Spring is here and we are in the full swing of our guiding season. Sami and his father run Eddies Pizza and Pasta in Marion. The Catawba River runs through both regions and is home to 7 lakes that offers good bass fishing. North Carolina is a fly fishing destination itself, but this river is one of the most popular choices. July was an excellent month of fishing even though it rained almost every day. Water data back to 1895 are available online. It is a big river that fishes much like a Western river. We were fortunate to hit this local creek after a cold front came through and cooled the water down to a desired level. Falls Lake also known as Falls of the Neuse & Jordan Reservoir are on the border of the Piedmont and Coastal Plain region and are some of the best largemouth lakes in North Carolina. Lake James is home to some of the biggest smallmouth bass in the state. Normally when they first stock the first will hit anything flashy in the color of pink and yellow. The days we have been on the French Broad have been tough, but not impossible. Catawba River Canoe Map The Catawba River begins in the foothills of North Carolina and flows for more than 200 miles through the Piedmont of North Carolina. Head to the high country: The higher elevation creeks are going to clear up first so start there. In order to fish the bottom of the river well you got to be willing to fish slowly. The brook trout directly above is a stocked fish. In creating this solution, S2O Design engineers and hydrologists completed conceptual designs, 1D and 2D computer modeling, construction documents, and construction visualization renderings. With high flows we tighlined heavy stoneflies and eggs using light tippet. On the smaller mountain creeks the water has been crystal clear so midge imitations under a dry has been best. Our guides passion is sharing the local fisheries that we have grown to love and appreciate with clients from across the United States. Dont miss out on some beautiful scenery and some good fishing in the mountains of NC! Normally a half of inch of rain in an isolated area is going to cause the creeks and rivers to present high water conditions. The waters are pristine and free-flowing in this area, albeit slightly limited in access for fly fishing. Dam Modification Spawning New Whitewater Park on the Catawba River. A lock ( Big smallmouth are usually compared to big brown trout. We offer alot of trips and cater to beginners and the most experienced anglers. This is the pinnacle in fly fishing. Smallmouth fishing has just begun on the river and we will be fishing for them now until November. The 30-mile stretch of flatwater on the Catawba River between Lake Wylie Hydro Dam and the upper end of Fishing Creek Lake remains wooded and natural rich in wildlife and history rooted in the Catawba Indian Nation. Those fish on the Tailrace have seen enough black to last them a lifetime so it never hurts to think outside the box. There is nothing better than floating down a beautiful mountain river chasing smallmouth bass on the fly. Another notable bass fishing lake in the coastal plain region is Lake Waccamaw. The Catawba Angler was one of the first bass fishing guides in North Carolina to guide on Lake James. If you can stand it use 6.5x or 7x. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the Below are some of the biggest fish weve caught out of the Tailrace. The best midge colors have been black, brown, and olive. We offer wade and float trips for the four trout species found in NC. (Lake Norman, Mountain Island Lake, Lake Wylie) We have multiple exploring options including . The Catawba Angler offers float trips and wade fishing trips for trout in the spring here in North Carolina. The Catawba River in western North Carolina is a diverse trout fishery that includes wild brook trout in its headwaters to trophy brown trout in the tailwater below Lake James. Sinkers: If you are fishing a deep run and arent catching fish its probably because your flies arent getting down fast enough. Id like to highlight the four trout species that are available in our public waters. One indicator that it is a stocked fish is that some of its fins are nubs. If you are just getting into the sport then book a guide to help accelerate your growth and have a mentor that will teach you how to do things the right way. Spring is my favorite time to fish Curtis Creek because we get some excellent caddis, March brown, and Hendrickson hatches throughout March, April, and May. His smile says it all. Lift the rod tip up or wiggle it. We offer full day float trips for $400. Gage height, feet. Add some weight because a sinker can save the day. This giant stonefly was crawling across the asphalt before a recent float trip so guess what we threw the entire day? We were able to hit a local wild trout fishery early morning last week because the smallmouth rivers were blown out. The one unit release is around 1600 cfs which is a good flow. I think between the warmer water temperature (72 degrees) and overcast day it created an ideal scenario. We are getting a lot of repeat clients in the fall that want to chase those big smallmouth on fly or spinning tackle. The river has an abundant supply of baitfish and crayfish that is needed to grow trophy river smallmouth. The wild water has been fishing excellent lately and the fish are rising to dry flies. Weve caught a lot of smallmouth in this stretch using the same nymphs that the trout hit. The spring is also popular when aquatic insect hatches kick into gear, although March is off-limits in several areas of the river due to stocking. The Catawba Angler offers guided bass fishing trips on the best rivers and lakes in North Carolina. All the delayed harvest waters across western North Carolina have received their first stocking of the year. The best fishing of the year is upon us so dont hesitate to contact us. If you want to experience some exciting, visual fly fishing for river smallmouth contact us today. Tiger trout rarely exceed 8 inches, but what they look in size they make up for with their beauty. Smallmouth bass have always been overlooked by trout anglers, but I hope I can convince you to start targeting them if you havent already. The Catawba Angler offers guided fly fishing trips in Asheville, North Carolina. The current water temperature coming out the dam is 67 degrees. Weve been having great success on the higher rivers this time of year with stonefly patterns, prince nymphs, and eggs. Current conditions of DISCHARGE, GAGE HEIGHT, and STREAM WATER LEVEL ELEVATION ABOVE NAVD 1988 are available. Less is more when it comes to retrieving smallmouth flies during the summer time. Trail Manager. Most smallmouth flies are designed with legs, hairs, or fur that provides lifelike movement in the water. Normally if we get a good cold front to come through that cools the water off then clients can be more aggressive on popping and the twitching of the bugs. Below are some pictures of some recent catches. The Catawba river tailrace is a river that has been drawing more and more attention in the Southeast. When you decided to pick up fly fishing you knew you were at a disadvantage compared to using a spinning rod. Anytime you can bring a 19inch fish to the boat its a good day. After an intense fight we netted the fish and it was nothing but smiles the rest of the day. Brown trout are at the top of every anglers list. Check out our DIY Guide to the Best Fly Fishing in North Carolina. Always be willing to might slight changes especially when it comes to getting your flies down in the water column. We are thirty days away from the end of summer (September 22). Dont forget the Catawba Tailrace will be cranking back up in November so we will have some good tailwater trout fishing down there all winter long. September has come to an end but it was definitely a month to remember. We havent had consistent weather since early June so weve had to keep a constant eye on the weather. Give us a call this winter if you want to get on the water. This fishery is 50 miles from downtown Asheville and offers excellent trout fishing from a raft or drift boat. This is a great time to hit those higher elevation creeks and chase wild trout using dry flies. Once the bass school up it creates competition for food so you will find more than one fish chasing your streamer back to the boat. I want to thank him for my wife for getting up at the crack of dawn with me before heading to the river. None: Lake Rhodhiss: 98.0: 97: 94: 100: ND . Electro-shocking, a method for assessing the fish population by sending a mild electrical current through the water, reveals a significant level of natural reproduction of the trout stocked. The bigger smallmouth that call the lake home will run up the two rivers certain times of the year so its not uncommon to catch 3 to 4 pound fish in the rivers. There might not be a lot of fish biting in the summer because of the warmer temps and the lower water levels, but throughout the rest of the year, people have pretty good luck. I hit a local favorite of mine yesterday and those fish were willing to chase down small streamers and were also chomping on a variety of eggs. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. We all hope for the days when the smallmouth hit on top and top and his son got just that. There is always opportunities to catch big smallmouth on light spinning tackle or the fly rod. Lakes and dams provide benefits that are balanced among the individual needs of several communities. Below are just a few pictures from the DH stretches in May. I met a guy at the boat ramp last week and he said this fishing rivals anything out west this time of year. Looking for more places to fish? There is nothing better than catching one of these native fish using a fly rod. The fall trout fishing in western North Carolina is something every fly angler should experience. The most important thing he picked up quickly was the mend. Visitors can find some lodging in the area, especially along the I-40 corridor. Its important to check the water temperatures on the wild trout streams because catching wild trout in water temperatures above 70 degrees can be fatal to the trout. Below are some pictures from the Catawba Tailrace this May. The browns will be back again this fall after the NCWRC stocks them. Below are some fish from the last two weeks. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the The best fishing in the Catawba River is found just after stocking, usually in the late fall and early winter months. Recreation Information Check Lake Levels Flow Releases Lake & Shoreline Management Flow Arrival and Recession Times Water Access Alerts Boat ramp closures in effect due to drought conditions, high water or maintenance. Its the thought of catching the biggest brown trout of your life here that brings guides and anglers back every year. The last river that is worthy of mentioning in the bass fishing guide in North Carolina is the Pigeon River. Smallmouth bass are the hardest fighting fish we have around the mountains of North Carolina. The fishing is slower in the summertime because they open the creek up for harvest on June 4th, but there are always some bigger, smarter fish that will make throughout the summer so this time of year is perfect for stalking big fish. Streamers: What better time than to throw a big streamer than in high water. Our guides are well versed in the fisheries of western North Carolina which helps them cater to a clients specific needs. The Pigeon River is a trophy smallmouth river. In the winter time Im using 6-7x tippet. $24 King Palm | Flavor Mini Size | 20 Pack | Natural Slow Burning Pr Health Household Household Supplies Tobacco-Related Products There is excellent dry fly fishing in the spring. There is a healthy population of wild brown trout in the Davidson River so that is a good start for most anglers looking to catch one. Normally Ill run lighter tippet because the water is usually very clear this time of year. As we head towards April think about booking a wild trout wading trip with us because the trips take place in beautiful settings and catching fish is just a bonus to the scenery. I love fly fishing with game changer flies. Check out the fish we caught in October fly fishing Curtis Creek. The best trout fishing is hands down the Catawba Tailrace if you enjoy throwing bigger nymphs and streamers. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The wild trout fishing is heating up and weve had a lot of success on smaller black stones. fish, but hooked up with a true trophy at the end of the day. The mission of this organization is to bring hope and the love of Christ to youth through free guided fly fishing trips. If youve never fished for river smallmouth then let us guide you into a adventure of a lifetime. Weve been averaging over fifty fish on every float using a variety of different methods to put fish in the net. This male brown trout was caught on October 19th. These fish are prevalent in the 34 creeks and rivers that get stocked across the mountain region of NC. Construction on the Great Falls-Dearborn Diversion Bypass began in the spring of 2021 and is expected to be completed by fall 2022. The topwater bite can be very sporadic, but this day it was consistent all day. The French Broad has been off colored since the beginning of July so I havent gotten the opportunity to fish it that much. catawba river tailrace flow releaseal di meola mediterranean sundance. Consider visiting during the week to avoid weekenders if youre coming from out of town. If you arent fishing the nymphs about 6-8 feet deep your not in the target zone. The bite started off hot during the morning, but tapered off mid day then the bite picked up significantly in the afternoon. If you are in town and want to experience some of the best fly fishing in the area then give us a call. Trying throwing some smaller profile flies to match the hatch. There are a lot of June bugs out so weve been having some good luck using smaller bugs on the Toe River. Catawba River Tailrace Kayak Fishing - YouTube 0:00 / 4:25 Catawba River Tailrace Kayak Fishing 635 views Mar 13, 2017 3 Dislike Share Save Fishing RN 1 subscriber Catawba River. Locked padlock The mend is very important when fishing from a raft or drift boat. Numbers of fish can be high and there are opportunities at some very large holdover brown trout. In the deeper areas of the river, youll be able to fish during warmer months without much issue. Curtis Creek gets stocked the first week of October and November so this provides good fishing all fall and winter. The best success on Curtis Creek has been a brown midge. Fly fishing for smallmouth is not an easy task, but I couldnt think of anything more rewarding when that 3 pound smallmouth takes a topwater bug drifting parallel to the bank. Remember the water temps are hottest in the evening because the water has warmed up all day. For more information check out the website below. We can choose locations and experiences that will best fit each client. We caught a lot of smallmouth on top using hardbaits and soft plastics. Asheville is surrounded with many different fishing opportunities so we can cater our fishing trips to experienced anglers or complete beginners. We offer different kayak types and river tubes to use on the scenic & historic Catawba River, South Fork River, or one of the area lakes! We provide everything but a valid NC fishing license. These fish are selective and are not afraid to eat big flies. If its dragging its lagging. Badin Lake is the clearest lake in the Yadkin Chain and runs within the Uwharrie National Forest which offers some unique scenery for a Piedmont Lake. Seclusion: We rarely see anyone else on the wild trout streams. Lake Mattamuskeet is the most well known lake in North Carolina since its the largest natural lake in the state. If you want to chase these bigger fish using large nymphs and streamers then this trip is for you. A crayfish pattern isnt supposed to be fished fast and a fleeing minnow isnt supposed to be fished slow so Im big on informing my clients how fast you need to retrieve certain flies. We caught most of our fish on the bottom that day which involves a more finesse style of fishing. You will leave feeing like youve just spent the day with an old friend. The only disadvantage to this fly is that its always swimming fast on the retrieve so if the fish arent in the mood to chase then try a fly that hangs and suspends more. Remember to still use light tippet this time of year. Below are some of the tips we used on the guide trip and had some really good success. The topwater bite should continue to get better with the water temperature warming up. Chasing these fish will make you a better angler. After a couple of fish to the boat Sami wanted me to try a drift through a productive run. Shallow areas and wade-in access usually mean the water gets too warm, so consider that, as well. A good float is putting in at the bridge at US Business 221 and going down to Burnettes Landing. Give us a call to book your fishing charter in the mountains of North Carolina. Catawba River Tailrace: I now do float trips to fish this great brown trou The Catawba Tailrace is about to get really good so dont hesitate to book a trip down there. Summertime is terrestrial season. Flow Arrival and Recession Times; Current Lake Levels. We have had clear water on the French Broad River so I have been out there every day chasing those big smallmouths that have some big appetites this time of year. The rainbow trout above was caught out of a delayed harvest stretch north of Asheville. Normally your best fishing will be 7am to 11am so weve been out there early this month. Weve had a lot of fun catching prespawn smallmouth, but their is nothing better than the post spawn smallmouth fishing in May. The best time to throw topwater poppers is during the summertime and early fall during June-September. Poppers have been the fly of choice on both rivers. As long as the French Broad stays clear we will be on it. The Catawba Tailrace is slowly starting to fish better and better. The weather over the next two weeks looks great so if you want to fish this March Madness Hatch then its best to get on our calendar very soon. We guide on the best smallmouth rivers in western North Carolina. Normally anything over a half of inch will muddy the fishery due to muddy creek. The best fishing has been on the minimal flow release, but weve had great action using heavy nymphs on one or two unit generations. The Catawba Tailrace has an excellent caddis hatch beginning in early March that can last till mid April. The river smallmouth fishing is about to be lights out. One way to catch more fish in an unfamiliar river system is to find out what forage is in the river whether it be bugs, minnows, or crayfish and start there. I look forward to an excellent October for smallmouth as well as trout. The fish were hitting on top in the shallow water and fished subsurface jigs in the faster, deep water. The Catawba River tailrace below Lake James is about an hour from Charlotte and is an incredible brown trout fishery. Lake levels are reported with normal full pond elevation of 100 feet. Monitoring location 02145910 is associated with a STREAM in YORK COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA. We cater our trips to all anglers so no matter your experience level weve got fisheries just for you. The fishing is great from the time we put on to the end and there is always potential to catch a trophy brown trout. Catawba Kayak Co. We are a kayak rental company and will meet you at one of our pre mapped-out drop-off points. Ive been on the Catawba Tailrace all week and the fishing has been lights out. I think its going to be a dry month so finding creeks and rivers with the most water in it will be key. Spring trout fishing means higher water flows which can offer some excellent streamer fishing opportunities on the bigger tailwaters in North Carolina. We received our last stocking of trout the first week of May so the Delayed Harvest stretches have been fishing well. This report is going to be a little different in the sense that I am going to report on each trip and then give you the outlook for that fishery over the next month. Its also gotten bigger since we first caught it in December. Winter trout fishing here in North Carolina has been excellent. Brown trout are elusive and considered one of the most difficult trout species to catch. The state record rainbow trout in North Carolina weighed over 20 pounds and was caught out of a stream 60 miles from Asheville. CATAWBA RIVER NEAR ROCK HILL, SC Important Legacy real-time page Monitoring location 02146000 is associated with a STREAM in YORK COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA. We catch some of the bigger, smarter fish that survive the influx of people during the wintertime. Weve heard of 7pound fish being caught and even bigger ones that have gotten away. Jerrod and his grandfather booked a trip with me on the Catawba Tailrace on March 22nd. The trout on the Delayed Harvest waters get extremely picky after the first two weeks after seeing a million flies and lures so its vital to downsize tippet and fish smaller flies. Topwater will continue to be good the rest of the summer. Earlier in the day the nymph and streamer bite was consistent till the sun was directly above us. The takeout ramp in Glen Alpine is currently under construction so this section of river will be shut down for two months. We offer multiple float trips on our local fisheries so if you are interested in getting in the boat with your significant other, best friend, or child then let us know. Weve been picking fish up in the deeper runs on nymphs and streamers in the riffles. Challenge: In order to catch these fish you must get good presentations with drag free drifts. I good way to fish these smaller midges is to use a size 14 chubby chernobyl as the indicator. Ive always fished black midges and had good success, but it seems the fish like the brown way better. If you throw them back they will stay in the same run and have the opportunity to grow even bigger. Give the trout a break this summer and book a trip with us to catch some river smallmouth. We understand that everyone likes to catch fish which we can definitely do that, but if you want to focus on some advanced fly fishing tactics to accelerate your growth as an angler then give us a call to set up a trip with one of our professional guides. The wild trout streams in North Carolina are fishing excellent right now. Fly fishing for smallmouth bass can be the most rewarding thing you can do with the long rod from Spring to Fall. The water temperatures range anywhere from 45 degrees to 67 degrees which is prime trout feeding water temperatures. The river has the quantity and the quality every bass fisherman is looking for. Similar to Lake Mattamuskeet, Lake Waccamaw is shallow. Smallmouth fishing has been fantastic. Pressure is light and the fish are eager to hit big bugs and streamers. S2O Design & Engineering, the worlds premier river engineering and whitewater design company, was tapped to devise a solution to allow flows through the diversion dam in a controlled manner and to provide safe bypass for paddlers who wish to traverse past the Diversion Dam into the beautiful corridor of class II-III whitewater. The Catawba Tailrace and Tuckaseegee River systems offers some great streamer fishing in March, April, and May. Current conditions of DISCHARGE, GAGE HEIGHT, and STREAM WATER LEVEL ELEVATION ABOVE NAVD . The lakes in the mountain and Piedmont regions are the result of dammed rivers. They are the most tolerant trout species and can live in waters upward of 70 degrees. Weve had our best success on the Catawba River since there is more flow on it than the smaller mountain creeks. then its best to move to the next plunge pool. The cold water discharges from the dam create a habitat for brown trout that the NCWRC stocks every year. Anyways back to our recent float. Some of the biggest trout we catch all year is in the springtime stripping streamers against the banks. The most popular area is known as the Catawba Tailrace below Lake James where the trophy brown trout can be found. Below is a resource for some of the lakes and rivers in the state that holds bass in them. Throwing dry flies to rising brown trout is hard to beat! All youll have to do is kick back, relax, and wet a line because weve done the hard work for you. Hatches of Giant Stoneflies and caddis are predominant. Every beginner needs to be put in challenging circumstances because how can you truly appreciate the sport if you never have to work hard to catch a fish? This is one of our favorite trips of the year. I also want to thank him for the clients he allows me to fish with because its a cool experience getting to show people the fisheries I have grown up on and fished my whole life. This will test an anglers/guide patience but its vital to ones success. The French Broad River consistently produces 4 pound smallmouth year after year on our guided bass fishing trips. These trout are not stocked and naturally reproduce in the cold water coming off the highest mountain peaks in the east. Black stonefly nymphs are excellent flies to use on the Catawba Tailrace. Thats the key when fishing crawfish patterns. Most of the big smallmouth we have caught have come out of areas you wouldnt think they would be holding in unless you caught one there. We recently took a client into a wild trout stream and the water temperature was 42 degrees which is uncommon for this time of year, but the fishing was great. If you are a bass fishing Angler then the Nolichucky should be on your bucket list. If you have never experienced the smallmouth fishing or trout fishing in October then give us a call. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information (CA). This has allowed me to form patterns certain times of the year and it gives me the proper baits to start with instead of going out there guiding by the seat of my pants. The bass will let you know if you can pop aggressively or every ten or so seconds. We are starting to book up in September and October so do not hesitate to call to get your preferred date. Its good to see at least one brown in that stretch. Catching hard fighting smallmouth on light spinning gear and the fly rod is too much fun. What was cool about catching this fish is that Ive had a few encounters with it over the last few years where I see it chase out smaller fish we hook. The logging operations at the turn of the century almost depleted the native brook trout populations so thats when non-native trout were introduced in NC to help bring back trout populations. There is nothing better than sight fishing to rising trout from our NRS rafts. Fishing has been consistent on the French Broad and Nolichucky Rivers. When these smallmouth spread out in the summer they could be anywhere. This will have the Tailrace out of commission for the next few days. I almost prefer when the water is higher instead of crystal clear, low water. A couple of years ago the WRC released 50,000 trout into the Catawba River in the Lake James tailrace. Ryan and Mike have been fishing with me the last couple of years and I enjoy fishing with them because they like to get after it. Our favorite streamer to fish is a black peanut envy designed by Kelly Galloup. Caddis & stoneflies are the name of the game right now. This is our favorite fishery to guide on because in these waters lurk the biggest trout in the state. When guiding clients in the spring if you catch a smallmouth then chances will be high that there are more fish to be caught in the general area. On our trips you will be paired with an experienced guide that will do everything in their power to make sure you have a successful day on the water. Whenever the water temperature drops below 60 degrees the bass will start chasing baitfish again and normally you net a lot of big fish during these months. The river is half the size of the French Broad River, but has a thick population of bass in it. S2O Designs solution to accomplish the multiple objectives features the creation of two release points or notches in the dam for recreational release flows and boaters to navigate into the Long Bypass Reach a Main Channel that will convey water continuously into the reach, and a Recreation Bypass Channel that will provide a safe route for boaters during recreational releases.
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