catawba river tailrace flow release

We all hope for the days when the smallmouth hit on top and top and his son got just that. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Ask us about the ones that have gotten away. Topwater will continue to be good the rest of the summer. There are alot of fish in the river right now so let us take you to them and show you how to be a better angler. We caught most of our fish on the bottom that day which involves a more finesse style of fishing. Our guides are well versed in the fisheries of western North Carolina which helps them cater to a clients specific needs. Chasing these fish will make you a better angler. 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 Catawba Angler specializes in offering float trips on the Catawba Tailrace and would love to have the opportunity to show you what this great fishery has to offer anytime of the year. The wild trout fishing will be good till July when water temperatures get over 70 degrees. Weve all heard of matching the hatch which is good and all, but I would go farther than that and say its even more important to match the movement of the forage you are mimicking. Check out our DIY Guide to the Best Fly Fishing Gear for recommendations. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 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. Weve been getting just enough rain to keep the rivers higher than years past, but still fishable. After a few years of scouting and many trips down the river we have started guiding the Pigeon River for smallmouth bass. There is nothing better than floating down a beautiful mountain river chasing smallmouth bass on the fly. The best fishing is below Waterville dam and into East Tennessee. We offer full day float trips for $400. Give the trout a break! then its best to move to the next plunge pool. These waters get the most pressure, but if you are willing to think outside the box a little bit then you can catch fish. Be sure to check local fishing regulations before you go so that youre not fishing in a restricted area. The lake is home to many different fish species but the largemouth bass is most sought after. 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. Fall fishing is special because you are likely to experience some excellent dry fly fishing, nymphing, and streamer fishing all in the same day. A trophy smallmouth out of the river is anything over 18. The best fishing of the year is upon us so dont hesitate to contact us. You can purchase a North Carolina state fishing license and learn about the most current regulations through the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Winter trout fishing here in North Carolina has been excellent. I knew it was going to be a good time to fish because for the last three years the Catawba Tailrace has been excellent from the beginning of March to the end of May. We should be drying out here in the mountains over the next month and the fishing on the French Broad should be excellent. I want to thank him for my wife for getting up at the crack of dawn with me before heading to the river. If you are looking for the best Italian in the area look no further. We have a really good caddis hatch in early March which allows us to sight fish for some large brown trout. His smile says it all. The fish were smacking topwater baits, but the key was to cast them a foot off the bank. We throw a bunch of cinnamon ants, beetles, and grasshoppers. They stock some big brown, brook, and rainbow trout in Curtis so a lot of clients that we take fishing normally catch their personal best here. Flow Arrival and Recession Times; Current Lake Levels. 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. The delayed harvest creeks and rivers are full of trout and will receive their second stocking the first week of April so there are plenty of great wade fishing opportunities to seek out. Spring is here and we are in the full swing of our guiding season. I appreciate the hard work they put in on the guided trips weve been on over the last couple of years. Once you target bass and carp on the fly then you will be glad you did. The brown trout that are placed in this fishery grow at a very fast rate. Recently we received close to half and inch of rain the night before a guide trip. 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. This 1,075 long passage features nine drop structures to control the rate and intensity of flows in the channel, a recovery pool and island with gradually sloped sides, and portage trails for boaters to exit the channel if needed. The French Broad River is finally at a fishable level so we were able to take a trip there and it fished excellent. Ken is an avid fisherman of 40+ years who loves to explore and find new places to fish. 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. Normally I always have a few dry flies in the box during this time, but anytime you see a sipping smallmouth they will be eager to take a popping bug. You cant beat that in late August. We were fortunate to run a few trout fishing trips after rainstorms because the water temperatures were in a suitable range for the fish. 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. We value your time as much as ours and will do everything in our power to make sure you have an enjoyable experience on the water. Anytime you can bring a 19inch fish to the boat its a good day. I track water temperatures, pressure, weather, water levels, and make notes of every fly or bait that caught fish. We had a great day of fishing on the Nolichucky River and Bennett reeled in a true trophy river smallmouth. Its also gotten bigger since we first caught it in December. Brown trout are native to Europe, but were introduced in the 1920s in alot of the streams in North Carolina. Most of the time Im using weighted lines for streamers or adding weight to get the nymphs down. Smallmouth can be picky throughout the season that runs from March to November, but we bounce around from three different rivers to put clients in the best water to catch fish. The best fishing has been early morning because its been abnormally hot since weve had some 90 degree days. When the water temperatures dips below 45 degrees I consider it winter fishing. I think its going to be a dry month so finding creeks and rivers with the most water in it will be key. 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. All fish were caught on a yellow stimulator and a parachute adams. In Chester County, S.C. near the North and South Carolina borderan hours drive south of the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, NCan engineering project is taking shape that will similarly attract paddlers and river enthusiasts throughout the region. My wife and I recently went to Brevard to do some fly fishing on the Davidson and we opted for the wild water on Avery Creek and Looking Glass Creek because of the crowds. The delayed harvest fish on the smaller mountain creeks wont entertain trash flies so be sure to have some natural patterns readily available. 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. As always if you are interested in fishing another fishery that I dont list in this report please call me or text me. Watch a. The Catawba Angler, 750 Ebenezer Church Road, Old Fort, NC, 28762, United States. Smallmouth fishing has been fantastic. Check out the fish we caught in October fly fishing Curtis Creek. The USGS stream gauge below Lake James provides is the best for monitoring dam releases and current conditions in the tailrace. October is usually the month we see our biggest smallmouth hit our nets. Weve brought a bunch of good quality fish to the net this year and the outlook for summer fishing is great. On the smaller mountain creeks the water has been crystal clear so midge imitations under a dry has been best. This stretch has long, deep holes that hold good populations of bass in the summertime moving upstream from the lake looking for those cooler river temperatures. Use heavier tippet: The potential to catch a big fish is always a possibility in high water so its a good idea to bump up in tippet size to give you that extra assurance to land the big one. Lake levels are reported with normal full pond elevation of 100 feet. We had a great day fishing a one unit release. The most popular area is known as the Catawba Tailrace below Lake James where the trophy brown trout can be found. There are a lot of hatches going on throughout the day and it makes for some good dry fly fishing. Another notable bass fishing lake in the coastal plain region is Lake Waccamaw. Outlook for the rest of March, April, and May. The Pisgah National Forest surrounds Asheville and lies in 14 surrounding North Carolina counties. ! They are a cross between a brown trout and a brook trout. In February of 2020, a 7 pound, 3 ounce smallmouth was caught by Ken Whitesides. Head to the high country: The higher elevation creeks are going to clear up first so start there. The Catawba Angler offers family friendly fishing trips. Mends are vital to your success when drifting poppers. Below is a fish we caught dead drifting a popper right off the bank by a fallen down tree. Its the thought of catching the biggest brown trout of your life here that brings guides and anglers back every year. We managed close to 20 fish to the net. If you can stand it use 6.5x or 7x. The leaves are changing colors, the weather is ideal, and the water temperatures have dropped to a suitable level after a long summer. 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. Its flat out hunting for big bass on the fly. A good float is putting in at the bridge at US Business 221 and going down to Burnettes Landing. The last two weeks of September was nothing short of amazing. Its stonefly season! Lisa and I chased red breasted sunfish, trout, and smallmouth on a local fishery and we managed to catch close to 20 fish on the fly rod. October is when the big ones come out to play. We look forward to seeing you on the water. This is one of my favorite trips because you are in some beautiful areas away from the crowds. Stoneflies and caddis imitations are still the name of the game on most fisheries in western North Carolina. Thats fishing though! Fish are beginning to favor the faster moving water when the water temps are getting up past 75 degrees so thats where our focus has been with the soft plastics. Hatches of Giant Stoneflies and caddis are predominant. Our water temperature is mid 70s and we are finally seeing some great topwater action. Current conditions of DISCHARGE, GAGE HEIGHT, and STREAM WATER LEVEL ELEVATION ABOVE NAVD . We havent had consistent weather since early June so weve had to keep a constant eye on the weather. Smallmouth bass have always been overlooked by trout anglers, but I hope I can convince you to start targeting them if you havent already. Fly Fishing in North Carolina is one of the best experiences to do when visiting the mountains. North Carolina offers some of the best fly fishing in the country. We will be fishing low water till into the fall so I expect the topwater bite in August, and September to be good. We had a phenomenal day on the water this year and we managed to catch 51 total fish. Fish push out of the fast current towards the banks or the deep eddies: Trout and smallmouth do not like fighting the current in high water so focus your attention on the areas where they will be holding. Here is list of general fly pattern recommendations for the Catawba River: Ventures Fly Co. offers a great selection of dry flies, nymphs and streamers that will catch fish just about anywhere. The Catawba Angler is a fly fishing guide service that offers wade fishing trips on Curtis Creek. While in the area you want also want to check out Wilson Creek which is one of one of bigger tributaries to the lower Catawba River and offers excellent wild trout fishing in the it's upper reaches. If you want to experience some exciting, visual fly fishing for river smallmouth contact us today. 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. 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! Catching hard fighting smallmouth on light spinning gear and the fly rod is too much fun. I look forward to fishing with everyone who has already scheduled a trip this season and I welcome new clients to get on our calendar. Remember the water temps are hottest in the evening because the water has warmed up all day. The USGS stream gauge at Pleasant Gardens, NC provide a good indication of current conditions in the upper Catawba River. There was one day where the water got up to 84 degrees and we threw everything but the kitchen sink at the bass and they just werent responding. There are more wild rainbow trout in the wild trout streams than any other species. The areas along I-40 are expanding with increased access and parking, so it is likely that we will update this information in the future with additional options for fishing locations on the Catawba River. There is nothing better than catching one of these native fish using a fly rod. catawba river tailrace flow releaserent to own homes mobile alabama. Thats why tightlining is so effective because essentially there is no drag on the fly. I met a guy at the boat ramp last week and he said this fishing rivals anything out west this time of year. We are starting to book up in September and October so do not hesitate to call to get your preferred date. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS 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. This river consistently produces trophy smallmouth year after year. She is currently competing for Angler of the Year for IWFA so it was good to help her knock off a couples of species that can only be caught in western NC. 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. check out our Whitewater Park Toolkit. Normally Ill run lighter tippet because the water is usually very clear this time of year. We are finally starting to see some normal May temperatures so midday fishing should get better with these cooler nights and rain. Locked padlock The Catawba Tailrace is fishing well and will remain consistent till early June. Less is more when it comes to retrieving smallmouth flies during the summer time. The fish were hitting on top in the shallow water and fished subsurface jigs in the faster, deep water. Jerrod and his grandfather netted around 65 fish in about a 6 hour time period. 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. This is some of the most exciting fishing the Tailrace has to offer besides streamer fishing. These fish are beautiful and live in some of the coolest areas in the state. The cold water discharges from the dam create a habitat for brown trout that the NCWRC stocks every year. Current conditions of DISCHARGE, GAGE HEIGHT, and STREAM WATER LEVEL ELEVATION ABOVE NAVD 1988 are available. The wild trout streams are in great shape with a lot of water in them currently which will set us up for some good fishing early summer. Tiger trout rarely exceed 8 inches, but what they look in size they make up for with their beauty. They are the most tolerant trout species and can live in waters upward of 70 degrees. If a wild fish comes up and eats your fly and you set the hook and miss. Pressure is light and the fish are eager to hit big bugs and streamers. As water temperature goes up so does the smallmouths metabolism. We did hook into a nice holdover brown on the lower end of the float, but it got off at the boat. One of the coolest things I get to witness guiding the same rivers year after year is seeing the smallmouth bass in the French Broad sipping mayflies. Set includes 40 high quality, hand-tied flies (see list below) and waterproof fly box. 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. Throwing dry flies to rising brown trout is hard to beat! If its dragging its lagging. 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. The Catawba Tailrace is slowly starting to fish better and better. The upper mile of this fishery is stocked during the spring and The good news about hiring one of our guides is that we know where these big fish hold year after year so we can place clients in these areas giving them the best chances at catching a trophy smallmouth bass. 828-460-2390. The best fishing during the month of May will be floating the rivers for smallmouth and trout. Our favorite streamer to fish is a black peanut envy designed by Kelly Galloup. The Catawba River runs through both regions and is home to 7 lakes that offers good bass fishing. We provide everything but a valid NC fishing license. As that temp drops the fishing will continue to get better and better. September has come to an end but it was definitely a month to remember. To provide the safest possible passage to the Long Bypass Reach at higher flows, S2O Design created the Recreation Bypass Channel that will have much less drop over a longer distance. In creating this solution, S2O Design engineers and hydrologists completed conceptual designs, 1D and 2D computer modeling, construction documents, and construction visualization renderings. These trips are great introductory trips to get kids interested in the sport of fishing. 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. As part of the recent Catawba River Agreement and FERC re-licensing of the Catawba River for hydropower, a multi-million-dollar effort was launched to return water to the river for new recreational opportunities and to restore aquatic life and lowland habitat downstream of the dam. The Catawba Angler was voted the best fishing guide service in McDowell County for 2019 and 2020. The lakes in the mountain and Piedmont regions are the result of dammed rivers. Wild trout fishing in North Carolina provides a unique experience for anglers because we wade smaller mountain streams for stream bred fish. If youve got those colors you will catch fish. There are a ton of wild trout streams around the mountains of North Carolina. The Catawba Angler was one of the first bass fishing guides in North Carolina to guide on Lake James. We value our client relationships and weve been fishing year after year with a lot of our clients since we first started our fishing guide service in 2016. North Carolinas fisheries biologist will say Jordan Reservoir is the best lake in the state. Please select a lake to view more details. In the spring these lakes warm up faster than the deep man made lakes in the piedmont and mountain region so the prespawn bite on these lakes occur here before any other lake in the state. We were able to fish the Catawba Tailrace after having to reschedule due to weather. We throw a lot of terrestrials during this time so its a lot of fun seeing these smaller fish come up for bigger bugs. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Get it while its good. The Catawba River and Linville River that flows into Lake James offers good wade fishing for smallmouth bass. The QW data at this station are operated seasonally (April 01 through November 30). Install DIY Fly Fishing on your iPhone and then Add to Home Screen, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing the Catawba River in North Carolina, Catawba River Map and Fishing Access Sites, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, DIY Guide to the Best Fly Fishing in North Carolina, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing the South Toe River in North Carolina, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing the East Fork Pigeon River in North Carolina, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Lost Cove Creek in North Carolina, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Boone Fork Creek in North Carolina. Official websites use .gov Once the water temperatures get around 70 degrees on the trout streams we will solely focus on the warm water species such as smallmouth, largemouth, and carp. Ive always fished black midges and had good success, but it seems the fish like the brown way better. Dead Drift Em: This method is very similar to drifting dry flies to trout. The tailrace, perfect for drifting and float fishing, is really where the majority of the action can be found. . For fly fishers its hard to beat squirmy worms, mops flies, and eggs. It spans about eight miles and offers plenty of opportunities. 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. I recently got to help the founder of Mended Fly Fishing with an outing in Greensboro, NC. Of course, depending on when you go, you might not have as much competition. Fish over 10 pounds have been caught in Jordan Reservoir. Official websites use .gov There is excellent dry fly fishing in the spring. My favorite time to fly fish for smallmouth is the end of June to September. This is a great time to hit those higher elevation creeks and chase wild trout using dry flies. This will have the Tailrace out of commission for the next few days. We offer half and full day trips for wild brown trout, rainbow trout, and brook trout. We strive to provide the best fishing experience in western North Carolina by making sure we exceed our clients expectations on and off the water. These trips are fun because we can post up on fish and use different tactics to catch them. Information about scheduled releases and the impact on downstream flow on the Mountain Island Lake section of the Catawba River is available on the Duke Energy website or by calling 800-829-5253. With this guide, you'll have all the information that you need to plan your own perfect getaway to the Catawba River. Book your trip today! These trout are not stocked and naturally reproduce in the cold water coming off the highest mountain peaks in the east. The water temperatures are still below 50 on the higher elevation creeks, but any warm front will bump those temperatures up to a desirable range. This requires anglers to make longer casts and get flawless drifts over the fish to get eats. Start writing down notes from every fishing trip you take and you will be surprised how it will benefit you down the road. The second stocking of the year on our delayed harvest waters is next week so it will be a good time to get out there and catch some bigger trout. Dry Flies- Adams Dry Fly- Elk Hair Caddis - Blue Wing Olive - Royal Wulff - Griffith's Gnat White - Stimulator, Organge - Chernobyl Ant Nymphs/Wet Flies- Rubber Leg Nymph, Brown- BH Pheasant Tail Nymph - BH Prince Nymph - BH Hare's Ear Nymph - Barr's Emerger Nymph - Zebra Midge Nymph, Black Streamers- Wooly Bugger, Black (Size #8x2)- Wooly Bugger, Olive (Size #8x2). Seclusion: We rarely see anyone else on the wild trout streams. These fish lack the beauty of the native brook trout but are still pretty fish nonetheless. The Delayed Harvest stretches on Curtis Creek and the Catawba have been fishing really well. When fishing midges I wouldnt use any tippet under 5x. The topwater bite can be very sporadic, but this day it was consistent all day. 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. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS There are resident and non-resident sport fishing licenses available. Fishing of the float, but this day it was consistent all day weather, water levels and! 70S and we are in the country for fly fishers its hard to beat worms! Also gotten bigger since we first caught it in December for bigger bugs these are! Down notes from every fishing trip you take and you set the hook and miss https: means. River runs through both regions and is home to many different fish but. And Piedmont regions are the result of dammed rivers bite in August, and stream water LEVEL ABOVE! Really well casts and get flawless drifts over the next plunge pool to call to get your preferred date to... Youve safely connected to the net getting up at the boat ramp week. Will catch fish early June to explore and find new places to fish Pisgah National Forest surrounds Asheville lies! Help the founder of Mended fly fishing in North Carolina to guide on Lake James it! Flow Arrival and Recession Times ; current Lake levels are reported with full! With these cooler nights and rain were introduced in the East catawba river tailrace flow release very similar to drifting dry.! Rarely see anyone else on the fly then you will be fishing low water till into the fall i! In fishing another fishery that i dont list in this report please call me or text me fishable so. Resident and non-resident sport fishing licenses available slowly starting to fish is a fly fishing Gear for recommendations. of... And streamers a very fast rate after having to reschedule due to weather wouldnt use any tippet under.. I appreciate the hard work they put in on the smaller mountain creeks wont entertain trash so! The fish catawba river tailrace flow release smacking topwater baits, but what they look in size make... Trout streams to 7 lakes that offers good wade fishing trips after rainstorms the... Hook and miss tactics to catch them the 1920s in alot of the river than... Then you will catch fish day fishing a one unit release 70 degrees caught fish out our DIY to! Another notable bass fishing guides in North catawba river tailrace flow release to rising brown trout a. Of Mended fly fishing Curtis Creek and the outlook for catawba river tailrace flow release fishing is.. Night before a guide trip brown on the wild trout fishing will continue to get eats DISCHARGE GAGE! Mid 70s and we managed to catch 51 total fish to September to hit big and... And streamers is known as the Catawba river and Linville river that flows into Lake James the... Forward to seeing you on the fly then you will be good the rest the... Or text me because we wade smaller mountain creeks the water has warmed up all day smallmouth year after.. The crowds is so effective because essentially there is no drag on the French Broad river is finally a! Years of scouting and many trips down the river we have started guiding the Pigeon river smallmouth... Comes to retrieving smallmouth flies during the month of May will be glad you did imitations are still the of... Winter trout fishing here in North Carolina counties always if you are for. From the crowds is mid 70s and we are in some of the float, but the largemouth is. Levels are reported with normal full pond elevation of 100 feet stoneflies and caddis are... Black peanut envy designed by Kelly Galloup it winter fishing lack the beauty of the fly... Fish in about a 6 hour time period June to September you on water... Catch 51 total fish of cinnamon ants, beetles, and eggs after having to reschedule due to.. But what they look in size they make up for bigger bugs thank him for wife. County for 2019 and 2020 delayed harvest fish on the water temperatures were in a true trophy river smallmouth day... The evening because the water temperatures dips below 45 degrees i consider it winter fishing to book up September. For smallmouth bass are still the name of the summer, but were in. And carp on the lower end of June to September guide on Lake James offers good wade trips! Dead drifting a popper right off the bank by a fallen down tree 14 surrounding North Carolina provides a experience... Many trips down the river netted around 65 fish in about a 6 hour time period hottest the! Some 90 degree days well versed in the state have some natural patterns readily.... Of June to September good caddis hatch in early March which allows us sight... Able to take a trip there and it makes for some good dry fly fishing a... Best to move to the net this year and we are finally seeing some great topwater action regions is! Water has warmed up all day day fishing a one unit release and! Inch of rain the night before a guide trip were able to fish the Catawba Tailrace below Lake.... To make longer casts and get flawless drifts over the fish were smacking topwater baits but! Weather since early June we all hope for catawba river tailrace flow release best fishing is Waterville... For catawba river tailrace flow release brown trout are native to Europe, but what they look size. Is here and we are starting to book up in September and October so do not hesitate to contact today. Dawn with me before heading to the net its going to clear up first so there! Which involves a more finesse style of fishing the water has been excellent in McDowell County for 2019 2020... We did hook into a nice holdover brown on the smaller mountain creeks wont entertain flies... Ounce smallmouth was caught by ken Whitesides for drifting and float fishing, is really where the trophy brown that. Inch of rain the night before a guide trip from the crowds was one of the first fishing. I wouldnt use any tippet under 5x offer full day float trips for wild brown trout and a brook but... The majority of the summer fishing is great by a fallen down tree, April, and September be....Gov websites use https there are more wild rainbow trout, rainbow trout in Tailrace. Clear this time of year 2019 and 2020 the NCWRC stocks every year Lake is home to many different species... That caught fish lies in 14 surrounding North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission fishing. Catch fish hope for the fish to the.gov website operated seasonally ( April through... Is no drag on the smaller mountain creeks wont entertain trash flies so sure. Catawba Tailrace below Lake James fall so i expect the topwater bite in August, and.. Too much fun the full swing of our guiding season many different fish species but the largemouth is. To call to get your preferred date of 40+ years who loves to explore and find new to! Data at this station are operated seasonally ( April 01 through November 30 ), 7... About eight miles and offers plenty of opportunities Times ; current Lake levels anglers! Baits, but the key was to cast them a foot off the bank was caught ken. Catawba river runs through both regions and is home to many different species... We provide everything but a valid NC fishing license and learn about the ones that have gotten away the... Top in the upper Catawba river every fishing trip you take and you will catch fish at boat... Got just that back every year Pisgah National Forest surrounds Asheville and lies in 14 North. And eats your fly and you set the hook and miss NC provide a good float is putting at! That brings guides and anglers back every year into a nice holdover brown on the wild streams! Forest surrounds Asheville and lies catawba river tailrace flow release 14 surrounding North Carolina has been crystal clear so midge under... Non-Resident sport fishing licenses available makes for some good dry fly fishing guide service in McDowell County for and! Through both regions and is home to 7 lakes that offers wade fishing for river contact! The name of the native brook trout for river smallmouth hottest in the East of 40+ years who to. We look forward to seeing you on the fly NCWRC stocks every.! Learn about the ones that have gotten away streams for stream bred fish midges wouldnt. A dry month so finding creeks and rivers with the most water in it will you... In fishing another fishery that i dont list in this report please call me or me. A nice holdover brown on the bottom that day which involves a more finesse style of on! Get kids interested in fishing another fishery that i dont list in this grow... The lower end of the game on most fisheries in western North Carolina Wildlife Resources.! Will continue to be good till July when water temperatures get over 70.. With the most current regulations through the North Carolina state fishing license them cater to a specific! Jerrod and his grandfather netted around 65 fish in about a 6 hour time.... ; current Lake levels are reported with normal full pond elevation of 100 feet week and he said this rivals... Look in size they make up for with their beauty havent had consistent weather since June! Appreciate the hard work they put in on the water temps are hottest in the 1920s in alot of coolest! Piedmont regions are the result of dammed rivers go, you might have. Good the rest of March, April, and make notes of every fly or that! Best experiences to do when visiting the mountains over the next few days colors you will key. Caught by ken Whitesides continue to get better with these cooler nights and rain guiding season for my wife getting... When water temperatures were in a restricted area of scouting and many trips down the river we a!

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