips in western NC year round! Cold months provide great fishing and solitude.

First timer with a nice wild rainbow trout.

Streamer fishing in the winter can turn some good sized fish especially brown trout.

December 2019 Fishing Report

Don’t let the cold keep you from fishing this December!

The fishing in December was the best fishing I have experienced in the past couple of years. Water levels were perfect and the water temperatures hovered around the 50 degree mark which was ideal for trout. There were days where the temperature got close to 70 degrees which isn’t the norm for the month of December, but it kept fishing consistent and we were able to put excellent numbers of fish in the net. I was fortunate to take a veteran out on a half day float and he put close to twenty fish in the net as a complete beginner to fly fishing. These types of days on the water are special to me because it’s such an honor taking veterans out because without their service to our country I wouldn’t have the freedom to be on the water every day.

Tyler just got back from Afghanistan three weeks before our float trip down the Catawba River.

One of our most popular float trips in December is floating the Catawba River in Marion, North Carolina. This float takes you through two delayed harvest sections which are sections stocked by the NCWRC in October & November so there is plenty of action the entire float. We mainly fish under indicators using stonefly and egg patterns. It’s always a pleasure putting novice and even experienced anglers on good trout through this section. The majority of what we catch are 10-14 inch rainbow trout which are supercharged this time of year and make for a fun fight on a four weight rod.

A healthy rainbow caught on an egg pattern while floating the Catawba River.

Our delayed harvest sections in McDowell fished really well this time of year. This is a good time to hit these sections because it is less pressured and you are able to put some good fish in the net. I do believe there are fewer fish in these stretches this year due to the possibility of fishing dying in early October from elevated water temperatures, but I’ve enjoyed the challenge of “hunting” for them.

I took some clients to Curtis Creek which is some of the prettiest water in the county because it flows within the Pisgah National Forest. We offer a unique trip on Curtis where we spend half our time on the delayed harvest waters fishing for stocked trout and then we hit the wild water section targeting wild trout. I tell clients that the wild water is not the place to go if you want to catch a lot of trout, but if you want seclusion and a challenge then this is your trip. Wild trout are smarter and you have to be able to sneak up on the fish unlike the stocked fish that will stay right below your feet. Fishing the wild trout water on Curtis is a lot of fun on the warmer days in December because you can catch fish on dry flies. Colder days can trigger some excellent blue wing olive hatches so I try to always have them on hand.

Wild Trout Water

December Dry Fly Fishing

Wild Brown Trout caught on a dry fly in December.

Wild Water Fly Fishing Trips

Dry fly fishing Curtis Creek.

Dry fly eater!

Taking advantage of those warm December days! The wild trout are always looking up!

Euro Nymphing

This fishing has recently taken the US by storm. It seems as if every fly fisherman is doing it, but I’ve realized that this type of fishing is still relatively new to people just getting started in the sport of fly fishing. This type of fishing involves using light tippet, a longer rod, and a sighter to detect strikes. I tie my sighters out of bright colored mono filament which is easily seen. I’ll use blood knots to connect my sighters to the tippet. Everyone has their go to knots when setting up this rig but the blood knot is the easiest for me to tie. I usually start beginners out with 4x or 5x tippet, but will use 6x or 7x with the more experienced anglers.
The concept of Euro Nymphing is quite simple, but the actual fishing requires skill. This method is good year round, but is preferred in the winter when the water is crystal clear and somewhat low because of how subtle the presentation of the flies can be. This time of year the fish seem to be more spooky.

When Euro Nymphing, the angler casts upstream of where the fish are holding using weighted flies. Keeping the sighter off the water is key so you can detect “strikes”. When the sighter straightens or pauses the angler sets the hook. Our delayed harvest waters are great fisheries to learn this type of fishing because there are a lot of fish in these sections. I was able to take Serge and his father from Raleigh on Curtis Creek and teach them this style of fishing on a cold December day. It was vital for us to get our flies right in front of the fish that day because they were not very active at all. I told them we basically had to hit them on the head and once they understand that concept we start putting fish in the net.

Fooling a good rainbow using a weighted fly.

Euro Nymphing Curtis Creek.

December can provide some of the best fishing of the year without the crowds!

In closing, I would like to thank all the clients who trusted The Catawba Angler to take them on a guided fishing trip this year! We couldn’t do it without each and everyone of you! We strive to give our clients the very best guided fishing experience in western North Carolina. We look forward to taking you fishing in 2020. If you ever have any questions or just want to talk fishing give me a call.

Tight Lines,

Matt Evans

Owner, The Catawba Angler

November 2019 Fishing Report

November was one for the books! I was able to guide my father into catching his biggest NC brown trout to date. The fish taped out at 21 inches and was one of the heaviest fish I have had the priviledge to net.

21 inch brown trout from the Catawba Tailrace.

I also had the lucky hand in November by catching one of my biggest NC rainbows to date in a small mountain stream in McDowell County. I caught him on a size 16 perdigon which is a simple fly developed by the Spanish Competitive Fly Fishing Team. I am starting to use more types of these flies on guided trips and they have proven themselves to be highly effective in catching fish especially the picky ones.

Fish hit a size 16 Olive Body Quill Perdigon.

18 inch wild trout.

Fishing with family is something I’ll always cherish because it allows me to introduce my passion and what I do for a living to my closest people. I took my sister on her first fly fishing trip down the Catawba River and was able to watch her hook and land a healthy rainbow trout. These memories I get to create on the river with a fly rod in hand is what keeps me pursuing this career as a fishing guide.

My sister with her first fish on the fly.

These fish are often overlooked as fun to catch because of their size, but chasing these fish get you into some of the prettiest terrain that western North Carolina has to offer. What they lack in size they make up for in beauty. They are eager to hit dry flies year round and that is something that makes wild water in NC so special. North Carolina has so much wild water to explore. I enjoy looking at maps and findng the water that is rarely touched by other fishermen. If you are willing to put in the miles then you can find solitude and some nice wild fish. There are two streams that we guide on in Old Fort that allows anglers to obtain the “Grand Slam”. This is where anglers catch all three species of wild trout in the same outing.

Wild Rainbow Trout.

Fishing from a raft is an exciting way to fish because you get to cover much more water than if you were on foot. I took Keith Burch and his friend down a really cool stretch of water that only a few people float here in McDowell and we had alot of action the entire trip. During this trip we fished stoneflies, eggs, and pheasant tail nymphs with CDC collars on them and the fish absolutely loved them. Most float trips involves fishing with an indicator and this year I have gotten away from using the thingamabobber because beginners have a harder time casting it and it hits the water much harder than a fly.

Keith with a healthy rainbow trout from the Catawba River.

Another look at the brown trout my father caught.

November Fishing Tips

** These are tips I have gathered from guiding in November and would like to share with anyone willing to better themselves as an angler**

1. Use lighter tippet: Starting in November the fish begin to pod up in the deeper holes and I have found it beneficial to fish lighter tippet. Our water here in North Carolina is generally low and clear this time of year so the lighter the tippet the less disruption it makes when it hits the water. It’s not uncommon for us to use 6x or 7x tippet on our guide trips.

2. Fish Deeper & Slower: Adding weight or fishing heavier flies can be very beneficial this time of year because it gets your flies to where the fish are holding. On colder days you want to hit the fish right on the head with your flies because the less energy they have to move to eat your fly the better. When striping streamers try going a little slower on your retrieve and consider using a heavier sink tip.

3. Smaller Flies: I remember when I first started fly fishing I thought to myself that bigger fish hit bigger flies. This is a true statement but bigger fish also hit tiny flies. Try a midge underneath your indicator and you will be surprised by how many bigger fish you will net.

4. Stealth is key: When the water is low and clear fish will spook more easily. I have found that longer casts, lighter tippet, and being stealthy are musts on wild trout water in the month of November. We have all heard the saying “ That fish didn’t get big by being dumb”. Being stealthy will increase your chances at getting that cast off to that big wild rainbow thats holding in crystal clear water.

Catawba Tailrace October 2019

22 inch Catawba Tailrace Brown Trout

The Catawba Tailrace is a unique tailwater fishery below Bridgewater Dam in Morganton, North Carolina. The cold water discharges from the dam create a habitat for brown trout that the NCWRC stocks every year. The brown trout that are placed in this fishery grow at a very fast rate. It only takes a few years for the stocked fish to become classified as “trophy” fish. The Catawba Angler specializes in guiding on the catawba tailrace and offers full day float trips for $350.

The most effective way to fish the tailrace is from a raft or drift boat because access is limited on foot. We mainly nymph fish this section with an indicator using stonefly patterns, and smaller jig head nymphs as dropper flies. Streamer fishing can be very exciting on the tailrace because you can turn and catch some very large fish. The best colors to use are black and white. Our favorite streamer to fish is a black peanut envy designed by Kelly Galloup.

Our favorite time to fish the tailrace is from October to May. There is excellent dry fly fishing in the spring. We have a really good caddis hatch in early March which allows us to sight fish for some large brown trout.

20 inch Catawba Tailrace Brown Trout

This male brown trout was caught on October 19th. Fall brings beautiful color changes to the brown trout in the Catawba Tailrace.

Black stonefly nymphs are excellent flies to use on the Catawba Tailrace. This healthy brown trout took a stonefly during one unit generation.

Catawba Tailrace Caddis Hatch

Springtime dry fly fishing in western North Carolina!

The Catawba Tailrace has an excellent caddis hatch beginning in early March that can last till mid April. Throwing dry flies to rising brown trout is hard to beat! The best fishing is on days when there is no generation. (Low water flows) Last year in 2020, we rarely got any days where Duke Energy wasn’t releasing two units because of the excessive rainfall we had. I am going to be optimistic about having desirable flows for throwing dry flies this year. There is nothing better than sight fishing to rising trout from our NRS rafts. This is some of the most exciting fishing the Tailrace has to offer besides streamer fishing. The Catawba Angler specializes in offering float trips on the Catawba Tailrace and would love to have the opportunity to show you what this great fishery has to offer anytime of the year.

The elk hair caddis is my personal favorite fly. This pattern floats well and can easily be skated across the surface for some explosive strikes on the Catawba Tailrace in March and April.