June 2021 Fishing Report

Smallmouth season is in full swing!

The smallmouth fishing around Asheville, North Carolina is excellent during the month of June. The best days have been when the water is low and clear, and the more challenging days have been when the rivers muddy up after a hard rain. We have been fishing the French Broad the most this summer because water conditions have been favorable. Whenever the French Broad is low and somewhat clear you need to be fishing it. The Nolichucky can be more difficult to navigate when water levels get low, but where there is a will there is a way. The topwater bite hasn’t been very good this year, but minnow patterns and crawfish patterns have been the ticket. Our biggest fish of the year so far came on a soft plastic in early June. July is definitely a good time to catch a bunch of fish. Most fish will range from 8-12 inches, but you hope to fool a bigger one 16+ inches. Here are some of our best smallmouth catches from June 2021.

Trout Fishing in June

We have had a cooler than normal June and we’re able to sneak in some trout fishing trips on the Catawba Tailrace and the main stem of the Catawba. Fish are still eating stoneflies and egg patterns.

Lake James Fishing Report (June 2021)

Lake James has been tough, but the best fishing has been early morning. We’ve managed a couple of good fish on recent outings. If you want to get out on the lake this summer remember early morning is best.

Outlook for July 2021

We still have some availability the last two weeks in July, but they will be booking up soon. The fishing in July is good. Smallmouth is the name of the game during the month of July. The French Broad is usually low and fishing is consistent. We will start running trips earlier in July because the best fishing is usually before 2pm. July involves a more finesse fishing approach so throwing jigs is definitely the best technique. Fish will still be chasing in the early hours, but when the sun gets overhead we downsize and go natural. Trout fishing can be good around rainy days where the water temps drop to levels that are suitable to catch and release trout. All of our trout fishing trips in July is on higher elevation creeks. Check out some of our best catches from July 2020.

Smallmouth Bass Fishing in WNC (May 2021)

May provides some excellent angling opportunities for river smallmouth around Asheville, North Carolina!

River smallmouth are prized catches here in the mountains of North Carolina. These fish are aggressive predators to smaller baitfish and crayfish. We begin targeting these fish beginning in April, but the fishing doesn’t ramp up till the moth of May. The smallmouth have finished spawning and they go into post spawn mode which means they are hungry after spending all their energy on “love”. We have been running smallmouth guide trips on the Nolichucky and French Broad Rivers. Fishing has been as good as I have seen it in recent years. The water clarity and flows have been great because we haven’t had much rainfall. We’ve been catching most our bass on jigs, swimbaits, and topwater plugs. I’ve mainly guided spin fishermen, but have been fortunate to take out some great fly fishermen. Check out our best smallmouth bass catches from May 2021. The Catawba Angler specializes in guided river smallmouth float trips on the Nolichucky, French Broad, and Catawba Rivers.

May Fishing Report 2021

The month of May provides some great trout and smallmouth fishing in the mountains of NC.

Trout Fishing in May

There are plenty of great trout fishing opportunities in May. The delayed harvest stretches are fishing well and the wild trout fishing on the wild trout streams is even better. Here are some of our most recent trout catches in the month of May.

20 inch brown trout caught on a recent float trip. May 1, 2021.

Wild brown trout caught in the Pisgah National Forest. May provides some excellent wade fishing in the backcountry.

Ashley with her personal best rainbow trout. Fish measured right at 20 inches. May 8, 2021.

Grayson with a great rainbow trout on a recent wade trip. May 7, 2021

Fred with a 18” rainbow that put up an impressive fight on 5x tippet. May 8, 2021

Nick with a big delayed harvest rainbow trout. May 7, 2021

Kevin caught double digits on a local delayed harvest stretch. May 7, 2021

Smallmouth Fishing in May

The smallmouth bite has been good and will only get better as water temperatures warm up. We have had good success on the Nolichucky, and French Broad Rivers. Fish are currently eating minnow and crayfish patterns. There hasn’t been much topwater yet, but I expect to see it on any of these warmer days. Here are some smallmouth from the month of May.

Fishing was great until we got rained out. May 3, 2021

14” river smallmouth. May 3, 2021

French Broad River Smallmouth May 10,2021

Smallmouth Country. May 10, 2021

Smallmouth fishing in May.

Ed Pruitt with a nice river smallmouth. May 2021

Outlook for the rest of May/Early June

Trout fishing will remain consistent in the larger rivers as long as water temperatures stay below 70 degrees. Wild Trout fishing will be the best bet come early June unless you are up for fishing the Catawba Tailrace. Since that water comes out of the dam it stays cool enough to float for trout well in the summer. Smallmouth fishing is good and will only get better. We have caught some of our biggest smallmouth in May/Early June. Don’t hesitate to book your smallmouth adventure because we are filling up fast the month of June and July. The fishing on Lake James has been excellent lately and will stay consistent well into the summer. Thanks for reading! Hope to see you on the water.

May 11th, 2021 (French Broad River Smallmouth)

The smallmouth are keying in on minnow and crayfish patterns. The fish have not moved into the shallow yet, but as the water temperature rises the bass will push towards the bank. Ton of mayflies on the water today and the bass were taking them off the surface. This was one of the first times I have seen this take place so it was cool to watch. We netted around 15 fish on a half day float with a couple of good sized ones in the mix. Check out the pictures below.

May 12th, 2021 (Trout Float)

Took Michael and his son Justin on a trout float and the weather just didn’t cooperate. The weather stations said it would stop raining around 10am, but it rained all day. I appreciate clients who are good sports about the weather because we can’t always have ideal conditions on the water. We caught fish before the water turned dirty, but we are going to reschedule for a better day.

Wet, cold day on the water.

May 17,18,19,20 (Nolichucky River Smallmouth Trips)

May 21st (Smallmouth Float Trip)

Longtime client Jay and I fished the Nolichucky River and caught some good fish on topwater lures. Water temperature was 66 degrees so the bass were feeding aggressively.

May 25th (Trout & Smallmouth Float Trip)

Rich and his son Wes went on a trout/smallmouth float trip with me and we had good luck catching both species. The water temperature was pushing 70 degrees midday so the trout bite slowed down, but we managed to catch some good ones early on. The smallmouth fishing has really turned on now.

May 15th (Trout Float Trip)

May 26th (Smallmouth Float Trip)

Dan and his daughter joined me to chase some river smallmouth in the French Broad River. Water temperature was 70 degrees. We caught 25+ fish with the majority of them weighing over a pound. The French Broad provides the perfect habitat for these smallmouth ambush crayfish, hellgramites, and baitfish. The French Broad River has really turned on and should provide fishing all summer long.

May 27th (Smallmouth Float Trip)

Catching smallmouth on the fly is challenging and its a lot of work. Jerry and Nathan threw topwater poppers all day and brought some good fish to the net.

Catawba Tailrace Fishing Report 2021

The Catawba Tailrace is one of the best tailwater trout fisheries in North Carolina.

22 inch brown trout caught by Jim Muse. April 2021.

20 inch brown trout caught by Chris Snyder. May 2021.

21 inch brown trout caught by Allen Locke. April 2021

The Catawba Tailrace is a hidden gem in the foothills of North Carolina. On it’s good days this fishery rivals the tailwaters of Tennessee. The Catawba Tailrace offers seclusion unlike any other tailwater in the Southeast. We rarely see other guide boats on this fishery which is an added bonus.

The best times to fish this fishery is from mid November to May/June. The most successful tactics is nymphing and streamer fishing. We rarely throwing anything over a size 12 fly on this stretch because the fish here eat big flies.

The Catawba Tailrace is a diverse fishery that holds numerous species but we only target trout currently on our guided trips. We are devoting time to figuring out the striper fishing here to start offering guided trips one day so stays tuned for that.

Yellow Perch caught on a recent float trip.

We occasionally catch smallmouth on the Catawba Tailrace.

Striper caught in late summer on the Tailrace.

Trophy Trout on the Catawba Tailrace

It only takes a few years for the stocked fish here to become trophy trout.

The trout that are stocked in the Tailrace grow at fast rates. In two to three years, trout will grow to trophy sizes which is over 20 inches. It’s important to always release these bigger fish because they will only get bigger. Check out some other great catches from earlier years.

21 inch brown caught on November 4th, 2019.

Trophy brown trout caught on March 5th, 2019.

Nice brown caught on October 30, 2019.

Solid brown trout caught in late fall of 2019.

Outlook for May & June

May 10, 2021

Current water temperature is 54 degrees. Fishing has been consistent all day. Lower stretch has been fishing slower than the upper, but that has been the case since early fall. Lots of fish in the 10-14 inch range with a few bigger ones present on every float. 1 unit generation has provided the best fishing, but no generation has been good. The special trout regulation section is best to nymph while the hatchery supported section fishes best with a streamer. Biggest fish have been caught in the deepest holes. If this cooler weather stays throughout the month of May, fishing will be good well into June. Book your tailwater fishing adventure today. The Catawba Angler specializes in guiding for trout on the Catawba Tailrace below Bridgewater Dam.

Smallmouth Fishing Guides

The Catawba Angler specializes in guided smallmouth fishing trips here in western North Carolina.

Smallmouth Fishing in North Carolina.

Nolichucky River Smallmouth Fishing

Lake James Smallmouth Fishing

French Broad River Smallmouth Fishing

Releasing a 20 inch river smallmouth.

Hooked up with nice Nolichucky river smallmouth.

Smallmouth Fishing Guides

Smallmouth Fishing in Asheville.

Smallmouth Fishing in the mountains of North Carolina.

Lake James Smallmouth

Our NRS rafts are comfortable and stable to fish out of.

River Smallmouth Fishing

The smallmouth fishing here in western North Carolina is something that every angler should experience once in their lifetime. The fishing takes place on some of the oldest rivers in the world and the blue ridge mountains provide the perfect backdrop. We specialize in guiding for river smallmouth using fly rods or light spinning tackle. Smallmouth do not discriminate whether it’s a well placed fly or lure so we welcome all anglers and skill levels. We guide out of NRS and Outcast fishing rafts which allows clients to ride comfortably and stable. Anglers have the ability to either sit or stand on the raft’s casting platforms. Our guided smallmouth float trips show clients a different side of these mountains. I like to tell clients that “the scenery alone makes the trip. Catching fish is just a bonus.”

What to expect on a guided smallmouth float trip:

We meet clients around 8am in the spring/fall, and as early as 7am in the summer because we normally get a early morning topwater bite. We will communicate to you on the meeting place and time prior to your trip. Please make every effort to be on time because we promise you we will be on time. We normally cover 4-6 miles of river on our float trips. We provide a basic lunch on full day trips which consists of sandwiches and chips, but we ask clients to bring their own drinks. All gear is provided, but if you like to use your own please let us know prior to your trip.
The average smallmouth size we catch is probably around 10-12 inches. The biggest we’ve netted pushed 5 pounds and measured 21.5 inches. These river smallmouth grow around 2-3 inches a year so every fish is valuable not only to us who make a living off of them, but the river systems. Smallmouth bass make hard runs and you can expect the bigger fish to jump. Landing a big smallmouth is very comparable to fooling a large brown trout. It takes skill and patience. The two main rivers we guide on are the French Broad and the Nolichucky. We also have some other sSmallmouth eat other fish and the aquatic life that dwells on the bottom. Our top flies include clouser minnows, game changers, hellgramite and stonefly patterns. Our top lures are flukes, jigs, and topwater plugs. Natural colors are always best when fishing rivers. If I could pick one color it would be green pumpkin because it mimics so many foods that smallmouth eat.

Nice smallmouth caught on a green pumpkin yum dinger.

This crawdad claw was spit out of a smallmouth’s belly while fishing the French Broad.

These soft plastic crawdads are great baits for river smallmouth.

Expect to throw a variety of different baits on our smallmouth trips. We fish moving baits and finesse baits depending on the time of year. Dingy water shouldn’t be overlooked because we have landed some of our biggest smallmouth on spinnerbaits and chatterbaits. Most fish in off colored water will hold close to the banks where clarity is better.

This French Broad River smallmouth hammered a chatterbait in off colored water.

Big smallmouth caught on a spinnerbait.

Beautiful Bronzeback.

The smallmouth fishing here in western North Carolina is best from April to November. The winter months are cold and the bass aren’t very active. My favorite month to guide for smallmouth would be June because the bass are eating a variety of different lures. Early June marks the beginning of summer and we all know that river smallmouth and summertime is a great combination. I’ll highlight our best catches from April to November below.

Late April River Smallmouth.

Late April Smallmouth.

Smallmouth caught in April on Lake James.

French Broad River smallmouth caught in early May.

Early May River Smallmouth.

Nolichucky River Smallmouth caught in May.

20” smallmouth caught the first week of June.

Post spawn smallmouth caught in June.

Smallmouth caught in July.

Lake James Smallmouth caught in July.

August River Smallmouth.

River smallmouth caught mid September.

September River Smallmouth

October River Smallmouth

Smallmouth caught in late October on the French Broad River.

A peacock bass caught in Florida. Head south in November to chase bass :)

Smallmouth fishing is a lot of fun! If you’ve never tried it or are looking to catch your personal best give us a call. Guiding is our full time job so we guarantee we are up to date on what’s working on the river or lake. We appreciate all the support from our wives, families, friends, clients and most importantly God because without him none of this would be possible. See you on the water.

March & April Fishing Report 2021

March and April provides some excellent spring fishing for trout and smallmouth around the Asheville area.

Springtime is here in western North Carolina.

Springtime fishing in western North Carolina is a wonderful thing! Bugs are hatching, plants and trees are blooming, and the fish are biting! The first day of Spring is March 20th and ends June 20th. For this report we will highlight some great fishing opportunities March through the end of April. We will discuss what clients can expect in May as well.

Delayed Harvest Waters in March, April, & May

The delayed harvest waters have been fishing excellent and will continue to fish well until the end of May. We have been catching a lot of fish and some good quality fish on both our wade trips and float trips. The NCWRC puts big rainbow, brown, and brook trout in these fisheries and we get to reap the benefits of it. The most successful tactic has been nymphing under and indicator, but streamers have brought in the bigger fish. Check out our recent catches from the delayed harvest waters.

First timer Wesley Lawson caught this 20” rainbow trout on an outing with his sons.

Joe Kinney tricked this 19” brown trout into eating a black streamer.

Dick from South Carolina caught two 20” rainbows on a recent float trip. Great fight on a 4 weight rod.

22” rainbow trout caught while we were doing some smallmouth fishing! This was Chris Turner’s personal best trout.

Ted Judy with a nice brook trout! The brook trout is a freshwater favorite in North Carolina.

Copper was all smiles after landing his first trout on a fly rod!

McDowell County creeks and rivers will receive its 3rd trout stocking this year on May 5th. Fishing will continue to be good on these creeks and rivers until the end of May so if you want to get in on some good trout fishing keep this in mind.

Catawba Tailrace

The caddis hatch was great this year on the tailrace, but it has come to an end. The warmer weather we had in early March caused the bugs to come and go sooner than year’s past. The good news is that fishing on the tailrace has been consistent since late November and will continue to fish well into early June. This fishery has proven itself year after year for some excellent tailwater fishing for brown trout. This fishery is a short drive from Raleigh, Winston Salem, and Charlotte so give us a call to get on the water. It’s cool showing other anglers who can appreciate this fishery as much as us. It has its challenges with the unpredictable flows and the water clarity from Muddy Creek but it is one of the best brown trout fisheries in the state. We’ve been catching some really good numbers of fish. Check out our most recent catches.

Rick with a nice brown from the lower section of the Tailrace.

Hooked up!

Nice holdover brown trout.

Once in a blue moon we catch some nice smallmouth on stonefly patterns.

Wild Trout Fishing Trips

The wild trout water in North Carolina is a dry fly fishing paradise in the Spring. These wild trout will hit a well presented dry fly all day long which is always a blast. This is the most authentic North Carolina fly fishing experience we offer. Chasing wild trout on the fly never gets old. Our wild trout trips are great because clients get to hike and fish in beautiful areas that most people don’t venture to.

Wild Rainbow Trout.

The Tao’s took advantage of a warm spring day on a wild trout stream here in Old Fort.

Colder than normal day in April, but the fish didn’t mind.

Fishing dry flies on a wild trout stream in the Pisgah National Forest.

Beautiful wild rainbow trout.

Steve from Texas loved the wild trout fishing here in the mountains.

Rare tiger trout caught on one of our wild trout trips.

Mike fooled this wild rainbow with a well placed dry fly.

Wild Trout Water.

Wild Brown Trout

Springtime smallmouth fishing in North Carolina

The river smallmouth are becoming more and more active as the days get warmer and longer. Fish are starting to enter their spawning areas this time of year so it’s best to leave them alone to ensure a successful spawn. We have caught some smallmouth on some of our recent trout float trips, but quickly landing and releasing them in the same area that they are caught is important. The best fishing on the river is before or after the spawn. With that being said, we are now booking river smallmouth trips for the 2021 season. Please book 3-4 weeks in advance to ensure the date you want is available. Last minute bookings are accepted, but not ideal. We run smallmouth trips from late April to early November.

Early Spring smallmouth fishing on the French Broad River. March 14, 2021.

Nice prespawn smallmouth bass from a recent float trip.

Healthy smallmouth from the French Broad River.

River Smallmouth.

Lake James Bass Fishing

Lake James is fishing well and the bass are in spawning mode. The lake really turned about a week ago and fishing will remain consistent through May. Here are some recent catches from our guided charters on Lake James.

Lake James Bass Fishing

4.8 pound mean mouth bass hammered a jerk bait.

Making memories on Lake James.

Nice largemouth caught on one of our recent outings.

Two nice bass caught with guide Kelsey Minish.

Lake James Fishing Guides.

Catfish made an appearance on a recent trip.

Prespawn bass from Lake James.

Outlook for May

May is a wonderful time to be on the water in western North Carolina. The delayed harvest waters will be fishing well, and the river smallmouth will be fired up. The bass at Lake James will be in post spawn mode which means they will be hungry. We appreciate everyone who has trusted us to take them fishing over the last 4 years and look forward to seeing you on the water! Check out some guided trip pictures from May 2020.

Lake James May 19th 2020

Brown Trout May 5th 2020

River Smallmouth May 30th 2020

Lake James Largemouth May 6th 2020

Other Pics From This Month

Nolichucky River Fishing Guides

The Nolichucky River offers the best smallmouth fishing in the Southeast!

The Nolichucky River is a freestone river that provides excellent smallmouth bass fishing from April to the end of October. There are very few rivers in the South that can rival the scenery and the fishing of the Nolichucky. The Catawba Angler offers guided bass fishing trips on the Nolichucky using light tackle or fly fishing gear. Our guided fishing trips on the Nolichucky are our most popular ones. The thrill of catching hard fighting smallmouth on a wild and scenic river are memories you will never forget. The Catawba Angler offers full day float trips for $350.

Nolichucky River Smallmouth Fishing

Nolichucky River Fly Fishing

Nolichucky River Smallmouth

The Nolichucky River offers excellent smallmouth bass fishing.

Ride comfortably and safely on our NRS rafts.

Nolichucky fishes best from April to the end of October.

Topwater blowups in the heat of summer!

Smallmouth are hardest fighting fish in western North Carolina.

Nolichucky River Fishing Trips

Early prespawn smallmouth bass.

Post spawn smallmouth bass.

My girl with a big spring smallmouth.

Nice 2.5 lb. river smallmouth.

June and July provides some of the best topwater fishing of the year.

Book your smallmouth fishing trip today.

Fishing near Black Mountain

Fishing opportunities in and around Black Mountain.

Black Mountain is a quiet, little mountain town that is surrounded by some great fishing opportunities. Within a 15 mile radius of downtown, you can fly fish for wild trout in the Pisgah National Forest or float the French Broad River for smallmouth bass. I will highlight the fishing opportunities below.

Flat Creek

Flat Creek is smaller creek that holds wild rainbow trout below and above Lake Susan. We like to call the fish in this creek “Montrout” because of their close proximity to Montreat College. Approach this creek using a smaller fly rod because it involves some technical, tighter casts than some of the larger creeks and rivers in the area. Late Spring and early summer provides some great dry fly fishing. You can find some great dry fly patterns at One Fly Outfitters which is the local fly shop in downtown Black Mountain. Don’t expect to catch any fish over 10 inches. Most trout will range in the 6-8 inch range. What these fish lack in size, they make up for in their beauty.

Wild rainbow caught out of Flat Creek.

Lake Tomahawk

Lake Tomahawk is a lake in Black Mountain that gets stocked with trout and channel catfish certain times of the year. If bank fishing is your thing then this lake would be a good spot for you. Most anglers will fish live bait here, but fishing jigs or soft plastics can be productive on the perch and bass. Pay attention to the local fishing regulations on the lake if you plan to keep anything you catch.

Curtis Creek

Curtis Creek is located 12 miles from downtown Black Mountain and is in the heart of the Pisgah National Forest. There are great fishing opportunities here for stocked trout in the spring, fall, and winter months. The wild trout fishing on the headwaters of Curtis Creek is best during the spring and summer months when the bugs start to hatch. The Catawba Angler has the required permits to take people fishing on Curtis Creek. Curtis Creek has something for everyone whether you are an angler, hiker, biker, or explorer. It is great for beginners looking to learn the sport of fly fishing or experienced anglers looking for some more technical wild trout water.

Curtis Creek is stocked with trout in March, April, May, October, and November.

The wild trout waters on Curtis Creek hold some nice rainbow and brown trout.

Newberry Creek

Newberry is a tributary to Curtis Creek and has an abundant population of wild brook trout. This is a catch and release only creek. A forest service road parallels the creek so access is somewhat easy. The fishing is always better the higher you go, but similar to most higher elevation creeks casting can be tight. If you are looking for solitude and some good trout fishing near Black Mountain this creek is a must.

Newberry Creek, North Carolina.

Joseph McDowell Greenway

This greenway provides great access to the Catawba River in Marion, NC. This stretch provides some great trout fishing in the spring/winter months and bass fishing in the summer. Some of my favorite flies here are wooly buggers and any type of egg pattern will catch fish here. If you want to target bass here try flukes, spooks, and smaller spinnerbaits.

Catawba River Rainbow Trout

French Broad River

The French Broad River is one of the best smallmouth fisheries in the South. This river is about 15 miles from downtown Black Mountain. The best way to fish the river is by raft, but there are some wading opportunities near Woodfin and Carrier Park.
The smallmouth bass in the French Broad River can range anywhere from 10-20 inches. This river fishes best when it runs somewhat clear. We offer full day and half float trips here so if you want to enjoy some smallmouth fishing on one of the oldest rivers in the world then contact us.

The French Broad River is close to Black Mountain and provides some excellent smallmouth fishing.

Smallmouth fishing on the French Broad River.

Tuckaseegee River

The Tuckaseegee River is the heaviest stocked trout river in western North Carolina. It’s an hours drive from Black Mountain and provides some excellent float fishing in the spring, fall, and winter months. We offer half and full day floats on this stretch.

Dry Fly Fishing Tips

Become more effective when fishing a dry fly.

In order to fish a dry fly effectively an angler must be able to cast effectively. I hope these tips on casting help improve your ability to be more successful on the water when fish are feeding on top.

Let’s talk about the casting stroke then we will break down parts of the cast.

Casting Stroke

Most novice anglers are used to throwing a ball and believe casting a fly involves the same movements. Throwing a ball and casting a fly are different because casting doesn’t have a follow through. Fly casting involves an acceleration to a quick stop in the back and an acceleration to a quick stop in the front.
A guide once told me it’s like throwing a meatball off a fork. The meatball will fly off when you accelerate and stop the fork. Another good analogy is the paintbrush exercise. Imagine you have a paintbrush dipped in paint, the idea is to throw the paint off the brush on a wall behind you, and in front of you without getting paint on the ceiling. If you perform, what I like to call the windshield wiper arc, then you will get paint on the ceiling. The rhythm of a good cast involves acceleration and a stop with the elbow relaxed by your side. I like for beginners to watch their loop in the fly line when first casting dries. If the line is bunching up in the front it generally means the arc with the end of the rod top is too big. (Windshield Wiper Cast)

Parts of the Cast

The first part of the cast involves picking up the line by eliminating the slack in the line when casting. Accelerate your forearm back to a stop, then when the line straightens out behind you, accelerate your forearm forward to a stop. A common mistake here is not letting the fly line straighten in the back before accelerating forward. There is nothing more frustrating than messing up a cast and getting all tangled up when fish are rising, but don’t worry EVERYONE does it. Even the most experienced anglers have their opportunities for improvement.
I am always reminding clients to let the rod load up on the back cast before the forward acceleration and stop. If you hearing the “whip” sound then it means you aren’t waiting long enough in the back. It’s important to remember that the cast involves two short bursts of speed, one in the back with a stop and one in the forward with a stop. Relax and most importantly have fun!

Surface Signs

Surface signs will help you determine which fly to use.

Watching fish feed on the surface is one of the coolest things an angler will witness. This past week on the Catawba Tailrace we were able to witness a brown trout feeding frenzy on caddisflies. When trout are eating caddisflies they will usually make a splash because caddisflies like to drop and pop off the water to the air so trout will go airborne for them. A lot of times in early spring, trout will be eating insects just below the surface. This is when fish are eating emergers. This is a when soft hackle flies work best because the hackle will actually create a bubble around the fly mimicking an emerging insect. Soft hackle flies are great “dropper” flies off a dry fly. An effective method from the boat is to drift a dry fly with a soft hackle dropper in front of the fish. Before the dry fly is about to go over the fish slowly lift your rod tip which causes the soft hackle to imitate an emerger swimming to the surface to hatch.

Final tips on fishing dry flies

There is nothing more exciting than seeing a big brown trout take your fly off the surface. Don’t react too soon when the fish eats your fly. It’s easy to react quickly and the fly gets pulled out the fishes mouth. This happens a lot when fishing downstream to rising fish from the boat. When you’re in this scenario let the fish eat the fly then set at an angle instead of lifting the rod straight up.

When casting to rising fish, work the one closest to the boat. The guide can always slide the boat down or closer to the other fish.

Drag and dry flies do not mix. One way to eliminate drag when casting from a boat is to perform the reach cast. Right before the fly hits the water move the fly rod upstream to perform an air mend. A lot of times when you throw a mend while the fly line is on the water you pull the fly away from the feeding lane.

Size is more important than color. When fish are feeding heavily they let their guard down. Don’t focus on matching the exact hatch. Size is way more important in these scenarios than anything else.

Rainbow trout ate a dry fly.

Wild trout love dry flies.

Springtime Fishing Report 2021

Plenty of springtime fishing opportunities near Asheville and Black Mountain!

Spring is upon us here in the mountains of North Carolina and that means good trout and smallmouth fishing. Air temperatures are consistently in the 50-60 degree range, rarely drop below 40 degrees. Trout are rising to dry flies and the smallmouth are packing on weight before the spawn. We’ve been spending most of our time on the Catawba Tailrace chasing brown trout, but we were able to fish the French Broad River for smallmouth yesterday. Hooking that first smallmouth of the year is always a pleasure because pound for pound they fight better than any other fish in the river.

The Catawba Tailrace

The caddis hatch is in full effect on the tailrace. Fish are actively feeding on top even with 1 unit generating. In between throwing dries, the nymph bite has been fantastic so fishing has been consistent. The lower section of the tailrace is fishing slow so on our trips we have been focusing on the upper stretches below Muddy Creek. Fishing will stay consistent until mid May so now is the time to book your trip on our local tailwater. I’ve got this Wednesday (3/17) open if you want a mid-week break! Flows are good and fishing in front of the low pressure system coming in on Thursday is ideal. Below is a video from our most recent trips this past week. Enjoy!

Delayed Harvest Float Trips

The Delayed Harvest waters have seen more anglers the past two weeks than ever before. I read an article in the Citizen Times that said the number of fishing license sold in NC was up 20%. I welcome anyone willing to get outside and enjoy the natural resources here in the mountains, but that means pressured fish. The good news is that we are fishing every day and know the tactics needed to be successful on these stretches of water even with the influx of anglers. If you don’t want to bother with the crowds then we have plenty of wild trout waters to go explore. We rarely see any other anglers on our wild trout fishing trips. Check out some of our most recent float trip pictures.

Nice holdover trout in the Catawba River.

Browns were eating good after a small rain shower.

This big 18” rainbow took Jim for a good ride.

Mr. Salyer and his son had a great day of nymphing and streamer fishing.

Smallmouth fishing on the French Broad River

The time has come where we have broke out the spinning gear to target pre-spawn fish on the French Broad River in downtown Asheville. The water temperature was 54 degrees yesterday and we were able to catch a handful of fish. We focus on quality instead of number this time of year. The opportunity to catch a heavy smallmouth is possible because the fish are feeding aggressively on baitfish before the spawn. The most effective way to fish this time of year is to cover as much water as you can throwing baitfish lures. My favorite colors are lighter ones, but chartreuse crankbait can work well in higher, off colored water. Fish the lures with a slow retrieve and focus on the slow, deep holding areas in the middle of the river. The Catawba Angler offers guided smallmouth fishing trips on the French Broad River and Nolichucky River from late March to the end of October. Last year we had an excellent season with lots of big fish to the boat. If you want to get on our smallmouth calendar then please do not wait because weekends are filling up quickly. The two fisheries we guide on are some of the best in the Southeast. The potential to catch a 5 pound river smallmouth is always possible.

French Broad River Smallmouth 3/14/21

Other Springtime Smallmouth Catches

Lake James Fishing Report

If there was ever a time to fish Lake James it would be from now until the end of May. We’ve been catching fish on the main lake and the shallow areas near the creeks. This time of the year we are fishing for quality not quantity.

Local Guides. Local Knowledge.

February 2021 Fishing Report

February was a great month on the water, but the best trout fishing of the year is here!

February was a great month for trout fishing! Clients and I were able to have some productive days on the cold and warmer days. The warmer afternoons brought out some excellent Blue Wing Olive hatches and the midges were consistent the entire month. We all long for those warmer Spring days on the water, but don’t overlook the cold February days because trout still have to eat. The good news is that the warmer days are finally here and there are some exciting fishing opportunities on our local creeks, rivers, and the Catawba Tailrace.

Catawba Tailrace Caddis Hatch 2021

March and April means Caddis.

As of March 4th, the caddis have made there appearance on the Tailrace. The fish are not fully keyed in on them at the moment because the hatches have been sporadic. The best hatches normally occur mid March through the beginning of April but the warmer weather this week could speed things up. If you have been wanting to experience this hatch then shoot me a text, or call me, and I can update you as things progress. I am hoping Duke Energy will cut the wheels off of generation because low water will bring the best dry fly fishing, so stay tuned! I made a short video from my last outing on the Tailrace with my wife using dries and streamers. Check it out below!

Catawba Tailrace Caddis 2021

Delayed Harvest Float and Wade Trips

DH water will fish well until the end of May!

The local creeks and rivers are fishing excellent. We guide on the Catawba River, Curtis Creek, and Mill Creek. They were stocked on March 3rd and will receive the second stocking on April 6th. This is a great trip for beginners looking to have a lot of opportunities at fish and for the seasoned angler looking to learn something new. I don’t hold back any knowledge on guide trips because I want you to be successful on your own outings.

We offer half day and full day float trips on Delayed Harvest water.

Trout live in beautiful places. Curtis Creek, North Carolina

Ted with a nice stocked brown trout from a float trip in February.

Half day float trips are $250. Full day float trips are $350.

Wild Trout Fishing Trips

Fly fishing for wild trout in the Pisgah National Forest is something every fisherman should experience. The fish are plentiful and the scenery is second to none. March will bring out the bigger mayflies like the Blue Quills and Quill Gordon’s. This is an exciting time being able to fish a size 10-14 bug to hungry fish. It sure beats fishing a size 24 Griffith’s Gnat on a cold winter day! Here are some of our recent catches from our guided wild trout fishing trips.

20 inch wild rainbow trout for Dr. McNabb! March 4, 2021.

Fishing an Adams in March is about as productive as anything.

Wild Brown Trout from a backcountry fly fishing adventure.

This wild brown trout crushed a parachute caddis.

Fly Fishing Newberry Creek.

Doing what I love! Teaching the sport of fishing to others.

Lake James Fishing Trips

Warmer days have the bass moving into the shallow water from their deep water holding places. The month of March provides excellent opportunities to catch some very large bass at Lake James. Fishing will only get better as the bass prepare to spawn.

Head Guide Kelsey Minish and his daughter had a good outing on Lake James.

Other Fishing Adventures in February and March

Kyle with a nice one from Curtis Creek.

First timer with a wild brown trout.

Lost Cove Creek, North Carolina

Good day of hiking and fishing!

Outdoor Therapy.

High water brook trout.

TN Striped Bass

Nymph Eater.

That’s a Wrap!

The trout fishing in western North Carolina is something special that everyone should get to experience at least once in their life. It’s a great way to get outdoors and enjoy some beautiful places in the Appalachian mountains. We have a trip for everyone whether you’ve never picked up a fly rod before or you have been fly fishing 30 years. I want to thank new clients and old friends that have trusted us to take them trout fishing over the years. I look forward to seeing you on the water in 2021. I’ll leave you with some footage from Curtis Creek. Enjoy!

North Carolina Wild Brook Trout

A Native Fish of North Carolina.

North Carolina Wild Brook Trout

The Southern Appalachian brook trout is North Carolina’s only native trout. Scientifically speaking the brook trout is actually a char. These beautiful fish are the only species of the salvelinus family that has worm-like markings called vermiculations on its back, dorsal fin, and tail.

Up close picture of the vermiculations on the brook of a stocked brook trout here in NC.

The wild brook trout of North Carolina live in high altitude streams, creeks, and branches where the elevation is 2,500 feet or higher. These fish thrive in the headwaters of mountain streams where the water is cold, clean, and rich in oxygen. The presence of wild brook trout in the headwaters of a stream represents the health of that particular body of water. If the source of a stream is healthy it is a good indicator for productive water downstream as well.

The mountain region of McDowell County has numerous wild brook trout fisheries.

McDowell County borders very large tracts of National Forest land that is home to some great brook trout fisheries. These streams require some bushwhacking and rock climbing, but catching and releasing one of these highly prized fish is well worth the effort. I’ve caught wild brook trout in 6 of the higher elevation creeks, streams, and branches in Old Fort. These streams fish best from late February to September. The wild brook trout will begin to spawn late September to November so it’s best to leave them alone during this time. Successful yearly spawns are an integral part of future brook trout populations in our mountain streams. Leave them alone!

Headwaters of a healthy mountain stream.

Fly fishing for wild brook trout in Newberry Creek.

The Comeback Fish

In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s the invasive logging practices in the mountains of North Carolina had a devastating effect on wild brook trout populations. Logging companies stripped the virgin timber on most hillsides which led to the construction of roads, railways, and splash dams to send logs downstream. These practices clogged mountain streams with silt and mud which hindered the brook trout from successfully spawning. Eliminating the trees caused erosion issues and water temperatures to warm because the canopy of trees provide much needed shade to keep water temperatures suitable for the trout. After the damage was done people realized how the intensive logging practices had hurt the brook trout fisheries, so they ended up stocking rainbow and brown trout to replace the native fish. The native brook trout that remained could not compete with the introduced fish. This isolated the brook trout into the headwaters in which they are found today. Since 1900, it is said that the native brook trout range has declined by 80 percent. Fortunately, the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission and Trout Unlimited have been restoring brook trout populations since the 1990’s, so we are seeing some great results. The history of the brook trout in their native region was in turmoil, but this has shown their resiliency and how a resource can heal itself if left alone. These native fish are a true gem to our local waters.

Stalking wild brook trout on the fly.

Most wild brook trout are 6-8 inches, but this one was close to 11 inches.

Tips for catching wild brook trout

1. Find streams, creeks, and branches where brook trout call home. Most of these fisheries are ones that are 2,500 feet or higher in elevation. Most of these fisheries receive little pressure which makes for some great fishing!

2. Use smaller fly rods and reels. These smaller rods help when you have heavy cover above you when casting. Smaller setups make for a better fight and are appropriate for these smaller fish. I recommend using a 1-3 weight rod and reel with a 7.5 foot 5x leader.
   

3. Fishing is best in the Spring and Summer. If you go fishing in the summer make sure you land the fish quickly and release it quickly. The best times to fish in the summer is early morning when water temperatures are lowest.
   

4. Brook trout aren’t very selective when it comes to flies. I would recommend using a caddis or parachute adams fly. Either one will work when presented correctly.

Common flies used to target wild brook trout.

Brook Trout Adventures with The Catawba Angler

Guided Trips for Wild Brook Trout

The Catawba Angler provides guided trips for wild North Carolina brook trout. These trips aren’t for the faint of heart so if you are up for the challenge of hiking into a remote location and targeting our mountains most treasured fish then give us a call. It truly is an honor to catch and release one of these fish once you know the history behind them. These fish live in the most beautiful places in North Carolina and I take a lot of pride in being able to share this resource with people from all over. After each trip, I can only hope that the clients leave with as much respect that I have for these fish. There is plenty of conservation work surrounding the brook trout, so I encourage every angler to get involved and help protect these fish and their homes.

All guided trips are catch and release only because the future of our sport is in our hands.

Winter Trout Fishing in Western North Carolina

There are many great places to trout fish near Asheville, North Carolina in the winter.

The winters in North Carolina aren’t what they used to be. Growing up in western North Carolina I used to remember it being colder and it would snow way more than it does nowadays. I would say that our winters are somewhat mild with a couple of super cold weeks mixed in from December to the end of February. We just wrapped up a great month of trout fishing in January and are looking forward to warmer days in February. Most of our guide trips take place here in McDowell County and we are blessed to be able to guide 12 months of the year. Fishing in the winter provides us with some of the best streamer fishing of the year. We had some phenomenal days on the Catawba Tailrace this January throwing streamers.

Paul and Jimmy put over 20 fish in the boat throwing streamers on the Catawba Tailrace. January 30, 2021.

Paul tricked this healthy brown trout into eating a black streamer.

When throwing streamers we will use 7 weights with floating line or with sinks tips depending on water levels. Floating line is okay when fishing lower flows, but the preferred method is using sink tips because it gets your flies down deeper where bigger fish will hold in the winter. Tips with a sink rate of 2-4 IPS will suffice for most of the floatable water in western North Carolina. My preferred colors are grey, olive, black, and white. These colors mimic the baitfish, crustaceans, and leeches that larger fish feed on. When stripping streamers in the winter it’s best to slow your retrieve down because a trout’s metabolism slows down during this time. The fish aren’t as willing to chase a streamer that is presented super fast in the winter.

Streamer fishing in the winter can be very rewarding! January 7, 2021.

Winter trout fishing on the Catawba River. January 22, 2021.

Yellow perch eat streamers too.

Fred with a nice rainbow on a recent float! January 22, 2021.

Ashley brought a good amount of trout to the net on this cold January day.

Wade Fishing Opportunities in the Winter

Wade fishing in the winter time offers complete solitude!

The water here in western North Carolina is generally low and clear in the winter time on our mountain creeks making light presentations with light tippet a must. A simple way to selecting an appropriate tippet for a particular fly is to take the size of the fly and divide it by 3. So using a smaller #18-22 fly, a 6x or 7x tippet would be ideal. My favorite way to present these smaller flies in the winter time is using a dry dropper combo. Most of the time I’ll use a stimulator or a chubby chernobyl as the indicator. These two flies ride high and dry and can carry multiple smaller nymphs under them.

We have numerous wild water creeks in North Carolina that fish well in the dead of winter. The fish are less pressured this time of the year which makes for some great fishing with clients.

Newberry Creek provides some excellent winter fishing for wild rainbows and brook trout.

Jeff with a wild rainbow caught on a dry dropper combo on a local trout stream. January 24, 2021.

These size 16 pheasant tail nymphs are great dropper flies in the winter.

The Catawba River holds both wild trout and stocked trout in its waters from Old Fort to Marion.

Catawba River Wild Brown Trout

North Carolina Trophy Trout

Chad came down from Ohio to fish with us for two days. We floated the Catawba River for stocked trout then decided to wade a smaller trout stream in mountains of McDowell County. Fishing wild trout water is always an adventure because it takes you to remote places off the beaten path. This allows you to see some of the most serene areas in the Pisgah National Forest. When you are out here in this setting you often forget about what’s going on in your daily life and find such a peace like you’ve never experienced before. It’s hard to go to these places and not find God.

The stream we fished is known for its wild rainbow trout in the range of 6-12 inches with some bigger fish mixed in. Little did we know we would hook and land the biggest wild rainbow I have ever seen on this stretch of water. Chad played the fish perfectly and I got in front of the log jam downstream of the hole so the fish couldn’t head for cover and break us off. When I netted the fish we all knew it was a true trophy for this water. These are the moments I live for because it was Chad’s first time fishing in North Carolina and I was able to help him catch his personal best trout in my home waters.

Chad with a trophy wild rainbow trout. January 26, 2021

Fly Fishing Curtis Creek

Curtis Creek has been fishing well this winter. Light tippet, smaller flies, and good casts are vital to success. I have the luxury of living two miles from the creek so whenever I need to get my trout fix on this is where I head. I enjoy fishing the delayed harvest waters in the winter time because it’s not standing room only like it is after they stock the creek in the Spring. If you want to become a better angler then I would highly suggest fly fishing low, clear water in the winter time because you cannot get by with mediocre work. Casts have to be on point. Stealth mode is increased by a 1000. Light flies and light tippet is the only way to go. If you want to learn the techniques needed to catch those stubborn winter trout then give me a call. I would love to show you everything I have learned by fishing this creek over the last 25 years.

Winter time fishing is challenging, but very rewarding. Curtis Creek, North Carolina. January 31, 2021

Winter trout fishing on Curtis Creek, North Carolina.

Curtis Creek is a great winter time trout fishing destination in North Carolina.

Forecast for fishing in February

January is by far the coldest month here in western North Carolina so us anglers look forward to February. February brings on some really good afternoon hatches on our wild water. This includes blue wing olives and stoneflies. These hatches may only last 30 minutes, but it makes for some excellent sight fishing to small and large trout. We offer wade fishing trips and float fishing trips the entire month for trout. The backcountry streams will produce good numbers and the float trips down the Catawba River and Catawba Tailrace will provide some exciting fishing as well. Lake James will be heating up again and the bass will become more active midday and early afternoon. Guide Kelsey Minish has put some very large bass in the net this time of year. If you are looking to get on one of the best mountain lakes in the area give us a call. Check out some of our past pictures from the month of February.

Longtime client Scott Lorenz with a healthy wild brown from a guide trip last February.

Matt Hill tricked this one into eating his handmade fly.

Paul Atkins grinding it out last February.

Smallmouth fishing Lake James in February.

Float fishing in February is fantastic.

February brings some great fishing! Give us a call today to get on the water!

We offer half day floats for $250 or full day floats for $350.

Winter is a great time to catch some bigger fish. January 15, 2021.

2020: A Year Of Fishing In Review

As 2020 comes to a close, I’d like to thank God, my wife, and clients who supported me to make this year very special. I am very thankful that I get to make a career out of taking people fishing on the creeks and rivers I have been fishing since a kid. The best thing about being a fishing guide is being able to create memories on the river with new and old clients. Satisfied and happy clients at the end of a hard days work keep me motivated to be the best possible guide I can be. I take a lot of pride in providing the best guided fishing experience in western North Carolina. It’s always a pleasure getting to see families and friends come closer together on one of our guided trips. With that being said I’d like to share some of the memories we made out on the water this year.

First fishing trip of 2020 with my wife. Jan. 1, 2020.

First fish of 2020. Wild brown trout on Curtis Creek took a dry fly. Jan. 1, 2020.

Courtney and I decided to hit the Curtis Creek wild water stretch in Old Fort, NC on the first day of the year. We fished later in the afternoon using a royal wulff dry fly. We caught multiple fish that day including some wild rainbow trout. Anytime you can entice a wild trout to take your fly off the surface it’s considered a successful day.

We netted 67 trout in a half day float on February 1, 2020.

Daniel Grindstaff and I put 67 trout in the net on a four hour float down the Catawba River. We euro nymphed the entire time and it was a technique I was able to incorporate on all the future trout float trips the rest of the year. This was the most fish I seen on a four hour trip all year long. What a day!!

Mr. Atkins with the first 2020 twenty inch fish. Mar. 13, 2020.

The Atkins brothers had non-stop trout and bass action on the river in March. This was the first 20” trout that came to the net on a guided trip in 2020. It was great to share the river with the Atkins brothers by making memories with fly rods in hand.

Mrs. Webb with an absolute bruiser of a brook trout we caught while floating on one of our main rivers for trout. April 8, 2020.

Guide Kelsey Minish holding up a big bag of largemouth caught on Lake James. April 14, 2020

My wife’s biggest smallmouth of 2020. This kicked off the 2020 smallmouth season. We caught some absolute monsters this year and cannot wait to see what 2021 holds. April 15, 2020.

April is an unbelievable month to book a guided fishing trip because you have the potential of catching trout and smallmouth on the same float or wade trip. April is by far the best month to fish Lake James for big bass as well.

My personal best brown trout of 2020 came on May 5, 2020. I’ve seen some really big fish in this stretch over the past few years. We offer half day guided trips here.

Catching a trout over 20” inches is a respectable catch anywhere. This fish was caught out of the Catawba River in Old Fort. It was a holdover that came out of an upstream delayed harvest creek. This fish actually came on my last cast! Great memory for 2020.

Mr. Small with a river smallmouth caught out of the North Toe River. This was an amazing day of fishing in muddy water. We caught a bunch of healthy post spawn bass. May 30, 2020.

Forget the forecast and trust your local fishing guide. Kurt and I stayed in constant communication over the week leading up to our trip and decided to fish a different river because of the rainfall in Asheville. We were actually going to fish the French Broad but it was blown out, so he met me with his father-in-law on the North Toe. We made the best out of not so ideal conditions and put some great fish in the net. As a guide it’s my job to figure out the best techniques to put clients on fish in any type of water clarity or weather conditions. We eventually figured out what the fish wanted this day.

6.5 pound largemouth caught on Lake James. This was Jeff’s personal best bass! To top it off he caught it on a topwater plug. June 6, 2020.

Rocky holding a 20” smallmouth he caught on the fly on one of our full day float trips! This was the biggest smallmouth we caught on the fly rod all year long. What a fight!! June 12, 2020.

Rocky and I was just about to park the raft for a lunch break, but I told him to make one more cast in this back eddy before we did. Rocky made a perfect cast and hooked into this monster river smallmouth. This fish fought like a big smallmouth should have making some impressive jumps. The North Toe River holds some monster smallmouth and we were fortunate that this one came to play on this sunny day in June.

Another monster river smallmouth that came to the net on a float trip on June 6th, 2020. These fish are fish of a lifetime, especially on a fly rod.

Manning and I had a great day chasing bass on the Catawba. July 13, 2020.

Manning is a long time bass angler, but had never caught a smallmouth on the fly. We were able to put him on multiple hard fighting smallmouth on the Catawba River. It’s always a pleasure putting new clients on their first fish. We had great conversation and fishing this day on the water.

Nothing better than putting kids on their first fish! We take pride in teaching the future generation of anglers. July28, 2020.

Jacque caught his first trout with us on August 7th, 2020. He was ecstatic and then went on to catch 14 more fish this day. Seeing the smiles on his face after each fish was priceless.

The Harrison family making memories on the water. August 20, 2020.

There is no better way to spend time with your family than to take them on a fishing trip. Todd brought his three kids and wife to fish with us. We had an absolute blast teaching the kids how to fly fish and how to find crawdads in a cool mountain stream on a warm summer day.

Toby Mallik caught this beast on Sep. 11, 2020. This was the biggest smallmouth of the year. What a fish!

Toby is a very skilled fly angler and I was fortunate to fish with him a few times in 2020. I had missed this exact fish on a trip earlier in the week and so I prepped Toby to get ready. I positioned the boat upstream of where I saw the fish and the rest was history. Toby delivered a cast right off the bank and it wasn’t a second before this fish swarmed on the fly and Toby came tight with it. This was Toby’s personal best smallmouth and I couldn’t have been more happy for him to catch it with my assistance. These are the moments I’ll never forget.

Biggest wild fish of the year caught by a client. This 18” wild rainbow trout put up one heck of a fight. Sep. 23, 2020

Mr. Kuenze caught this rainbow trout while smallmouth fishing on the North Toe River on Oct. 3, 2020.

Mr. Alfele caught this stocked rainbow trout on Oct. 13, 2020. This was his first trout ever!

October brings us some excellent trout fishing! Delayed Harvest waters are stocked full and it’s a great time to book a trip to chase some large trout on our mountain creeks. Mr. Alfele fought this big fish on a 3 weight and it ran him upstream and downstream before coming to the net. The leaves begin to change the second week of October so the scenery is just as good as the fishing.

The French Broad River in Asheville was low and clear in October and it provided some excellent smallmouth bass fishing. Oct. 20, 2020.

Personal best smallmouth! Oct. 23, 2020.

October provided some of the best smallmouth fishing of the year. The rivers were low and clear and the smallmouth were fattening up for winter. We caught some very good fish on the French Broad and Nolichucky rivers.

My wife and I catching peacock bass in Naples, Florida. We love fishing together! I wouldn’t trade these memories for anything. Nov. 12, 2020.

My first snook on the fly! Nov. 8th, 2020

My girl showing off her redfish and ring! Nov. 8, 2020.

Andy Still put 40 fish in the net on the Catawba Tailrace on Dec. 7, 2020.

Catawba Tailrace Brown Trout Dec. 13, 2020.

Jim put 20 fish in the net stripping streamers in high water on the Catawba Tailrace. Dec. 23, 2020.

The Catawba Tailrace fished unbelievable this December and will continue to fish well till late Spring 2021. We are fortunate to have this tailwater in our backyard to chase nothing but brown trout and the occasional striper.

Jack caught his personal best largemouth and smallmouth with guide Kelsey Minish on Lake James. Dec. 11, 2020.

Mr. Hubbard caught the last fish of 2020 at Lake James! What better way to finish out the year with a big largemouth and smallmouth. Dec. 29, 2020

Thanks to everyone who made this year special! I look forward to fishing with old friends and new clients in 2021. Let’s go fishing and make some memories that last a lifetime. See you on the river!

December 2020 Fishing Report

Don’t mind the cold weather! It’s time to go trout fishing!

December is finally here and it’s a great time to target trout here in North Carolina. Water temperatures are below 50 degrees and we all know trout thrive in cold water. Tips and tactics change in the winter months, but the fishing remains consistent. We have plenty of guided trips we offer in the winter and I will breakdown what to expect from each of them below.

Catawba Tailrace Float Trips

The Catawba Tailrace is our go to winter fishery to target brown trout. The 8 mile stretch from the dam down to Glen Alpine is best suited for floating because access to wade fishing is limited to the first mile. The NCWRC put a bunch of brown trout in this stretch every fall making fishing excellent in the winter and will continue well into the spring. We always looks forward to the caddis hatch we get around the first of March. Last year, the release schedule was not conducive to dry fly fishing. The best opportunities come when Duke Energy isn’t running the generators. Enough of the talk with Spring time, let’s get back to fishing the Tailrace during these winter months. The water temps are finally in the 50’s and the trout have spread out over the course of the 8 mile stretch which has made for some really great days on the water. The best time to fish the Tailrace is when we see no rain for a few days leading up to your desired trip date. The reason I say this is because Muddy Creek is notorious for dirtying up the water after a rainfall. It’s not impossible to catch trout in off colored water, but it’s not as enjoyable fishing the blue/greenish water of the Tailrace when it’s clear.

The fishing on the Tailrace has been nothing less than spectacular the past few weeks. We have had little rainfall and the water being discharged from the dam is finally a good temp. Nymphs have been the way to go when the fish aren’t eating streamers. Stonefly, Blue Wing Olive, and midges are the nymphs of choice during the winter. The black stonefly is a pattern that consistently produces fish on the Tailrace. If fishing nymphs under an indicator try using wool instead of Thingamabobbers. The wool is more delicate and doesn’t create a big splash like the Thingamabobber does when it lands. The trout on the Tailrace spook easily when the water is super clear so the more delicate the presentation the better. When fishing one of the many riffles on the Tailrace in the winter it’s best to devote a good amount of time to the holes because I’ve seen fish hit nymphs on the 10th or so cast using the same bugs. Sometimes there isn’t much science behind it. It’s getting the bugs in the right spot, at the right depth, at the right time.

We have had some phenomenal days throwing streamers on the Tailrace. The best days are when the pressure drops before a rain or snow storm. This drop triggers the fish into eating aggressively. (It’s probably because the fish know muddy creek will soon become dirty lol) When there are no generators running anglers can get by throwing streamers on a floating line, but when they are releasing water it’s best to use a sink tip or sinking line. The choice of color depends on whether or not it’s sunny or overcast. When it’s super sunny out the fish are sticklers for detail. I like for clients to throw more realistic streamer patterns in natural colors such as olive, browns, or white. On cloudy days it’s hard to beat black or orange.

White is a great color to throw when fishing clear water on sunny days.

The Catawba Tailrace is an excellent brown trout fishery close to Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina. It has its challenges with the sediment coming in from Muddy Creek as well as the warmer water temperatures being discharged from the dam in the summer, but it has a ton of potential for growing big trout. We have seen more trophy browns the last 3 years than any other prior year. I believe the fall stocking that the NCWRC has been doing has proven a much better survival rate for the fish and the ones that do survive the summer months are growing to very respectable sizes. With that being said, it’s The Catawba Angler’s local tailwater and we are very proud to show clients this unique fishery. We offer full day float trips for $350 and would love to have the opportunity to take you fishing. Check out some of our recent catches from the Tailrace.

Mark with a healthy brown trout from one of the many riffles on the Catawba Tailrace.

Andy caught over 20 fish on a cold December day.

The Catawba Tailrace offers solitude unlike any other trout tailwater in the Southeast.

It only takes a few years for these stocked brown trout to grow to trophy sizes.

This brown was pushing twenty inches and still has plenty of room to grow into a true giant for the next angler.

Wild Trout Fishing North Carolina

The Catawba Angler offers guided fly fishing trips on some of North Carolina’s best wild trout streams. The fishing is good year round and the best part about it is the challenge of tricking wild trout on the fly. These fish have a PHD in predator instincts unlike the stocked fish we guide for , and provide a challenging, yet rewarding experience for the novice or experienced angler. Most of the wild trout streams we guide on hold rainbow trout, but we occasionally find some quality brown trout. We do have one of the best wild brook trout streams in our backyard so if you are interested in targeting North Carolina’s only native fish then reach out to us. When booking a guided trip for wild trout expect to do a little walking because getting to these fish do require a little effort. Most of the walking involves scrambling over boulders while working the plunge pools and pockets while fishing upstream. We’ve had anglers of all ages tackle this trip. Anyone interested in a backcountry wild trout fishing experience is suitable for this adventure.

Our guided trips on wild trout streams are one of the favorites to clients because of the challenge and the solitude they are able to find here. The fishing brings us to a place where we are one with nature. You get the best of both worlds with a serene background and the beauty of the challenge in finding those wild trout. This is the true Southern Appalachian trout fishing experience. We normally target these fish using a dry dropper combo, but we will also Euro nymph the deeper pools making sure we pick up those larger trout that hold on the bottom of the pool.

Fly selection doesn’t have to be complicated on these wild trout streams. Our guides will always have a parachute adams, caddis, pat’s rubber legs, pheasant tail nymph, and a hare’s ear nymph in their fly boxes. The key to catching fish on wild trout streams in North Carolina is to get drag free drifts and keeping your fly out of the tree canopy that outline the banks.

Wild trout streams fish well year round so do not hesitate to book your backcountry adventure. We would love to show you the true Appalachian fly fishing experience on one of our local wild trout streams. Check out some of our recent catches from these excellent trout fisheries.

Jim keeping the leader off the water while fishing a dry dropper rig. This is a very effective set up for wild trout in the winter.

Nymphing stoneflies in the winter in deep pools are deadly on wild trout.

Common view of a wild trout stream in North Carolina.

Wild brown taken from a nice run this winter.

The best fishing is always off the beaten path. The Catawba Angler can take you there. #wifey

This fish took a pheasant tail nymph in a still deep pool.

Delayed Harvest Fishing

We offer float trips or wade fishing trips on a few delayed harvest stretches!

The Delayed Harvest waters are still fishing well. The fish are eating more natural flies opposed to worms and mop flies. We’ve had a lot of success fishing smaller nymphs such as beadhead flashback hares ears and egg patterns on the delayed harvest sections of Curtis Creek and Catawba River. Check out the hares ear fly below. The hares ear is a classic pattern that has caught millions of fish since its introduction in the early 1800’s but the flashback added to it gives it a little more razzle dazzle in the water column.

Classic Pattern with a little more flash.

The delayed harvest sections are great for beginners because they hold a bunch of stocked fish and the creeks and rivers are easily accessible to anglers. We offer half day wade trips for $250 and full day float trips for $350. The advantage of the float trip is that we are able to hit sections on the Catawba River that are inaccessible to wade fishermen. Another perk is that you are out of the cold water and in a raft. Both options are great and if you are looking to learn the sport of fly fishing. Check out some of the recent catches from the delayed harvest sections we guide on in McDowell County.

Tina with one of her many catches from the Delayed Harvest stretch on the Catawba.

The Fortune’s had a wonderful day on a local delayed harvest stretch.

Typical size for trout in our delayed harvest stretches.

A float trip is a great option for the winter time. Clients stay high and dry.

Client hooked up with a nice rainbow trout.

Monster brown trout caught and released. Curtis Creek, North Carolina

One of the best patterns for Delayed Harvest waters in the winter are egg patterns. This fly is called a sucker spawn egg.

Lake James Guided Bass Fishing Trips

Lake James is fishing well. We’ve been able to take a few trips out there this winter and put people on their personal best bass. This is a lake that can humble anglers but it can be very rewarding when you hook into that 4 pound smallmouth or largemouth. Our guide Kelsey Minish has been fishing the lake for years and knows what it takes to put clients on fish no matter the season. Check out some of our recent catches from Lake James.

Jack with his personal bests from a recent guide on Lake James.

The winter time is a great time to catch some good smallmouth at Lake James. The Catawba Angler guides year round at the lake.

The Catawba Angler wants to say THANK YOU!

The Catawba Angler just reached a huge milestone. We recently received our 100th five star google review! I couldn’t be more happy because this shows people are appreciative and happy with our services. We dedicate a lot of time to our profession to ensure we provide the best guided fishing trip in western North Carolina. Our guides spend a tremendous amount of time on the water so we are prepared for any occasion. We love showing clients from all over the excellent angling opportunities that we have in our backyard and we continue to pursue this passion as long as God allows us. We want to thank you for your business and thank you for trusting us to take you fishing.

Sincerely,

Matt Evans

October & November 2020 Fishing Report

Cooler temps are here and the fishing is excellent!

October is one of the best times to be in the mountains of North Carolina. Trout fishing ramps back up and big smallmouth feed aggressively before the cold weather sets in. The French Broad River was fishing phenomenal the entire month of October because we were able to get some dry weeks without any rain. Smallmouth fishing is still an option on the French Broad and Nolichucky Rivers but our focus will transition to catching that one big fish instead of numbers. Below are some of the big smallmouth bass you can expect to see on the French Broad River in Asheville, North Carolina.

Blake came up from Alabama to catch his personal best smallmouth! This fish was right at 19inches and was pushing 4 pounds.

The French Broad River has an abundant supply of crawfish and baitfish in it so we match this forage on our trips. Jigs, swimbait, and crank baits are hard to beat when the water temperatures drop below 60 degrees.

Crawfish claw that a smallmouth regurgitated from the river. Any soft plastic that resembles crawfish are deadly baits in any smallmouth river.

Sam Henkel and his personal best smallmouth. October 20, 2020

Beautiful day on the mighty French Broad River.

The smallmouth bass still bite in the cold! This big smallmouth crushed a plug right at the boat.

Dennis Kuenze and his son Bobby caught over 30 smallmouth in early October. The leaves were just beginning to change.

Beautiful rainbow trout that came to the boat on one of our float trips for smallmouth.

Trout fishing in November

Here in McDowell County we are blessed with so many good trout streams that the options are endless to fish. Water temperatures are well below 60 degrees which is ideal for trout. We guide for stocked fish in Curtis Creek, Mill Creek, and the Catawba River. We also float the Catawba and the Catawba Tailrace for stocked and larger holdover fish which mainly consist of brown trout. Early morning starts can be cold this month, but it is worth it when you are the only one on the creek or river at that time. If you aren’t up for wading and looking for a warmer option we offer full and half day float trips which allow you to stay warm and dry. These are great floats that offer you solitude and the ability to hit spots you cannot get to by wading.
The best fishing in November is on the delayed harvest waters. The fish are abundant and have spread out to different holding spots than when they were first stocked in the beginning of October. Egg patterns and worms are excellent choices for any delayed harvest stream. Dry fly fishing is still an option midday in November. I’ve seen thick hatches of BWO’s on the Catawba River and it can make for some really good days out there.
The wild trout waters are still fishing really well this time of the year, but we make sure we do not disturb any spawning fish during this time. The future of the fishery depends on a successful spawn and it is up to us to leave those fish alone. A good tip is to be cognizant of where you are stepping in the tail out of runs or riffles. This is where most trout will spawn. Below are some of the fish we have caught in late October and early November! Fishing will remain consistent and be on the lookout for an excellent deal The Catawba Angler will be offering on all wade and float trips in December.

Healthy brown trout from one of the delayed harvest streams in Old Fort, North Carolina.

Curtis Creek produces some large trout after they stock it.

The smile says it all!

Nothing better than celebrating your birthday with The Catawba Angler.

October and November are great months to catch brown trout!

Big brood trout caught in the Catawba River. These trout are used in the states production of hatchery fish and then released into waters after a certain period of time.

First trout on the fly!

Mr. Lorenz and I finished the day with a beautiful dry fly eat on a small wild trout stream.

My wife with a massive brown caught on a hatchery supported creek.

Beautiful rainbow trout caught in November!

Wifey with another big one from a local creek here in western NC!

Beautiful male brook trout displaying his colors. Keep these wild trout wet and release them immediately.

The sport of catching wild trout is second to none.

Striper caught on one of our recent float trips.

What to expect in December

The days are cold, but the trout fishing is hot. Most people think the fishing stops in the winter, but it’s one of my favorite times of year to fish because there isn’t much pressure from other anglers and the fishing can be really good. If the weather is anything like it’s been the past couple of years we can expect a mild winter. Cold days aren’t for the faint of heart, but getting that tug from a big trout will warm you up real quick. The name of the game this time of year is nymphs or streamers. Streamer fishing is exciting because you are hunting for that dominant trout looking for a larger meal. Some of the biggest fish of the year come in December while fishing streamers. We tend to catch more rainbows in December but there are still opportunities at some very large brown trout on the Catawba Tailrace. Check out some of our catches in December.

Rainbow caught in December out of the Catawba River.

Hooked up on a good brown trout from the Catawba Tailrace.

Streamer fishing in December can be very rewarding!

Give us a call to get on some great winter trout fishing.

Bundle up and let’s go fishing in December.

Stay tuned for some awesome winter trout fishing specials!

Fall Fishing in Western North Carolina

September 22nd marked the first day of Fall.

September is one of my favorite months to guide because it is a transition month. The beginning of the month can still be hot, but we start to experience those cooler fronts that remind us that fall is near. Once those cold fronts come in it triggers bass into feeding aggressively. Bass begin moving to the deeper holes which they stay in throughout the winter, so there are multiple fish to be caught in these holes. The primary diet for river smallmouth in the summertime consists of crayfish, but when water temperatures drop in late September smallmouth start eating shiners, chubs, and minnows. It’s always fun casting big flies or throwing big plugs to aggressive smallmouth. Normally you see some of your biggest smallmouth landed in the months of September and October. Here are some smallmouth we landed this September.

20 inch bruiser that crushed a streamer. This was a personal best for Toby!

Nice river smallmouth Chuck caught on the fly.

The mornings can be cold in September, but the fishing remains hot for river smallmouth.

We offer fly fishing and spin fishing trips for bass. Either ways it’s fun catching these amazing fish in a beautiful setting.

No better way to experience western North Carolina than on one of our rafts.

Mrs. Bone and her husband put 37 fish in the boat this day. September is a great month for numbers and bigger fish.

Mrs. Flournoy caught her first North Carolina smallmouth on the fly.

Trout Fishing starts heating up in September!

The Catawba Angler loves chasing smallmouth, but it’s always nice when the trout fishing begins to heat up towards the end of September. The best time to trout fish is from October to May, but when temperatures drop in September we will chase trout in some of our local trout streams. We were fortunate to have some cooler days this past week to get out and chase some trout on the fly. Our water temperatures dropped below 65 degrees which is ideal for chasing trout. The trout fishing only gets better from here and we will chase trout on our local creeks and rivers all winter long. See some of our recent catches from September.

Scott caught this stud on a wild trout stream on a 3 weight rod. What a fight!

Scott landed this big brown trout out of the same hole that he caught the wild rainbow. What a day!

One of the 15 trout James caught this day. Our wade fishing trips cater to many different ages.

Lee’s first trout on the fly.

Wild trout are still eager to hit dry flies in September.

Delayed Harvest starts in October!

October and November is one of our most popular months to trout fish here in western North Carolina. The leaves begin to change and I cannot think of a more beautiful place to experience it than wading knee deep in a mountain stream. Our creeks and rivers are stocked with some great trout and it’s the perfect time to learn how to fly fish or chase that personal best with one of our experiences guides. We offer wade fishing trips for $250 and float trips for $350. Check out some of our catches over the last few years on our local delayed harvest streams.

Lake James fishing in October

Bass fishing on Lake James will begin to pick back up after a slow month in September. Those cooler nights triggers the bass into feeding heavily on the forage to fatten up for winter. This is a great time to get out on the lake to see the scenery and catch some nice smallmouth.

French Broad River Fishing

French Broad River Fishing

The French Broad River is a smallmouth anglers dream. The river is full of smallmouth and you always have an opportunity at catching your personal best here. We’ve been devoting a lot of time here the past few years and we’ve seen how special this river can be. The river never fishes the same two days in a row so we enjoy the challenge of figuring out what the bass are keying in on. We enjoy catching these river bass on a variety of different methods which can be jigging soft plastics or throwing topwater lures. The French Broad River fishes best from downtown Asheville all the way to Hot Springs, North Carolina. The river presents ledges, eddys, and boulders that create the perfect habitat for big bass. Our float trips are specifically customized to our anglers preferences and we are dedicated to making your trip enjoyable. If you are looking to book a smallmouth float trip down the French Broad River it would be best to stay in Asheville or Black Mountain. Both cities are very close to where we will be fishing and provide an array of fun things to do after our trip. Check out some of our best catches on the river in 2020!

French Broad River Smallmouth.

The French Broad River provides an excellent habitat for growing large smallmouth.

Section 9 of the French Broad River.

Urban Smallmouth Fishing in downtown Asheville.

The French Broad is suitable for beginners and experienced anglers.

The French Broad River fishes best from April to October!

Dr. Hata which a big smallmouth from the French Broad.

These fish put up the best fight on light tackle.

Family Friendly Float Trips down the French Broad River.

Surprise catch on the French Broad. 17” Rainbow Trout.

If you’ve never fished for smallmouth join us on the French Broad River.

Trophy smallmouth fishing here in western N.C.

4-5 pound smallmouth aren’t uncommon in the French Broad.

Big bronzeback caught in the French Broad River. October 2020

Smallmouth fishing in Asheville, North Carolina.

The French Broad River provides the perfect habitat for smallmouth bass.

Wild Trout in the Pisgah National Forest

Fly Fishing In the Pisgah National Forest

Here in western North Carolina we are blessed to have an abundant amount of healthy wild trout streams to explore. These cold water streams are an anglers paradise for throwing dry flies during the months of March through October.

Our guided trips for wild trout take us to beautiful areas that do not see much fishing pressure. The fish here are not big, but what they lack in size, they make up for in beauty. Most wild fish in the streams and creeks we guide on range anywhere from 6-10 inches. We use 7’6 rods which are ideal for making tight casts with overhead cover.

The old saying is “If you can cast here, you can cast anywhere”. Rhododendron and mountain laurel outline the streams which challenges even the most experienced casters. After a half or full day of fishing one of these streams your casts and accuracy drastically improve.

Catching wild trout on a dry fly is the epitome of fly fishing. It’s such a fun experience for clients because the eats are visual.

Curtis Creek, North Carolina

Wild rainbow trout was fooled into eating a dry fly.

Tips on catching wild trout on a dry fly

1. Be Stealthy: Wild trout are easily spooked so it’s important not to walk up on the head of the hole. Have a plan on how you will “pick apart” a hole before you start casting. Target the tail out of the hole before going to the head.
   

2. Use Appropriate Gear: Smaller rods and reels are better for these small mountain streams. I like to use a 7’6 three weight rod and reel. I normally use a 7 1/2 foot 4x leader. On some of the more spooky trout streams I’ll use a 9 foot 5x leader.
   

3. Choose the right fly. Wild trout are not too picky on eating dry flies as long as you get a drag free drift. My go to dry flies on our mountain streams are size 14-16 caddis and parachute adams. These dry flies ride well on top of the water and are easily seen. These flies will catch fish year round on wild trout streams.
   

4. Drag Free Drift: Achieving a drag free drift is vital to catching wild trout on a dry fly. Beginners love to make those long casts when starting out fly fishing but it’s not needed on wild trout streams. When guiding clients we learn the roll cast and only use about four to five feet of fly line. This amount is enough to roll the leader and fly over top itself. In faster moving water I teach clients how to raise there rod tip up after casting which picks the fly line and leader up off the water which eliminates drag.
   

5. Eliminating slack. Slack equals less hook-ups. Wild trout hit dry flies very quickly, so the less slack in your line the better off you will be when setting the hook. Too much fly line is overkill. Think, less is more. Keep your rod tip low and when the fly is drifting back to you pull the slack out of the line with your non dominant hand.

Ashley with a 10” wild rainbow trout.

The Harrison family has a blast on one of our local trout streams.

Husband and wife duo caught their first fish on the fly.

Complete solitude for Jaime.

Never too young to learn how to fly fish.

Mr. Hubbard tricked trout on a parachute caddis all day.

Healthy rainbow taken on a dry.

Book your wild trout trip today!

July 2020 Fishing Report

French Broad River Smallmouth

The French Broad River proves itself year after year as being one of our most productive smallmouth fisheries in WNC. The water clarity was consistent throughout July which made fishing ideal for clients.

We were fortunate to have clients that were willing to meet us very early at the put ins because the best fishing was from 7am to noon. Once the cicadas started calling then fishing slowed down until the evening.

The top water bite has been somewhat slow this year, but it’s definitely not for lack of trying. Most bass were caught on crawdad patterns and minnow imitations using spinning or fly gear. When the water was off colored we used flashy colors such as orange, chartreuse, and bright yellow.

It always amazes me how one lure or fly can fish well one year and then the next year it won’t yield the same results. I have seen this pattern on the French Broad for the past few years. This is one of the reasons I love guiding because no year is ever the same. Water conditions and temperatures are ever changing season to season.

Nate “Dawg” Griffith with a nice smallmouth from the French Broad River.

Smallmouth grow around two inches a year. This smallmouth is estimated to be around 7 years old.

French Broad Smallmouth.

Dr. Hata with a nice bronze back caught in swift current! This fish put up quite the fight!

It was a pleasure taking Mr. Campbell and his son Jordan down the French Broad for the first time.

The dog days of summer. The high this day was 95.

Fly Fishing for River Smallmouth

Fishing for smallmouth on the fly can be challenging, but also very rewarding. These fish never back down from a fight and will test your tackle. I was fortunate to take some fly anglers out to catch their first smallmouth bass on the fly.

Smallmouth bass love oxygen rich current as well as still water eddies. At times there are too many holes for anglers to hit when float fishing the French Broad because it all looks good! All of our top water eats came out of the still water behind boulders and the glassy water near the banks with submerged structure. Stripping streamers through riffles and at the mouths of tributaries was very effective. Smallmouth bass will hold in these areas and chase baitfish across the top of the water. I always look for scattering minnows because it means a bass isn’t far behind. When fishing streamers in faster water use a faster retrieve but in eddies and glassy water use a slow one. A strong hook set is needed on bass because their skin is thick. Once you have a good smallmouth on the fly rod expect a long fight. Smallmouth will usually jump when hooked so prepare for it by giving them a little slack. Most smallmouth will spit hooks when they go airborne because clients don’t give them enough slack.

Manning Paul with a solid smallmouth caught on a streamer. We saw this fish chasing minnows in the shallows before targeting it.

Kip with one of her first smallmouth bass on the fly! This one chased down a white marabou streamer.

This was Harry’s first smallmouth on the fly! 16” smallmouth bass.

Leech patterns are great flies that simply catch bass!

Leech pattern in action.

Topwater eats are the best!

Awesome catches from our youth anglers:

Brynn casted, hooked, and landed this smallmouth all by herself!

One of the 11 bass Jack caught on the French Broad this day!

Austin with a nice river smallmouth.

This kid had a blast catching this largemouth on Lake James.

Trout Fishing in July

We managed to get a few trout trips in this month because we had some cooler nights. It’s vital to get your trout fishing in very early because once water temperatures rise then oxygen levels decrease. Catching and landing a trout in water that is above 70 degrees can be fatal. It’s best to bring a thermometer to the water you intend on fishing to make sure the temperature isn’t too hot. All of our trips took place on higher elevation streams where the water tends to stay cooler in the warmer months. It’s important to hook and release fish as fast as possible this time of year as well so you do not stress them out more than they already are.

Parachute Adams always do the trick on wild trout.

Quick picture then a release for this wild rainbow.

Dave picking apart some pocket water with a dry fly.

July is a great month to throw hopper patterns.

Lake James Guided Fishing Trips

Lake James continues to fish well and we are looking forward to finishing out the summer strong. Here are a few pictures from some of our recent trips at the lake.

Lake James Smallmouth.

No better way than to spend a day fishing!

Chris with a nice smallmouth!

My future brother in law with a nice largemouth!

Nice bag from one of our guided fishing trips!