There is a lot to love about western North Carolina. We have majestic mountains, thousands of miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, and some of the most remote, untouched land east of the Mississippi River.
There are dozens of charming small towns with their own personalities and characteristics. Our region is home to the highest concentration of waterfalls on the East Coast. In our area, we are always just a short drive or hike to some amazing natural wonder.
We have the perfect weather for those who find summers down east to be too hot and humid, but winters in the High Country too cold and snowy. From Asheville to Murphy, Bryson City, and Franklin, residents and tourists in the southwestern corner of North Carolina experience the very best of all four seasons.
We are relatively mild in winter, with cooler summers than Charlotte, NC, Greenville SC, and Atlanta, GA. Spring brings new life and an abundance of wildflowers, while autumn puts on the most brilliant display of vibrant colors.
If all that is not enough to convince you to visit our area, our favorite part of living here is that you can go fly fishing any time of the year. In this article, we are covering the best area for fly fishing in each season.
When you think of a getaway, do you picture traveling to a beautiful, remote part of the world? Do you imagine yourself enjoying the great outdoors and reconnecting with nature? Do you like challenging yourself with new or ongoing hobbies? Are you and your family searching for a place where everyone can choose from among their favorite activities?
If any of this sounds appealing to you, you are ready to travel to the official Trout Capital of North Carolina for a fly fishing excursion on the Tuckasegee River.
Whether you are cooped up in an office all day, spend your work hours outdoors, or find yourself working remotely from your dining room table, you need a break. You need to be able to step away from work and stress for a few days and reconnect with nature.
While there are many different activities you can enjoy in western North Carolina, fly fishing is the perfect blend of beauty and adventure. There is no better way to enjoy the great outdoors than fly fishing. However, it may seem daunting and challenging if you have never tried it before, or you've never been taught what gear you need, proper techniques, and where to fish.
For beginners and anglers of all levels of experience, The Tuckasegee River is perfect. In this post, we are discussing the reasons you should schedule your Tuckasegee River getaway.
Are you thinking about taking on a new hobby? If you are considering fly fishing, we should want to give you a few words of warning before you start sinking your hard-earned money into it:
Speaking of budget, like any hobby or sport, there will be some initial start-up costs as you gear up. We want to help you decide where to shop for your fly fishing equipment. Should you run down to your local big-box store, scour the internet, or try your hand at a smaller fly local shop Fish Tales Outfitter in Franklin, NC and Brookings in Cashiers, NC? Here are the pros and cons of each.
A year after everything changed, the world is slowly getting back to something more like normal. Many students are attending classes in-person, while parents are returning to the office at least a few times each week. Restaurants have been able to relax some of their social distancing guidelines and serve more customers, and traffic is returning to the roads.
After a long, difficult year, many will find they are stressed as ever. Everyone needs the opportunity to get away from the pressures of daily life and reconnect with nature. One of the best ways you can destress is with a fly fishing trip on the Soque River in north Georgia. A Soque River trip puts you in trophy trout waters that are almost guaranteed to net you some excellent fish in a beautiful, natural area.
Fly Fishing on the Nantahala was really good today. Fish were rising to dries regularly along with your typical assortment of subsurface bugs. We were throwing San Juan worms, Egg patterns and pheasant tails. Wooly Buggers were working well too!
The key to success on this day, was getting the nymphs down deep and bouncing them off the bottom. If you were not getting your flies down, the fish were not interested.
After 2-3 hours of fishing the DH water of the Nantahala River we decided to fish some wild trout water in Western North Carolina.
It was an entirely different story. The dry fly action was phenomenal with fish leaping completely out of the water after dry flies. What worked well here was a dry dropper rig with a size 16 quill imitation with size 16 bead head dropper. When they weren't taking the dry, they were taking the nymph.
After about 20-30 fish within a little over an hour, the surface bite tapered off. Everything after that was subsurface, with a tight line tandem nymph rig.
What a great day on the river... Book your trip today. 724-986-2652
Now is the time to be fly-fishing in Western North Carolina
Tight Lines,
Gordon Vanderpool, Owner/Guide
Location: Nantahala DH and Small Wild Trout Stream
What a fun day out on the river! The fishing on the Tuck was good. Let me clarify that, it was unreal!! This river is on fire right now to say the least! The fish were taking all of the usual bugs in rapid fire! Hares Ears, Pheasant Tails, San Juans, and little olive streamers to name a few. The best advice for anyone going to the Tuckasegee is throw a tandem nymph rig on the bottom, and hold on!!
As far as the catch and release section on the Raven Fork go, We were throwing a size 14 May fly attractor trailed by a size 16 pheasant tail with good results! I did see some big fish looking up, I love it when that happens! Best of luck to you!
Book those trips now! 724-986-2652
Keep those lines tight!
Location: Tuckasegee River and The Raven Fork
We will start with the Tuckasegee River, the fly fishing has been red hot on the Tuck lately! We have been throwing flashy streamers in olive and black with very aggressive takes! As far as the nymphing game goes it has also been on fire with the normal bugs being used like, #14 Flashback Pheasant tails, #14 Flashback Hares Ears, #18 zebra midges, #12 San Juans in all colors!! If your fishing under an indicator, just focus on good drifts and you'll be rewared! for the dry fly junkie, Spend some time and look for the little clouds of midges flying on the surface and target those areas with a #22 Adams and they will light it up!!
The Nantahala River Delayed Harvest section is fishing good as well with the same bugs being used! There are lots of fish in the deep pools, and they are more than willing to munch down your offering! I'm seeing lots of little Crane flies, Caddis and midges buzzing around! If you target the edges with really small dries and light tippets you will pick up some wild fish, which is always a bonus!
The Nantahala river tailwater section, AKA Lower Nanty is a different animal altogether! Lots of small mayflies here for the dry fly guy! Fish #18- 22 BWO'S and Midges on the edges and you will be rewarded! However, these fish can be technical in nature for the beginner so I would use 7x tippet here to give you a good chance of getting lots of takes! If you plan to go subsurface, I would stick with 7x and throw small brown and olive thin bodied may fly nymphs! The drift must be drag free for best results!! I love fly fishing here because it has some of the most beautiful wild Rainbows any place around!
The Raven Fork is fishing solid as well! I have been tossing A mix of the above choices and doing well! Dont be afraid to use some loud stuff to get those big fish to come alive, you will be glad you did!
At this very moment, the streams are all high and cranking with the rain we've had! they will drop and be very fishable in no time! And when they do, all of the above will get it done for you! If you have any questions dont hesitate to call! If you dont have any luck, give us a call and we would be happy to guide you to some fish! Tight lines to you all!!
Location: Tuckasegee River, Nantahala River Delayed Harvest, Nantahala River tailwater, Fly fishing only section on the Raven Fork!
Well, folks, The rain is on, and the rivers are all up and really moving as of this evening. The rain is supposed to slow down overnight and then we have a beautiful stretch of weather coming! As far as the fishing goes, it has been really good on the Tuckasegee, Nantahala, and Ravens Fork for some time now! With all of this rain, our flows should remain up for a while (but fishable)!
These three rivers are all loaded up and fishing great!! San Juans in various colors, Hares Ears, Pheasant Tails, Price Nymphs, Rainbow warriors, Zebra Midges are all taking fish with regularity! When tying these patterns don't be afraid to incorporate some flash and hot spots on them, stocked trout can't say no to it! :) For the streamer guy, olive, black, and white are my favorites! Once again, make them stand out and you'll be glad you did!
Location: Western North Carolina! Nantahala River, Tuckasegee River, and Raven Fork of the Oconaluftee River!
The fly fishing only section has been fishing stellar for a couple of months now, and will only get better in the coming days! The first major hatch here in the Smoky Mountains is coming upon us very soon, the Quill Gordon's!! The smaller Blue Quill's are on the water now, along with Midges, and Dark Winter Stoneflies in really good numbers. The fish are looking up at times to take these small meals, and you will see the increasing surface activity as the water continues to drop!! But believe me, folks, that's the calm before the storm!!! When the Gordon's show up, it's on!! That is of course if landing a 20 plus inch Rainbow Trout on the surface sounds good to you!! So now is the time to be on the water!! If you don't know how to approach this, give us a call and we'll guide you to them! Tight Lines!!
Location: Raven Fork/ fly fishing only water, Oconaluftee River!
All Delayed Harvest streams will be getting a heavy stocking of trout the first week of March!! This is a perfect time and place for someone new to the sport of fly fishing to give it a try! Let's just say these trout are user-friendly so to speak! So, if you've been wanting to try fly fishing, now is a great time to give it a go!! Let us at Turning Stones Fly Fishing, LLC guide you to your first trout on the fly! It's a sight that me as a guide of many years never get's tired of seeing! I love it when someone catches their first trout on the fly on my watch, it's priceless! Call now to book your trip! 724-986-2652
Location: Tuckasegee River, Nantahala River, Snowbird Creek, and Fires Creek!