Fly fishing is a wonderful hobby that provides a unique opportunity to connect with nature and challenge oneself in a peaceful and serene setting. Some of what makes fly fishing a great hobby include:

You stand waist-deep in the cold waters of a WNC delayed harvest designated river downstream of your son. You are both floating a dry fly along the current, hoping for the beautiful sight of a trout to emerge and take the fly.

You watch as your son catches several in a row on the dry while you continue to come up empty. Finally, you decide to switch back to what you know better in your limited level of experience, switch to nymphing, and immediately catch a nice rainbow.

Your week is filled with hard work and impossible challenges. Day after day, you are asked to do more than you think you can do. While you rise to the occasion and work hard for your company and the family's sake, you need to be able to take some time off to rest and recover. 

Breaking away from the daily grind of work and responsibility is vital to maintaining your mental and physical health and wellness. Fly fishing in western North Carolina is exactly the getaway you need to reconnect with nature. 

There are several places in our region that allow anglers the chance to chase fish in the presence of a waterfall. Here are a few places where fly fishing and waterfalls unite to create a serene mountain setting. 

You have arrived at the trailhead of your favorite trout stream in the mountains of western North Carolina. The last time you fished this stream, there was light snow lingering under the rhododendron thickets, and you caught a grand slam, a rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout. You have your favorite fly rod and reel and an assortment of dry flies to attract those lazy trout that you know are hiding in the shade this summer morning.  

One of the most popular and relaxing pastimes in western North Carolina is fishing. Our waters are rich with prized trout. There are many techniques to employ when trying to catch fish in the Smoky Mountains. In this article, we are discussing the difference between when to employ fly fishing and spin fishing. 

It’s been a long, dark, and cold winter in western North Carolina. We’ve had multiple rounds of snow and ice, a lot of rain, and just the overall dreariness that accompanies the season. Whether you live here in the mountains, down east or south toward Charlotte or Atlanta, or west in Tennessee, you’ve probably been stuck inside wishing you could be out in nature.

But you can almost hear it, right? The birds are starting to chirp. The bees are starting to buzz. The days are getting a little bit longer. The valleys are springing to life, and soon the colors will crawl up the mountains to the ridges. Spring is on the way. 

What is the best way to celebrate the arrival of spring in the Great Smoky Mountains? We think it’s scheduling your spring fly fishing trip. Here’s what you need to know about fly fishing in spring. 

If you’re planning a fly fishing excursion, there’s no better place than western North Carolina. The trout-rich waters of the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains are the reason the guides at Turning Stone’s have chosen to call this area home. 

To make the most of your fishing trip, you’ll want to hire a guide to help show you the best places to fish and make sure you’re using the right equipment. Inevitably, all the guides in the area find themselves fully booked from time to time. Here is our list of the top nine guides in western North Carolina (in no particular order).

Few places rival the tranquil beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains, its blue peaks topped with an ever-present fog give this region its name. Its unique biodiversity and eye-popping color make this the most visited national park in the entire US park system.  

Nine months of the year, the weather in western North Carolina and northern Georgia is perfect for getting outdoors. Temperatures are often cooler near the rivers and waterways around Batesville, Clarksville, Franklin, Cashiers and surrounding areas during the summer than in nearby cities like Atlanta and Charlotte. Yet, in spring and fall, the air feels significantly warmer than the higher elevations around Highlands and Boone. 

New residents and people visiting from out of town wonder whether winter weather makes fly fishing impossible. We are happy to report that our area is uniquely supportive of trout fishing throughout the year, even during winter.

Not only is it possible to fish here during the coldest months of the year, but you may also find it is the perfect season to chase prized trophy trout. From October through May in north Georgia is the absolute best time to hook into these beautiful giant trout.

Western North Carolina is a trout fishing wonderland. There are miles upon miles of pristine streams and rivers with an abundance of fish. If you’re searching for the perfect fly fishing getaway, you can’t go wrong with a trip to the Smokies. 

Turning Stone’s Fly Fishing knows these waters. The areas we fish vary from dense Rhododendron forests with small tributaries meandering about that are filled with tiny wild brook trout to large rivers that are rough and tumbling that hold enormous, wild brown trout. We also frequently fish areas that are stocked with massive fish that increase your odds of catching a monster. 

Many people ask us how to identify the difference between wild and hatchery-supported trout. In this article, we are helping you answer that question.