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!