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Tyler Legg
Charlotte, NC, United States
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Welcome to THFF.com! Kick your wading boots off and stick around for a while. You'll find content ranging from NC fishing reports, videos, pictures, fly fishing news from around the state/country/world, humor, and even some irrelevant, yet interesting posts.
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Saturday, November 14, 2009
Upper 60's to low 70's in most areas are making for some excellent fishing in Western North Carolina. The water levels are still on the high side, but compared to what it looked like earlier this week, the water is looking good. The Tennessee tailwaters are full right now. I'm sure wading will be tough on the South Holston, Clinch, Hiwassee and Watauga for a few days until TVA backs down their generating schedule. Floating the tailwaters is best right now. The Davidson River is at 260 cfs as I type. Normal to date for the D is 93 cfs. Despite high waters, fishing hasn't been bad. Most fish, at least for right now, are being caught on nymphs. Girdle Bugs, Yuk Bugs, Pat's Rubber Legs, Kevin's Stones, etc are doing well given the high water. I would use ugly looking bugs with hackle and rubber legs. The added movement is a killer. Behind your point fly, a pink #12-16 San Juan Worm or a #14-16 Prince will double your chances. The brown trout (and brook trout) are still in spawning mode, so make sure you don't target these guys. David Knapp from The Trout Zone snapped some amazing photos of a two brown trout on a redd. To see them click here.

Alright here's the lowdown...

Davidson River~ The D is pretty high, so be prepared to fish streamer and big bugs. Around the hatchery, midges are working as usual, but you may catch fish on a #20 Pheasant Tail Nymph or a BWO nymph.

Tuckasegee River~ As of 6:30, the Tuck is at 854 cfs. Average to date is 368 cfs. The Tuck is full of fish right now as a result of the DH season. Larger fish are being caught out of the Tuck as well. The usual flies used on most DH streams are going to do well on the Tuckasegee.

NC Side of the Smokies~ Fishing in the Smokies has been great. Bluelining for brook trout or trying the new Raven Fork Catch and Release section are great choices. The bull elk in the Cataloochee area are displaying their antlers.

Oconaluftee River C&R waters~ You need an annual C&R permit and a daily fishing permit (total $27) to fish these waters. It's worth it. The fish are huge and the fishing has been great.

Mitchell River, South Mtn, Stone Mtn DH, Green River~ Fishing has been fantastic on the above DH streams. Again the usual DH flies such as Prince Nymphs, San Juan Worms, Elk Hair Caddis, Para Adams, etc will work.

4 comments:

Lance Milks said...

Hey Tyler,

Just got back from SMSP. I had an exceptional day with well over 20 fish. I was using a new emerger pattern that I tied up. Morning, slow with three or four in hand...Afternoon, every two to three casts. They were a little picky, wouldnt hit just anything, color had to be right (i tried just to see). I talked to one guy who had just come from the Mitchell and said that fishing there was quote "awsome". Just thaught I would give you an update.

Lance

Tyler Legg said...

Lance,

I need to get up there...SOON!!! Sounds like the fishing has been exceptional up on the East Prong/Mitchell When school let's me get away we'll have to hit Stone Mtn/Mitchell R.

Thanks for the report,

Tyler

Lance Milks said...

Hey Tyler,

I was thinking about my recent trips while writing an email to my dad. I have only caught one brown trout all fall. I havent even seen any in the pools. I was wondering if you knew anything concerning their stocking. I know they dont get released in the numbers of the other two, but to not see any even in lower holes is odd to me. Just a thaught.

Lance

Tyler Legg said...

I've wondered the same thing. I've also noticed too that there are higher concentrations of brook trout and rainbows stocked into DH streams in western NC. According to NCWRC's annual trout stocking schedule, they stocked, in total, 2,475 brown trout, 4,950 brook trout, and 4,950 rainbow trout into the 4 mile DH section of the East Prong Roaring River (Stone Mtn). For Wilkes county (including all DH streams within the county) there was a total of 8,177 browns, 16,357 rainbows and 16,357 brook trout. This is what is most likely causing the decreased numbers of browns across DH waters.

I have caught several brown trout out of DH waters, but as of the past 2 years or so, I haven't caught any. Another reason why we have seen little if any brown trout is due to the fact that they are nocturnal (you can catch them during the day, but they prefer to feed at night). During the day, most brown trout will lay at the bottom of a darker, deeper, pool, where it's hard to see them (and catch them).

These are just my thoughts, I'm sure there are more pieces to the puzzle in explaining this...

Tyler

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