We started the year off right again this New Year's by going fishing on the Upper Linville River in North Carolina above the Linville Falls, up to the campground. "The Watauga River is great for both beginners and experienced anglers because it is a wide stream and it is hatchery supported. Located on the banks of the picturesque Fisher River, the park offers a wide variety of outdoor activities. The majority of North Carolina trout fishing happens in the mountains. Watch Queue Queue The French Broad River itself may not be the top trout destination in the state, but many of this river's tributaries are. The wild fish tend to be smaller in NC, more so than the stocked ones, but it takes more stealth to catch the wild trout when fly fishing. Fishing is allowed on these streams because landowners have generously provided access to the public for fishing. The small town of Mt. Blue-winged Olives and midges are consistent in this river as are non-insects like crayfish and sculpin, which are food for hungry trout. Tomorrow, it could be completely different. Hatch may be occuring. Matt's wife, Shannon, joined us and in short time, we were pulling in two browns at a time. Fishing on the Fisher River. The fall is considered prime trout fishing season and it is when the state stocks rainbow and brown trout, but anglers can enjoy successful outings on the water almost any time of the year. Jones Gap State Park. The hatchery-supported Fisher River is a tributary of the Yadkin River. The first week of trout fishing (December 12-18) will be open to youth ages 15 and under. 36.5220, -80.8600 Little Fisher River-VA line to NC 89 bridge DELAYED HARVEST 36.4024, -80.8433 Mitchell River (0.6 miles upstream of the end of SR 1333 to Kapps Mill Dam) With 31 public access points, the trail is easy for fly anglers of every skill level to try. 15 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Wilmington, N.C. 11 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in North Carolina, 3 Top Places for Deep Sea Fishing in North Carolina, 13 Top-Rated Small Towns in North Carolina, 7 Top-Rated Romantic Getaways in North Carolina, 11 Top-Rated Waterfalls in North Carolina, 12 Top-Rated Beach Resorts in North Carolina, 13 Top-Rated Mountain Towns in North Carolina, 9 Top-Rated Campgrounds in the Outer Banks, NC, 5 Top-Rated Ski Resorts in North Carolina 2021, 16 Top Cheap Ski Holidays in North America, 2021, 12 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Durham, NC, From Istanbul to Bodrum: 5 Best Ways to Get There, 19 Best Places to Visit in the United States, 11 Best Luxury All-Inclusive Resorts in the World, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. To avoid fishing pressure, and to capitalize on a dry fly bite, head to the river right before sunrise or right at dusk. The fishing is great. It did not take long to catch my first iridescent rainbow trout in the Watauga River in Banner Elk as guide Matt Maness, with Foscoe Fishing Company, led me into a small pool on the fringe of a straight, fast-moving current. Current fly fishing conditions are good! Fly fishing in the mountains | Photo Copyright: Justin Chew. Check with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission on specifics that can guide your decisions on what to use at different times of the year. Salem, SC. . Fly fishing in the forest | Photo Copyright: Justin Chew. Devils Fork State Park. The river offers anglers with fantastic dry dropper fishing and midge fishing. They are smaller in size and generally found in tiny streams. This river is remote and scenic, but that is exactly why some anglers choose it. It provides excellent fishing year-round, with both wild and stocked rainbow, brown, and brook trout. 4 Star Fatty Day! The Toe River can be fished year-round, but spring is one of the best times to fish due to the hatches of aquatic insects. Anietra trout fishing on the Watauga River with guide Matt Maness and Shannon Maness | Photo Copyright: Justin Chew. Johnson noted that trout are not common in the river, but the odds of encountering one increase as you go upstream. Followers 49 Catches 0 Spots 0. The clear water of Wilson Creek runs from the Blue Ridge Parkway to Edgemont in Caldwell County. Current fly fishing reports and conditions for Watauga River in North Carolina! One of those spots is the popular stretch of the Linville Gorge that drops 1,800 feet from the Linville Gorge Trail, which runs along the waterway and is the best access point. North Carolina in Pictures: 15 Beautiful Places to Photograph, 14 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Charlotte, NC. Find more fishing reports in North Carolina. Mountain trout require cold, oxygenated water to thrive. Anglers should be aware of those designations on whatever waterways they plan to fish and obtain a proper North Carolina fishing license and trout permit from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. If you are fishing in a river or stream, hold the fish facing the current. The Toe River in Avery County is a preferred trout stream because it is wild trout water that is not frequently fished. The fishing started out hot, with Dan catching three trout right away. The best accessibility is from the trailheads at Turkey Pen Gap or the South Mills Trail that follows the stream. Sapphire, NC. The river is also ideal because of its high elevation and many cold-water feeder creeks coming off the mountains. Needle nose pliers, hemostats, de-hookers etc., will speed up the removal of a deep set hook. A little later in the morning, he landed a 24" long Rainbow Trout that Join us as we discuss the North Carolina Fishing License options, fishing rules and fishing regulations. It does not take long to attract a hearty brown trout. It was a beautiful day to be in the woods, with 6 inches of residual snow. For those visiting the region or new to fly fishing, there are many outfitters in Jackson County available for hire. There are many public access points, like the ones we used at Valle Crucis Community Park and the Watauga River Gorge Access area. It is unique for its moderate flow of water in the higher elevations. Tight lines! But for anglers who want more, there are waters to fish almost any time of the year. It is very likely to see 50 plus trout on a daily basis. It is also heavily stocked. There are a number of sections to consider when targeting the Nantahala for trout because each has its own designations: Upper Nantahala to White Oak Creek (Hatchery Supported Trout Waters), White Oak Creek section of the Nantahala to the Duke Energy Power Plant (Delayed Harvest Trout Waters) and the Lower Nantahala (Hatchery Supported). Marty grew up fishing the Mitchell River in Surry County decades before it became a designated trout stream. Find the best places for your trip with our list of the top rivers for trout fishing in North Carolina. Fisher River Fishing Reports Recently shared catches and fishing spots. The Davidson River is located near Asheville, with many public access points, and it is close to the interstate. Greenville, SC. Pickens, SC . Since the trout in Wilson Creek are often located in the deeper pools, it is important to keep flies close to the bottom. Gorges State Park. The reservation sits in the heart of the Smoky Mountains, where rainbow and brown trout are abundant. What's in it. Privately owned, its quarterly mix of feature articles, fixtures and regional columns is available in retail stores all round the country and by purchasing annual 4 … Brown trout | Photo Copyright: Justin Chew. If you must, be quick and gentle, do not squeeze the fish. Table Rock State Park. Try not to remove the fish from the water. The Ararat River, which meanders a 36.5419, -80.6731 Pauls Creek- VA line to 0.3 mile below SR 1625 bridge, 36.5239, -80.7665 Fisher River-Cooper Creek-VA line to NC 89 bridge, 36.5220, -80.8600 Little Fisher River-VA line to NC 89 bridge, 36.4024, -80.8433 Mitchell River (0.6 miles upstream of the end of SR 1333 to Kapps Mill Dam). If you want to start an argument among the trout-fishing fraternity, just make a bold statement that one stream or another is the "finest trout water" in North Carolina. Followers 49 Catches 0 Spots 0. A public access area is located at Fisher River Park near Dobson. The Mitchell River is designated "Delayed Harvest," so the best times to fish it are March, April, May, October, November, and December, when you have the best chances of a good number of trout. These protective layers help prevent infection by waterborne disease. Lodging at centrally located places like the Best Western Mountain Lodge makes it easy to head in any direction for streams, with an early breakfast available for anglers. GPS coordinates are 36.332219, -80.680876. You can fish the Linville River year-round, but the best time to go is in the fall, when your chances are best for large brown trout. That leads directly to the matter at hand -- selecting not one but 10 top streams. It is considered a freestone mountain stream, so a wide variety of aquatic species and insects feeds the trout. Caesars Head State Park. The pristine mountain streams in western North Carolina are the kinds of scenic respites that anglers yearn for in their quest for idyllic trout fishing. The best spots for fishing this week in western North Carolina. Therefore there are a number of regulations put into place to help protect their environment, and prevent anglers from keeping the desired amount of fish with creel limits. © Copyright 2020 PlanetWare Inc. All rights reserved. Little Fisher River is a stream located just 2.2 miles from Dobson, in Surry County, in the state of North Carolina, United States, near New Hope, NC. Trout Update for 2020 Season: The trout are estimated to arrive in mid-December. It is definitely good enough to take off work so get out there. Access to the upper section is not easy due to the rugged landscape. Anglers enjoy fishing this natural scenic creek because it offers a variety of fishing conditions with its alternating riffles, pools, and runs as it flows downhill. It is the first fly fishing trail in the United States, with more than 4,600 miles of streams that have wild and stocked rainbow, brown, and brook trout. If you want to make a few days or a week out of fly fishing, step onto the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail, where 15 streams with abundant trout opportunities are anchored by the Tuckaseegee River. To celebrate a successful day on the water, you can relax with a hearty dinner at the Harvest Grill, which has a list of nightly specials and one of the most scenic views in the county. Chimney Rock State Park. NC Trout Fishing Regulations. Some important things to know about fishing this area: License – Although we’ve never seen a Game Warden in this area, we recommend that you purchase a NC daily fishing permit or an NC fishing license. It is a wild trout river, so it is catch-and-release and there are limitations on lures. We use a roll-casting technique to land the fly into a fast current near the bank. For the classic trout fishing experience, the East Fork of the French Broad is ideal. The lower section of Toe River is more accessible, and there are sections that are stocked, making it a bit more appealing to fly anglers. Marty likes to use a combination of natural and attractor lures on this river, oftentimes on the same line, with enough weight to keep the line in the deeper water. The majority of all trout fishing in North Carolina is in the mountains. Youth must be accompanied by an adult with a valid NC Fishing License. Surprise, surprise, surprise! Yadkin River (Shoals Access) Access to the Yadkin River. To revive the fish, hold it under the belly and by the tail, keep it in an upright position underwater, do not move the fish back and forth (this is also a good time to get a measurement and take a photo). 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