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
Written by: Gordon Vanderpool
Gordon began fly fishing as a teenager in southwestern Pennsylvania, where he was raised. He has snagged great catches from as far away as Nevada, California, and Belize. However, he and his wife decided to settle in western North Carolina, where they started Turning Stones. Gordon is a Certified Casting Instructor for the Federation of Fly Fishers and the Southeastern Coach of the USA Youth Fly Fishing Team.
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
Written by: Gordon Vanderpool
Gordon began fly fishing as a teenager in southwestern Pennsylvania, where he was raised. He has snagged great catches from as far away as Nevada, California, and Belize. However, he and his wife decided to settle in western North Carolina, where they started Turning Stones. Gordon is a Certified Casting Instructor for the Federation of Fly Fishers and the Southeastern Coach of the USA Youth Fly Fishing Team.
There are more great reasons why you should than why you shouldn’t.
Hiring a guide is one of the best ways to learn more about fly-fishing. Guides are out on the rivers more in one year than most folks will get in a lifetime. Guides have seen, tried and heard it all. They are patient teachers who are passionate about sharing the art of fly-fishing with others, whether it is a beginner or expert.
Written by: Gordon Vanderpool
Gordon began fly fishing as a teenager in southwestern Pennsylvania, where he was raised. He has snagged great catches from as far away as Nevada, California, and Belize. However, he and his wife decided to settle in western North Carolina, where they started Turning Stones. Gordon is a Certified Casting Instructor for the Federation of Fly Fishers and the Southeastern Coach of the USA Youth Fly Fishing Team.