Fishing Status: Good (cold and windy, but possible)

1.) 2008 is about to pack it in and head on out at midnight, while 2009 takes it's shoes off and stays awhile.... I can't believe it's almost 2009. Where has the time gone?!?!

2.) As you probably now, especially if you step outside here in the Carolinas...IT'S COLD. I know all of you in the Northeastern and northern Plains states are finding this hysterical...(no 10 below readings down here, but for us, 30's for highs is mighty chilly. With all of the cold, fly fishing in the mountains may not be at it's best sometimes. With days in the lower 20's and nights occasionally dipping into the single digits and even into the negative single digits, there are a few fly fisherman that would rather pull up a chair and tie from sunrise 'till sunset. A pastor of a church up in VA is an avid fly fisherman and asked me to put together some flies that are ideal for the area that he fishes (mostly the SW VA/NE TN streams including the Clinch (now unfortunately full of sludge), Cumberland, SoHo, e.t.c. So I through a few Adams, Copper Johns, Golden Stones, San Juans, one of my simple but favorite patterns, the Inch Juan Worm, and a few streamer patterns into a box that would be perfect for the type of fishing he does. 2 weeks later he sent a thankyou card stating that it was cruel and heartless giving a fly fisherman 2 dozen new flies in the middle of the Winter time...It was great!! I'll have to talk to him when it warms up a little and plan a trip somewhere up his way.... I haven't fished the New River for smallies in a while.

Fishing Status: good

1.) Tomorrow's New Year's Eve...What's my resolution you may ask? To catch bigger fish, and tie more flies. We'll see if it is accomplished or not. I will probably (well, weather permitting) head out to the Davidson River in order to sharpen up my angling skills albeit the forecasted temps are in the 40's.(in other words, I'm aiming to hook that New Year's resolution trout on New Year's Day) It'll be great to get out and put my pair of Simms on and have at it.

2.) I'm going to start a "fishing status of the day" section to each blog. Really just a spot at the top of each post that states if the fly fishing up in the mountains is good, mostly in terms of the water levels, weather, and "fishability" of the trout streams in the mnts. If the conditions are ideal for the trout and fisherman alike, the status will be Excellent. If the weather is fine, but not ideal, and the water levels are a little low or a little high, the status will be good. Now, if the weather is not at it's best (i.e. too cold, too hot, rainy), it will considered slow, and a short summary of why it's slow. Last but not least, Horrible. It's a strong word, especially in the fly fishing world and you will see it only if #1. the fish grow wings and fly away 2. All of the stream become completely dry and void of all fish. or 3. The temperature drops to 50 below zero and you need ice fishing rigs to catch the trout. I doubt any of these will happen, and I hope they really don't!!!

3.) The fishing report hasn't really changed since the last post, really, you should experiment with your arsenal of patterns and find the best fly for the situation. The water is still up, so be careful and don't try to cross what looks like a safe spot to do so without double checking first.

4.) If you live in western NC or adjacent to, Friday morning may be a little icy. The weather folks say sleet and freezing rain may arrive into the region during a time period of lower 30's. It's possible, but still on the unlikely side for now. Just keep this in mind when out early Friday morning.

1.) Great weather over here in Vols country (Etowah, TN). It was cloudy and drizzly when we headed out to the 11 o'clock service at church, but it has really cleared up tremendously. Charlotte is now seeing the rain we saw overnight, as the cold front progresses eastward. Rain has really helped to keep the streams and rivers up at normal flows. We haven't seen flooding out of the last few storm systems, which is what we want. It takes some time for the drought to end, and with the consistent precipitation, it won't be much longer until the deficits are wiped off the board if the pattern continues. Nashville folks had some extremely rough weather last night with the BIG thunderstorms that rolled in around midnight. Everything broke up a little bit as it moved across the mountains, but most people did see some rain.

2.) I have been cracking down on fly casting over the past few days. I have a new Sage FLI rod, which has a fast action , and possesses a lot of quality to it. Madison River Fishing Co. out in Ennis, MT had their FLI's on sale, so I bought one. I trust MRFC, because they have provided my grandad and my great grandad with great flies and gear when they took trips out to MT. When I was in their shop, they were very helpful, knowledgeable, and had a lot of innovative western patterns that I really liked. They were also true "trout bums" like I am. They picked a great location to manage a fly shop.

3.) My family and I went out to grab some last minute gifts, and EVERYONE had a Tennessee Volunteers hat, t-shirt, coat or something of the like. There are some real Vols fans over here. Tennessee's a great team on the field and on the court.

4.) If you plan on fishing today or tomorrow, most streams are up and flowing relatively fast, so be careful when around them. If possible, try not to even step into the water. Not only will you keep yourself from losing your footing, you will also be less likely to spook the trout. With the water up, tie on a big nymph or a streamer and drop it into a riffle, seam, or into a pool. You may be able to use 4x due to the stained and high water, but 5 and 6x will probably be a safe bet.

5.) Panthers are playing right now, but since I'm in Tennessee, the Titans are on Fox instead of the Panthers, so I'm watching the Rams-Falcons game, so I can keep track of Carolina's score during halftime, and in game highlights.

1.) Christmas Eve is upon us, in fact I'm posting this at midnight, so politically speaking, it's Christmas morning. Got back from the Christmas Eve service here in Etowah, great stuff, really brings out the Christmas holidays in many people. For some reason, it just hit me, it's seriously Christmas, and we're almost through with 2008.

2.) Rain is moving across the Southeast, and many streams will see a boost in water levels. I sincerely hope we don't get flooding rains...just enough to keep the rivers/streams at their appropriate levels.

3.) According to Trout Zone, the Clinch River up in Kingston TN experienced a contaminant issue with the Kingston Coal Plant. It's now spreading downstream, and the fishery is declining in.... well..."fishability" if you will. TVA is studying the accident, and hopefully they will resolve the disaster.

4.) On with the report..... Fishing in east TN/west NC is not too bad, and if you don't mind the rain, it's great. Given the cloudy, rainy, dreary conditions, make sure you have a few BWO's in your fly box. I would go with a size range of 18-24 for Olives. Emergers will also be a prominent food source for the trout, so of course either tie or buy some emerger BWO's. A great fly to try would be Davie's Evil Weevil. The recipe is over in the right hand corner of the page. Not a hard fly to whip up, and not a hard fly to fish. The Davie's has dual purposes, meaning it can be used as different insects. Not only does it represent a BWO, it can also represent a caddis in it's pupal stage. Flies with dual purposes will increase your odds of catching, as the fish can the fly as two differnent insects. Also it's convenient for the fly fisherman....Most of the fish will be on the bottom of the stream this time of year, tie on the DEW and put a few split shots (depending on how deep and fast the water is...) I put my SS's approximately 8-12 inches above my fly, but you are free to adjust the width between the two. If your indicator isn't going under, and you haven't caught anything yet (or hanging up on the bottom) you're most likely not reaching the trout's preferred feeding zone, so add another split shot or two and see if that works.

5.) Merry Christmas to all, and tight lines.

1.) Man alive am I glad it's Friday. I have 2 weeks off, so I will be out of town to see family in Tennessee. I may squeeze in a little fishing, but can't tell for sure. I should post a few times during next week, but don't know. If you have the chance, go fishing up in the mountains. It hasn't been this warm since what, Halloween? The water temps are PERFECT right now... most streams are in the 60's, with mid 50's in the higher elevations. Water level is at it's best, and most trout streams are at or a little above average. Here's a few of the popular stream's water levels...

• Davidson River @ Brevard...119..average is 111 cfs
• Watauga River @ Sugar Grove...125...average is 140 (not bad at all)
• Tuckasegee River @ Cullowhee...771...average is 441 (mostly because of the generators
• Jacob Fork @ Ramsey...32 cfs...average is 38 cfs
• Nantahala @ Rainbow Springs...249...average is 200
• South Toe River @ Celo...188...average is 114
• Oconaluftee River @ Birdtown...720...average is 535
• Cataloochee Creek @Cataloochee NC...173...average is 97

With all of this "higher than normal" water, use large nymphs and streamers, and watch for BWO's. Also don't be surprised if other bugs hatch out that aren't supposed to due to the warm weather. All of the warmth will come to an end starting Monday, as temps will take a dive to into the upper 30's for highs on Monday. Christmas Eve will be cool with a few showers for the fat guy in red, looks like mid 50's, and Christmas will be dry with mid 50's.

2.) Montana and Richmond play this evening in the FCS Championsip game. I hope Montana will take a win back to Missoula, they've done very well this season.

3.) Finally, the Panthers play on Sunday night in the Meadowlands against the 11-3 Giants. I will be glued to the TV.

Here's a few pictures from my last trip to the Smokies for a little fishing. All of these pics (and fish) were taken on the Little River, not far from the Tremont Institute inside the park.

Just got an email from Simms, and they were advertising all of the great new gear coming straight out of Bozeman, MT. Their new StramTread wading shoes are new and are already on their site ready to be ordered. Simms is a great fly fishing company. They really do their best to bring the upmost quality in ALL of their products. Try a pair of G4's on or slip on one of their Freestone wading shoes. Trust me, you won't be dissapointed.

It's that time of year. Yes Christmas, but to us fly fisherman, Winter brings these two reliable aquatic insects: the Blue Wing Olives (Baetis) and midges (Diptera). In fact, these two aquatic insects may be the only consistent bugs hatching throughout the winter in NC. Sure, you may see small Black Stones or even early Quill Gordons sporadically hatching on the river if water temperatures are at 50 degrees of above for a week. If you have lived in North Carolina for a period of time you know that the weather is very unpredictable. We can get a full fledged snowstorm one day and then 3 days later make the transition to 50's and 60's for highs with sunny skies. Always be prepared...


---Blue Wing Olives---
BWO nymphs are swimmers, which means they can freely swim in the stream by use of their strong tails to propel themselves. Olive's tend to hatch when the water temperature is hovering at or above 40 F. They also tend to hatch when the weather is cloudy and rainy. These bugs are usually small. They can grow to about a #16 (which is large), but #20-24 "ish" are more abundant. Like all members of the Ephemeroptera family or mayfly family, the BWO's life cycle consists of 8 stages. First the eggs hatch into young nymphs that migrate to the underside of a submerged rock. The nymph then matures, while at the same time growing in size. The nymph makes a run to the surface of the stream after hatching from the egg. This time the insect emerges from it's nymphal shuck, and "stands" in the surface film to dry it's wings. This stage is it's Dun or subimago stage. The subimago stage is represented by a dry fly, which "stands" on the water. After this, the BWO will crawl onto streamside vegetation and completely shed it's nymphal shuck. Large groups of BWO's then mate and lay their eggs. At this stage they are called spinners, and are recognized by their transparent wings. The Spinner stage is followed by death, and the dying mayflies lay on the water, with their wings flat across the water's surface. The Emergence stage through the Spinner stage is completed in one day. Sometimes only hours.


---Midges---
Midges are extremely important to trout in the long, cold, lifeless winters of the environment they live in. People often mistaken these bugs with the common mosquito. Both are extremely similar in size shape and life cycle, but midges don't bite; their harmless. Midges will hatch regardless of the temperature, thus giving the trout a constant food source throughout the winter. The life cycle of a midge is a little different than mayflies, as these guys are similar to caddisflies. They have a larval stage, where they bury themselves in the riverbed, usually in a slow, calm section of the stream. After this stage, they transform into a pupae, and swim to the surface. This is the most vulnerable stage where a trout will happily pick them out before the insects make it to the surface. The bugs that make it to the top, will hatch into adults. Most midges are in the 20-28 size range. Although, a few species of midges can grow to a size 16 or 14. But, your common midge is going to be tiny. Griffith's Gnats, midge dries, and midge clusters are ideal flies for the adult stage, while disco midges and Zebra Midges are great for the larval and pupal stages.

I hope this has cleared up two of the most important aquatic insects that you will likely encounter, if you fly fish in the cold and snow.

1.) Just checked out the USGS water flows, and the Davidson River is at 129 cfs. The "D" is flowing above average by only 7 cfs, but still, the trout aren't as skittish, and you can actually cast your line without scaring the giant browns and rainbows. It's still possible to tie on those black stonefly nymphs and Zonkers, but as the water is gradually receding, switch to the PT nymphs and BWO nymphs. You also may get by with 5x due to the higher water levels, but to be safe go with 6x.

2.) Montana is in for a pretty big blizzard over the next few days. 30-40 mph winds, and EXTREME cold are on tap for Big Sky Country. West Yellowstone is sitting at -2 with wind chill values at -19 degrees. Billings is currently at -6 with a wind chill of -26!! Doesn't matter though, the Montana Grizzlies are heading to Chattanooga to take on the Richmond Spiders in the FCS championship game Friday night....I wish I could find tickets...so it goes...

3.) Everyone have a great day, and I will post after the Panthers/Broncos game at 4:15 on CBS.

Click to enlarge....

1.) This storm system has been an extremely rare one. When was the last time you saw New Orleans, Houston, Baton Rogue, and extreme ("gulf-front" counties) receive upwards of 6 inches of SNOW!!! Yeah, snow...I'm not kidding, the visibility was down to less than a 1/2 a mile in New Orleans due to the snow. What happened was the cold air aloft in the storm was pulled down to ground level..not something you see everyday, allowing for HEAVY, HEAVY snow. Global Warming....OKAY, Al Gore. Here in Charlotte we were on the warm sector of the storm, which in return allowed storms to fire off.

2.) Nonetheless, much needed rain has really helped for short term drought in the NC mountains. Fly fishing will be GREAT the next few days. Trout are ready to pounce on any fly that is big, bulky, and gaudy. Zonkers and Woolly Buggers are a great choice if you want to catch that big wary brown. Temps are up, mid to upper 50's, but it won't be too long before those temps take a nose dive back into the 20's. A cold front is expected this weekend, making Saturday and Sunday chilly. Saturday morning will be well below freezing, around the mid 20's, so black ice and slippery roadways will possibly make it a treacherous ride to work. Some mountain counties will see a few inches of snow, as the wrap around moisture well, "wraps around the NC mountains, a few inches may accumulate. Hey, the trout won't mind, so layer up and hit the stream, or pull up to your bench and do some tying. If you do go fishing, work the riffles and seams...these will be your best option. If your stream is muddy, PLEASE, PLEASE, use that 4x...heck, I'd even go down to 2 or 3x. 6 and 7x is just not a good route to take when water is high and cloudy. I have seen numerous people fishing in stained to muddy water, and using that light tippet. I don't want you to catch that monster brown trout, and lose the battle all because of 6x tippet. Use the opportunity as your advantage.

3.) I can't believe it's almost Christmas. Time flies by. Flies...no pun intended....yeah I know HA HA HA, hold the laughter. Anywho, everyone have a great evening and more tomorrow.

Season 1

1. THE # ONE tip is to dress in layers. I like to use Under Armour or Simms Waderwick under a regular long sleeve fishing shirt, with either a quality wading jacket or a moisture wicking fleece. Don't forget those Glacier Gloves either. Layers will allow you to stay warm during the coldest part of fishing, until the air warms up a little, and you need to shed a layer or two.


2. Remember when fly fishing for trout, always use the appropriate amount of weight corresponding to the water depth and the trout's preferred feeding lane (which usually isn't too impressive this time of year).


3. Use dark colored flies. In the Winter, the insects trout feed on are for the most part, small and dark colored. There aren't any light cahills and light hendricksons in December, so think according to the season.


4. One of the best things you can do to catch trout in the Winter, is to make sure the fly nearly hits the trout. If your fly is 4 feet away from a fish in 25 degree weather, he's not going to race over across the pool and through the riffle to grab it....wastes too much precious energy.


5. Try a point fly and a dropper. A small white Wolly Bugger with about 6 inches of tippet tied to the hook bend followed by a small (# 18-22) beadhead PT nymph should be perfect.


6. Lastly, forget about the cold...I know what your thinking..(YEAH RIGHT).. but if you can concentrate on catching the fish, things may lighten up a bit.

I like fishing in the Winter. I remember a few times when I fished on the Jacob's Fork in downright frigid conditions, but regardless, this past February the trout were all netted and all of them willingly ate small midges and San Juan Worms. Also, if your a hatchery supported kind o' angler, there are PLENTY of trout for you to catch. Most of the time, by June, the fish are all gone, and albeit the hatchery trucks come once a month in many streams, a lot of anglers will follow the truck around until they put the trout in the river.

3.) Anywho, everyone have a great day and I will do my best to update tomorrow.

The trout streams are back up, and are a lot better than yesterday's readings. Fly fishing will be prime over the next few days, so get out on the river and enjoy.

Here are the USGS water levels in NC.....

• Davidson River @ Brevard... 113 cfs
• Tuckasegee River @ Cullowhee...280 cfs
• Watauga River @ Sugar Grove...115 cfs
• Cataloochee Creek @ Cataloochee... 70 cfs
• Nantahala River @ Rainbow Springs... 177 cfs
• Oconaluftee River @ Birdtown... 488 cfs
• Linville River @ Nebo...76 cfs
• South Toe River @Celo...140 cfs

• Davidson River @ Brevard...38 cfs



• Tuckasegee River @ Cullowhee...313 cfs



• Watauga River @ Sugar Grove...58 cfs



• Cataloochee Creek @ Cataloochee... 26



• Nantahala River @ Rainbow Springs... 82 cfs
  


• Oconaluftee River @ Birdtown... 130 cfs



• Linville River @ Nebo... 60 cfs



• South Toe River @Celo... 67 cfs

Now, lets see what the flows reach by tomorrow... I'll post tomorow evening.

3.) This weekend looks very interesting. I just now was able to review the new model data, and the GFS, European, and Canadian models are suggesting a BIG snowstorm to roll on through the western Carolinas. Let me stress, way up in the air, and purely hype as of this post, but hey, good conversation starters around the water cooler/trout stream this week. NC is one of the if not the hardest place to predict snow with the mountains to the west, the ocean to the east, and the Gulf of Mexico a good ways off to the south. The Gulf is where most of our good snowstorms originate, and if there are strong thunderstorms associated with the cold front down along the Gulf states, the moisture transport is cut off, thus, less moisture and less snow. There are countless ingredients that all have to fall in line perfectly for snow to fall in the Piedmont. Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, the Plains states don't necessarily suffer from the same lack of snow as we do, because the geographic layout isn't as diverse. With that being said, let me ask you one question...what other state has a mountain region, a Piedmont, a coastal plain, and the ocean?

4.) More tomorrow after the Carolina-Greenbay game.

This are 5 great tips on preparing for Winter fly fishing by Kevin Howell--owner of Davidson River Outfitters, Pisgah Forest, NC.

5 Tips For Staying Warm on the River
by Kevin Howell of Davidson River Outfitters

Well, winter has finally arrived in the mountains; the fishing however is still decent. But you can get into real trouble, if you are not dressed properly. Here are some things that I do for winter fishing that will help you stay warm and safe.

1.) Dress in layers. this way you can take layers off as the day gets warmer and you will still be warm in the am.

2.) Wear fleece or wool. that way if you get wet they will retain your warmth.

3.) Always carry matches or a device to start a fire. I typically carry a railroad flare, even when wet it can start a fire. If you fall in the winter you have roughly half as long as the water temperature before hypothermia sets in. So if you or your fishing partner falls in, get out on the bank, start a fire to stay warm, and dry your clothes.

4.) Keep you head and hands warm. Most of the body’s heat is lost through the head, so wear a toboggan, watch cap, or Elmer Fudd Hat (bombers hat). Use fleece or wool gloves with only the fingers that you need to use cut out. Most people leave the stream because their hands are cold, a little preventative measure will enable you to fish that much longer!

5.) Keep your feet warm. wear heavy wool or fleece socks under neoprene boots, but be sure that they wick moisture away from your feet. If not, the moisture will make your feet cold. Also be sure to wear loose fitting boots, boots that are too tight will cut off the circulation to your feet resulting in cold feet.

1.) Panthers didn't pull it off yesterday....what can you do. I'm still a big fan, but it's games like this that don't exactly make you proud of being a Carolina fan. Sigh, maybe next Sunday when we play Green Bay. Oh yeah UNC Tar Heels lost BIG TIME to NC State Saturday. Score was41-10. Another sigh. They're currently sitting at 7-4. UNC's taking the 10 minute trip over to Durham from Chapel Hill to play Duke.

2.) It has been a dreary cool/cold day here in the Piedmont. A cold front is creeping into the area as I type and with it a pretty healthy amount of rain.... If we only had cold!! Speaking of cold and rain, the first half of December looks very interesting...I'm not going to go much farther...but, precip and cold air in December...a few bouts at some Wintry Precip here in the Carolinas possible. We'll see, as the GFS is almost always forecasting some unbelievably weird things 15 days out. Until the NAM and EURO agrees the GFS, it's all HYPE right now.

3.) Not much to report fishing wise, rivers will rise a little, nothing major, and maybe a few BWO's will hatch out, but given the cold temps, stick with those nymphs. BH nymphs won't hurt either, as you need to get the fly down to the trout's preferred feeding lane. Thanksgiving looks nice, temps will be on the chilly side, but sunny skies will allow for a decent day on the water. Just remember to layer up, and don't fall in.

4.) Everyone have a good day, and more tomorrow.

1.) Well, well, well, snow did in fact fall overnight...not much, but like mentioned yesterday, the Iredell, Rowan, Triad, and Triangle folks did get their first ACCUMULATING snowfall. Yup, you read right. Triad and Triangle received upwards of an inch to an inch and a half of the white stuff. As for Charlotte and the immediate areas, just a few flurries and a couple isolated heavier snow flurries/very light snow fell. I noticed the roads were wet, but no accumulating snow for Kannapolis, but fun to see if you were up early this morning.

1.) It's now our turn to see our first flakes here in the Charlotte area. When you might ask? Well, tonight maybe, to tell you the truth. Nothing significant, but there will probably be some flurries, with possibly a few short heavier bursts of snow. If we do get the burst of heavy snow, a few communities may wake up to a light dusting. Mr. Crum, Chief Meteorologist over at News 14 Carolina says the same thing, adding that areas like North Cabarrus, Iredell, north Stanly, and Rowan will be especially conducive for a little taste of snow. It will be perfect Again not a lot, and no need to sprint to the grocery store for the bread and milk. The bread and Milk run will have to wait for a few weeks. If you see snow, feel free to report it in the comment box below.

Pic courtesy of the Blue Ridge Blog . Excellent picture of light dusting of snow in the WNC mountains...

1.) I want to start off by mentioning the snow flurries and light snow showers the folks over in the Triangle have received. Of course the snow wasn't heavy enough to support accumulations, but it really is cool to see, especially this early in the season. Average first snowfall for non mountain/lower elevation areas in the Piedmont is usually December 31st on out...not the case this year. Again nothing big, but a few flakes may fly around in the Triad and Triangle areas. I have seen reports of a few flakes close to the Fayettville area. Snow flurries have not made it into the Charlotte vicinity, but, not completely out of the question to see a few of what I like to call "flattered flow snurries". If you see any snow, please feel free to report it in the comment box. The main weather theme today is the COLD air that has dropped out of Canada. As of 4:00 Charlotte's temperature is at 39 degrees! Most spots struggled to make it to the 45 degree mark today. Tonight...you think today was cold...21 is the low for tonight. A few areas may make it down to 19 early tomorrow morning. We did not make it down to the lower 20's last night, because the winds were to strong to allow for any major radiational cooling, thus, frost wasn't an issue this morning. Tomorrow morning will be a whole different ball game, as the winds die down. Get used to the cold weather, looks like Old Man Winter has taken his shoes off and is staying awhile. Thanksgiving looks cold, and virtually, the rest of the month into early December looks below average temperature wise.





2.) Well, the GFS has really loosened up on the whole snowstorm thing this weekend...yeah...most likely not going to happen. It's the GFS' fault...it always plays with our minds. Maybe it's still in hibernation, waiting to release it's energy? Maybe it's just wrong, and we get dumped on? Who knows, I'll watch it. Early December may be the one, again GFS may just be playing tricks. We'll see.





3.) If you decide to go wet a line in the mountains, put on those breathable waders, and layer up, that water's literally freezing! Also make sure you wear that wading belt at all times in the water. If you fall in, and the water goes over your waders, it will take only 45 seconds for the first signs of hypothermia take place. Take an extra pair of clothes with you. The good thing about fly fishing in the Winter months (well, fishing in cold weather), is that the stream is usually deserted. There won't be any tubers, or swimmers, and a few die-hard local fisherman may be around, but in general, not many.





4.) Have a great day, and more tomorrow.

1.) There are some nasty looking storms down in SC as I type. The cell farthest west prompted a tornado warning a few hours ago just south of Atlanta. Weather folks don't think tornadoes are a danger here in Charlotte, but one has to wonder, these storms are agitated, and they have the southern Piedmont in their sights. Make sure you turn on that NOAA weather radio tonight, and make sure the batteries have enough juice in them...I have to find batteries for mine, I mean I've got tons of radios, but a majority of them are deprived of a power source.

2.) Congrats to the Endeavor crew as they lifted off at 7:55 eastern time. Everything looked good except for the white room door that wouldn't close ( I tell ya doors never seem to close the way you want them to nowadays)....still, the crew made it up into space and are now en route to a rendezvous with the ISS. I noticed that Mission Control wished the Crew a happy Thanksgiving above Earth. I sincerely hope the crew can catch the turkey in space without gravity.

Sporting Fly and Bob Jacklin - Funny bloopers R us

Kev W Fork Rel Hero Shot - Watch a funny movie here

1.) Here comes the rain today, sometimes heavy. There has been several heavy pockets of heavy rain across the Charlotte area as the day unfolded. Thunderstorms look to be possible later this evening through the early part of Saturday morning...say through 6-8. The rain has really helped in terms of the drought, and streams will be up a little once again (also dropping once again very quickly).

Here are a few selected USGS water flows for streams/rivers in NC.

• Davidson River (the D) @ Brevard NC...39 cfs
• French Broad River @ Rosman NC...84 cfs
• Tuckasegee River (the Tuck) @ Cullowhee NC...88 cfs
• Watauga River (the 'tauga) @ Sugar Grove NC...76 cfs
• Nantahala River @ Rainbow Springs NC...58 cfs
• South Fork of the New @ Jefferson NC...384 cfs ( average 344)
• Jacob Fork @ Ramsey NC...13 cfs (average 34)

To sum it all up, the water may be muddy in a few streams, but the water is higher, and the temps are optimum for the trout.

2.) After the rain clears use PT nymphs, Lightning Bugs, Copper Johns, and small BWO nymph (using BH's may be your best option, so that fly will stay on the bottom of the stream, where the trout are feeding at.) You may get away with a small adjustment in tippet sizes, but let me stress, I would not advise anything heavier than 4X, unless the water is low in clarity because of the mud. Stop by the nearest fly shop and ask about the rivers recommended in the area, and if they're worth putting those waders on.

Check this out, another great article with great maps for this Winter...once again another impressive outlook for cold and snow across the Carolinas. I think that with the number of Winter outlooks showing a snowy, old fashioned Winter, we may be on to something. Another thing, is the increased potential for a major ice storm somewhere in the southern Appalachians, through Atlanta and here in the Piedmont, which includes Charlotte. Snow is what we want. Snow good, ice not so good, (anyway you look at it, you can't have snowball fight with ice, unless you want to be in the hospital). Of course this could all turn to the worst and we see but only one snowflake or something along those lines, but for now, keep hope alive... we should have at least a few good Winter weather (snow) events....I hope. Again, check out the link and see what you think.

http://www.nowpublic.com/world/weatheramerica-2008-2009-winter-season-forecast

1.) It is finally the first day of November. Leaves are really starting to become fire red and orange thanks to the very chilly nights lately. Highs here in NC have been pleasant with upper 60's and low 70's today. Tomorrow, we will be in the upper to mid 60's, so a little adjustment in the temps. But hold on.... cold air will charge into the lower 48 sometime late next week, and with it, we'll have a flashback of what we saw a few days ago. If we could just get some rain.... I mean we already have the cold, so where is the rain?!?!

1.) Today is the day for door ringing and tricker treatin'. All I have to say is make sure your bowl is adequately filled to the brim with candy. Tonight will be a busy Halloween, because it's Friday night, no school for kids tomorrow...more tricker treaters. It won't be brutally cold like it has been the past few nights, but the upper 30's may prompt a few people to take that jacket out of the closet. Tomorrow will be bright and warm with highs in the mid to lower 70's. Fishing should be great this weekend. The cold will be back, so don't get accustomed to seeing 70's.... next weekend we will be back into the low 30's for night.

2.) This year has absolutely flown past me. I think the fact that Christmas is only 2 months away is scary. If I'm not mistaken, Christmas music will start tomorrow on a few radio stations!?!? For some reason, they always start Christmas music WAY to early. The first song played on the first weekend of November last year.

3.) Anywho...fishing isn't bad at all. The trout are attacking anything that remotely looks like a morsel of food. Present a small streamer, or a black stonefly nymph to the fish, and I guarantee you they will be on the end of your fly rod in a heartbeat....as long as you use light tippets, and a stealthy approach to the river. I would fish the pocket water, seams, riffles, and heck...try the slow pools.

4.) More tomorrow...Panthers are off on Sunday with a bye week (which they truly deserve), so we will have to wait until next Sunday when they fly to Oakland to attempt to take another win back to Charlotte.

5.) Election day is Tuesday...Hmmm...Obama or McCain....McCrory or Hagan... I'm glad I'm not 18 just yet, I wouldn't have a clue as to who I would get my vote... more tomorrow.

1.) It has been a very chilly couple of nights here in the Piedmont. The mountains received about 1-3 inches of snow on Monday and Tuesday. Snow is just not supposed to fall in October here in the south...of course it's welcomed, but not normal. Folks up in the Triangle and Triad saw their first few pellets of sleet on Monday. Nothing much, but enough to show what old man Winter has in store for us. I have been studying various 08-09 Winter outlooks, and frankly, Winter does look like it's back. December and then again in February looks to be the best months for cold and snow. Both months show above average precipitation, and below normal temperatures. One guy is mentioning a NC snowstorm somewhere between December 5-12. Only time will tell, but....still interesting for us snow fanatics.

Winter Weather Advisory


URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
256 PM EDT MON OCT 27 2008

NCZ033-048>052-280300-
/O.NEW.KGSP.WW.Y.0006.081028T0300Z-081028T1800Z/
AVERY-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEWLAND...SPRUCE PINE...CHEROKEE...
WAYNESVILLE
256 PM EDT MON OCT 27 2008
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO
2 PM EDT TUESDAY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW FOR PORTIONS OF THE NORTH
CAROLINA MOUNTAIN COUNTIES BORDERING TENNESSEE...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 2 PM EDT TUESDAY.
NORTHWESTERLY WINDS WILL BRING INCREASING AMOUNTS OF MOISTURE INTO
THE NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS TONIGHT AND TUESDAY. THE COMBINATION
OF MOISTURE AND UNSEASONABLY COLD TEMPERATURES WILL RESULT IN SNOW
SHOWERS BEGINNING THIS EVENING AND LASTING INTO THE EARLY
AFTERNOON HOURS ON TUESDAY.
COUNTIES ALONG THE TENNESSEE BORDER WILL SEE THE GREATEST COVERAGE
OF SNOW SHOWERS. ELEVATIONS ABOVE ABOUT 3000 FEET COULD SEE 1 TO 2
INCHES OF SNOW BY THE TIME THE SNOW SHOWERS TAPER OFF IN THE
AFTERNOON. LESS SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED IN LOWER ELEVATION VALLEY
LOCATIONS. HOWEVER...WITH TEMPERATURES FALLING WELL BELOW FREEZING
TONIGHT...SLICK SPOTS ARE LIKELY TO DEVELOP ON BRIDGES AND
OVERPASSES IN MANY AREAS.
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW
WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW
COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

1.) Here in the Charlotte area, it really hasn't rained a whole lot today. Rain is really confined to eastern NC and Western NC. Not much precip in the middle. Maybe the wedge that is on the east side of the mountains are breaking up the moisture...who knows.

2.) Next week you will be able to say "it's freezing out there" without having to worry about being politically incorrect/correct. Mt. Mitchell, the highest point in North America east of the Black Hills of South Dakota, will see upper teens and low 20's. Weather.com is forecasting 21 for the state park, which isn't completely on the summit of the 6,684 ft mountain, so the peak will likely see anywhere from 19-21 degrees on Monday-Thursday mornings. Here in the Piedmont, lows will make it down to the low to mid 30's. Highs will struggle to hit the 50 degree mark in some places.

3.) Take a look at the website posted below. They are saying the Southeast may receive a decent snowstorm somewhere between December 6-12.....Take a look and see what you think.

4.) More tomorrow.

1.) Wow, did it feel chilly this morning...or for the day as a matter of fact. Temps this morning were reading anywhere from 38-42, with a light breeze overnight, so that frost didn't have enough time to settle. Still, it was on the cold side though. Tomorrow it will be most likely one of the chillest days we have experienced since late March. The Weather Channel is calling for an 80% chance of rain, and 54 degree temperatures here in Charlotte. Local forecasters here are still holding strong that once the rain moves in, we may drop to the upper 40's for much of the day tomorrow. The really cold stuff holds off until Tuesday-Thursday. Tuesday and Wednesday night we will be in the upper 20's and low 30's. I would bet frost will be possible those mornings. If this rain would just holdoff until Tuesday night, we would have snow, ice, or sleet falling by Wednesday morning. This Fall has been an abnormally cold one...maybe an omen of what this
Winter will look like?

2.) I'm glad that rain is on it's way...we need it!! The trout streams are extremely low, and this will change by tomorrow evening. 1-2 inches of rain is enough to substantially boost a river back up to at or above normal stages. Ofcourse, get out on the stream soon, because that water is going to immeditely start dropping after the rain stops. I would use big, gaudy streamers, and large #6-10 black stonefly nymphs. Until the water starts rising, fish the riffles and faster water, with 5-6X tippet.

1.) It was cold here in the Charlotte area. We got down to 33 degrees, when I checked the thermometer at 7 AM. We probably made it to the freezing mark last night as well. Boone dropped to 30 last night, while Asheville went down to 35. Tomorrow will be a few degrees warmer (72), but nothing out of the ordinary. The average first frost for Charlotte is early November, but obviously ma nature couldn't wait another week and a half.

2.) Today is a good day, after the Panthers won yesterday. I'm really glad they took the win.

3.) Fishing hasn't been at it's best here in NC, but you should still have some luck out on the trout stream. The trout are hungry, so really, try what fly you think will work...PT nymphs, Hare's ears, Stonefly nymphs, and so on. We are now getting to that time of year, where nymphs are really the best flies to use, given the cold water. That being said, dries are not completely out of the question, if there are cloudy skies and cool temps...BWO's may hatch out...and the usual midge activity. 5-7x tippet is good, and you generally don't have to beat the early bird, and be on the water at 6 AM...8:45-10:00 is a good starting time due to the cold water. Let the sun reach the surface, and warm the water up a little, before you start fishing. Take a thermometer with you, and take temperatures, and find when the most productive part of the day is.

4.) More manana

1.) Man, was it cold last night. 39 was the low. Many places up in the mountains were in the lower 30's. We are going to repeat it over again tonight, as temps are going to plummet to into the lower 30's here in the Charlotte area. A frost advisory is in place tonight until 9:00 tomorrow morning. It would be the first frost of the season here in the Queen City area. I don't think grasshoppers will work up on the trout streams. The hoppers are dead after a few frosts have already hit the mountains. Stick with nymphs and you should do fine.

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGENATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
910 AM EDT SUN OCT 19 2008

NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-508-SCZ007>009-013-014-192100-/O.CON.KGSP.FR.Y.0008.081020T0400Z-081020T1300Z/ALEXANDER-IREDELL-DAVIE-CATAWBA-ROWAN-CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-GASTON-MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-UNION NC-GREATER RUTHERFORD-SPARTANBURG-CHEROKEE-YORK-UNION SC-CHESTER-INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...STATESVILLE...MOCKSVILLE...HICKORY...SALISBURY...SHELBY...LINCOLNTON...GASTONIA...CHARLOTTE...CONCORD...MONROE...RUTHERFORD...SPARTANBURG...GAFFNEY...ROCK HILL...UNION...CHESTER910 AM EDT SUN OCT 19 2008...FROST ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AMEDT MONDAY...A FROST ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AMEDT MONDAY FOR THE WESTERN PIEDMONT AND SOUTHERN FOOTHILLS OFNORTH CAROLINA...AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA BETWEEN SPARTANBURGAND CHESTER.HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE REGION TODAY AND REMAIN OVERTHE AREA FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS. WITH CLEAR SKIES AND CALM WINDS...TEMPERATURES TONIGHT ARE EXPECTED TO FALL INTO THE MID 30S ACROSSMUCH OF THE NORTH CAROLINA PIEDMONT AS WELL AS THE EASTERNPORTIONS OF UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA. THIS WILL RESULT INWIDESPREAD FROST...ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS.A FROST ADVISORY MEANS THAT FROST IS POSSIBLE. SENSITIVE OUTDOORPLANTS MAY BE KILLED IF LEFT UNCOVERED.

2.) Off to the Panthers game, more later.

I found this on Youtube, and I had to post it. This is great...Mark Mathis was crazy when it came to weather.

1.) Right now the state of NC is experiencing a taste of Winter, as temperatures are down into the 50's today. Here in Kannapolis it is 56, and an hour ago it was 59, so obviously the temps are dropping pretty quick. Up in the mountains some folks are in the mid to upper 40's. Boone is at 47 right now, and it has been in the upper 40's all day up that way. Freeze watches and frost advisories are posted for most of the mountain counties, because Monday morning they are expected to see upper 20's and low 30's. Charlotte and towns surrounding the Queen City will fall into the mid to upper 30's Monday morning....so cold stuff for sure. These kind of temps are average for Christmas time and beyond. I'm ready for the snow, cold, and Winter. We are currently 15 degrees colder than Billings, Montana, where they are at 71!



URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
318 PM EDT SAT OCT 18 2008
NCZ033-048>052-058-059-062-063-190315-
/O.CON.KGSP.FZ.W.0006.081019T0400Z-081019T1300Z/
/O.CON.KGSP.FZ.A.0004.081020T0400Z-081020T1300Z/
AVERY-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-GRAHAM-
NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEWLAND...SPRUCE PINE...CHEROKEE...
WAYNESVILLE...SYLVA...FRANKLIN
318 PM EDT SAT OCT 18 2008
...FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM
EDT SUNDAY...
...FREEZE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH
MONDAY MORNING...
A FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM
EDT SUNDAY. A FREEZE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE SUNDAY
NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY MORNING.
HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS...AND
SOUTHWARD ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS AND LOWER FRENCH BROAD
VALLEY OF NORTH CAROLINA...BY LATE TONIGHT. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO
DIMINISH AFTER MIDNIGHT...WITH CLEARING SKIES. VALLEYS AND HIGHER
ELEVATIONS IN THE WARNING AREA ARE EXPECTED TO SEE LOW
TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 20S TO LOW 30S.
HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN CENTERED OVER THE REGION SUNDAY
NIGHT...WITH LOW TEMPERATURES ONCE AGAIN EXPECTED TO FALL INTO THE
UPPER 20S TO LOW 30S. HOWEVER...THE COLDEST TEMPERATURES WILL BE
IN THE VALLEYS ON SUNDAY NIGHT.
ALTHOUGH TEMPERATURES MAY BE COLD ENOUGH TO END THE GROWING SEASON
IN MUCH OF THE WARNING AREA TONIGHT...THE FREEZE WATCH AND LATER
FREEZE WARNINGS WILL STILL BE ISSUED FOR SUNDAY NIGHT UNTIL IT CAN
BE CONFIRMED THAT A WIDESPREAD FREEZE HAS OCCURRED.
A FREEZE WARNING MEANS SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE IMMINENT OR
HIGHLY LIKELY. THESE CONDITIONS WILL KILL CROPS AND OTHER
SENSITIVE VEGETATION. A FREEZE WATCH MEANS SUB-FREEZING
TEMPERATURES ARE POSSIBLE. THESE CONDITIONS COULD KILL CROPS AND
OTHER SENSITIVE VEGETATION. TAKE STEPS NOW TO PROTECT ANY TENDER
VEGETATION.

2.) I will be at the Panthers-Saints game tomorrow, but I should post after or before the game.

1.) It has been a cold rainy day here in the City of the Looms or as most people call Kannapolis. Right now it is 59 degrees and light rain has been falling all day. I don't think it rained very hard at all today....more like a constant mist. This time the rain doesn't seem to be helping with the low water levels in NC. Rain is still forecasted several times in the next week or two. Temps will be near normal, or in today's case, below normal by a few degrees.

2.) Fishing will improve with the temperatures coming back down, but the low water levels are really the main concern. When a stream's temperature is between 41-59, the pH level is greatly improved, which in turn helps produce the dissolved oxygen that salmonid species need to survive. Anywho... trout will take the same flies listed in the last posts, and on the recommended flies board to the right... copper johns, light cahills, adams...and one exception, BWO adults may hatch due to the cool, dreary day. 6x and 7x are the tippet sizes to shoot for. You may get by with 5x, if a downpour happens, and the stream gets a little muddy...but I wouldn't count on it.

3.) More later or tomorrow.