This is trophy hunting using the fly rod because these fish will range anywhere from 5 to 15 pounds. When the water temperatures dips below 45 degrees I consider it winter fishing. Weve been chasing river smallmouth on the French Broad, Toe, and Catawba Rivers all summer long. These fish will test your drag, jump, and then tail slap water at you when you release them. The Yadkin River flows east and then south for 215 miles, beginning in the northwestern North Carolina, and becomes the Pee Dee River below Lake Tillery. As that temp drops the fishing will continue to get better and better. The Linville Gorge Wilderness Area is one of the most rugged places on the East Coast. Healthy populations of bass, crappie and perch reside in Lake Tillery, a 5,200-acre lake located in the central part of the state, at Norwood, NC. Donut Dinette 139 North First Street Albemarle, NC 28001 (704) 982-7015 Serving Breakfast Food, Fresh, Homemade Donuts Everyday! The Catawba Angler offers float trips and wade fishing trips for trout in the spring here in North Carolina. I appreciate you taking the time to read our reports. "You have to move around to find pockets of active bass," he said. One way to catch more fish in an unfamiliar river system is to find out what forage is in the river whether it be bugs, minnows, or crayfish and start there. Another prominent river that flows through the Piedmont region is the Yadkin. The Delayed Harvest stretches on Curtis Creek and the Catawba have been fishing really well. Weve been guiding on the Toe River this winter which has been excellent. Sometimes the fish cooperate and sometimes they dont, but thats what keeps us coming back. If you are looking to target something other than a trout on the fly rod give us a call and we will show you how much fun smallmouth can be. You are trying to access a feature that requires a Fishidy account. What is a normal pattern on that lake for crappies this time. During the 90s the NCWRC stocked thousands of brown trout from half-wild brood stocks into the gorge. The Catawba Tailrace is usually our go to float during the winter, but the rainbows that were stocked in the fall of 2021 did not make it through the summer of 2022 so fishing has not been great down there. We welcome younger kids as long as they are accompanied by an adult. Anyone interested in fishing Lake Tillery or waters within the wider area around Albemarle should consult with . The weather may be cold, but the linesider action on these three North Carolina lakes is red hot. Morgan Alley's Lake Hickory walleye. The smallmouth have been heavily feeding on a variety of baits but weve had the most success on baitfish imitations. This fishery should be on everyones list to fish in North Carolina. There are plenty of winter stones on the water so plenty of fish have been eating pats rubber legs in black and brown. Brown trout are elusive and considered one of the most difficult trout species to catch. (West to East) All three regions boasts some excellent bass fishing in the lakes and rivers. The lake draws many anglers from the Piedmont and coastal plain region looking to catch both smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. The best method has been using dry dropper rigs using 5-6x tippet. Below are some of the smallmouth bass weve caught this spring. The temperature reading on my truck this morning said it was 57 degrees outside. You want to look for moving water with white bubbles close to structure. If conditions are right we can normally get by using floating line, but if we have good flows I will use sink tips and intermediate lines. Try this method the next time your own the water and see if it doesnt help put more fish in the net. then its best to move to the next plunge pool. The Catawba Angler keeps a continual pulse on the Catawba Tailrace to be able to offer successful fly fishing trips on this tailwater. For 2023 we will fish High Rock twice. The trout fishing in western North Carolina is excellent beginning in March and will continue well into June. The mission of this organization is to bring hope and the love of Christ to youth through free guided fly fishing trips. If you dont get an immediate response we will respond as soon as we get off the water so please bear with us. Thats the key when fishing crawfish patterns. NM . If you want to chase these bigger fish using large nymphs and streamers then this trip is for you. Lake Parker is good for specks and they're starting to spawn. View our maps and read detailed fishing reports from nearby anglers. Earlier in the day the nymph and streamer bite was consistent till the sun was directly above us. The crowds are nonexistent this time of year so come enjoy the river to yourself. 60 degrees.Sabine Lake is fresh and the winds can impede the fishing. Less than an hour from Raleigh, Charlotte and Greensboro! 8 oz. VIRGINIA LAKES February 05, 2023. Another productive fly has on the delayed harvest rivers has been orange sucker spawn eggs with a gold bead. In February of 2020, a 7 pound, 3 ounce smallmouth was caught by Ken Whitesides. Share. The NCWRC stocked a bunch of browns this past November in the 8 range so Im expecting that stock to provide some good fishing over the next few years. Check out the two fish below we caught in January of 2021. Normally when they first stock the first will hit anything flashy in the color of pink and yellow. We thank everyone who has trusted us over the years for making this passion a career. The best bite of the year is right around the corner. Closed to fishing until April 29, 2023. Trout are rising. There were lots of laughs and good times had on the lake. July is hot, but so is the fishing for river smallmouth. February 27, 2023. . The bass will let you know if you can pop aggressively or every ten or so seconds. Brown trout are at the top of every anglers list. The water temperature on the French Broad is 57 degrees. The only natural lakes in the state are located in the Coastal Plain region which begins around the Raleigh area and extends to the Atlantic Ocean. Weve heard of 7pound fish being caught and even bigger ones that have gotten away. October is usually the month we see our biggest smallmouth hit our nets. Below is a resource for some of the lakes and rivers in the state that holds bass in them. July and August is excellent for catching smallmouth on topwater! Recent Lake Wateree Fishing Reports AHQ INSIDER Lake Wateree (SC) 2023 Week 8 Fishing Report - Updated February 23 February 23 Lake Wateree is at 98.4% of full pool and the lake is still muddy from one end to the other. Carol Feisler with heavy Person County buck taken November 16, 2022. There are different ways to fish a popper: Dead Drift Em, Pop Em, Twitch Em. Our smallmouth season starts in March and ends in November. Home. Give the trout a break! Its our goal to provide the best bass fishing guide experience in North Carolina. Cape Fear River - Buckhorn Dam. The key here is using a loop knot that connects to the tippet ring. The colder days are more challenging than the warmer ones but downsizing your flies on the colder days have been vital to our success. The best time to throw topwater poppers is during the summertime and early fall during June-September. Its proved itself over and over, year after year on these mountain rivers. Normally your best fishing will be 7am to 11am so weve been out there early this month. Weve seen plenty of 50 degree days in January and now we are starting to see those 60 degree days. 3 Star Fatty Day! Pee-Dee River - Blewett Falls Dam. Lake Tillery area restaurants Lake Life Dining Tell them the Lake Lady sent you! If you are interested in floating this stretch let us know. Below are some of the biggest fish weve caught out of the Tailrace. Dont miss out on some beautiful scenery and some good fishing in the mountains of NC! In Sutton Lake, where possession of largemouth bass is prohibited from Dec. 1 - March 31. Saltwater Weekly Fishing Report Week of February 22, 2023 Sabine Lake GOOD. Badin Lake, in Uwharrie National Forest, is a focal point for campers, hikers, anglers, hunters, boaters, swimmers and picnickers. The Catawba Angler offers guided fly fishing trips in Asheville, North Carolina. The French Broad River consistently produces 4 pound smallmouth year after year on our guided bass fishing trips. The leaves are have began changing colors in the higher elevations, but expect peak color to be around the end of October. Weve been picking fish up in the deeper runs on nymphs and streamers in the riffles. Fly fishing for smallmouth bass can be the most rewarding thing you can do with the long rod from Spring to Fall. The Yadkin River is one of the longest rivers in North Carolina and is home to 4 lakes which include W. Kerr Scott Reservoir, High Rock Lake, Badin Lake, and Lake Tillery. This time of year, smallmouth will congregate in the big, deep, slack water so getting flies down into the strike zone can be essential to having a good outing. Pjohnson15@hotmail.com 770 366 8845 Bass fishing on Lake Lanier is good and getting better. Lake Lanier fishing report, updated weekly to keep up on the latest patterns and fishing conditions Lake Lanier FEBRUARY 24, 2023 LAKE LANIER IS FULL, 50S This Lake Lanier Bass fishing report is by Phil Johnson. If fishing a lake with more of a weed related bite, work the edges with the same baits and set up tip-ups or deadsticks. North Carolina stocks some very large rainbow trout. It's 117.8 miles of beautiful shoreline is entirely within Stanly County and Montgomery County, NC. We are able to guide up to six anglers on guided trips using three guides. Thank you to all those who participated in the survey this year. A lot of times Ill run wool as an indicator since it is such a delicate presentation. Spring is my favorite time to fish Curtis Creek because we get some excellent caddis, March brown, and Hendrickson hatches throughout March, April, and May. Black crappie have been widely stocked across the state. Sign up for Weekly Fishing Report Another river worth mentioning when talking about bass fishing in North Carolina is the Nolichucky River. This has allowed me to form patterns certain times of the year and it gives me the proper baits to start with instead of going out there guiding by the seat of my pants. Hopefully, we'll see you on the water! Trying throwing some smaller profile flies to match the hatch. We were able to hit a local wild trout fishery early morning last week because the smallmouth rivers were blown out. We do catch smallmouth year round using light spinning tackle, but if fly fishing is your thing then its best when the water temps warm up and the bass are most aggressive. Thanks for reading our report. Here you wont find the crowds like you do on the tailwaters in East Tennessee or the Tuck. If you are looking to float a tailwater without the boat traffic give the Catawba Tailrace a try sometime between November and June. bass fishing, bass tournaments, winter fishing patterns, Lake Tillery , NC , one-on-one tournament What a wonderful summer it has been! Fly fishing for smallmouth is not an easy task, but I couldnt think of anything more rewarding when that 3 pound smallmouth takes a topwater bug drifting parallel to the bank. The smallmouth fishing is best from the airport in Asheville to the East Tennessee line. Some of the best fishing in western North Carolina requires a hike to get there, but there are also plenty of fly fishing opportunities easily accessible. If its dragging its lagging. Tillery Crappie. We prefer to put two anglers per guide so both anglers are getting the special attention they deserve. You have my promise that our guided trips are the highest quality trip in western North Carolina even though our prices are the most reasonable. Curtis Creek has been fishing consistent but its best to go early morning or late evening when the light isnt directly above the water. You may need to work a little harder. The majority of these insects life besides terrestrials are spent underwater so nymph fishing is usually the best method for putting fish in the net. It is not uncommon to see smallmouth in just a few feet of water chasing minnows or eating mayflies off the surface. The fishing is great from the time we put on to the end and there is always potential to catch a trophy brown trout. Fish are actively feeding and preparing themselves for the spawn which is a good time to cast crayfish, hellgrammite, and baitfish patterns. The state stocks a lot of these fish in the Delayed Harvest streams in the fall and the spring. Fishing Fishing Fishing There is really no better way to experience Lake Tillery than to go out for a day of fishing. Lake Lanier Fishing Reports September 2021 Geia Outdoor News Chris Brown Wayne Ingram Win Catt Yadkin Lake Tillery Nc Mar 7 2021 B Cast Lake Eufaula Fishing Report April 25 2022 S B Are Biting In Lake Tillery S Creeks Carolina Sportsman Lake Tillery 10 02 21 North Carolina High B Fishing Fishing Reports The Catawba Angler Tillery is full of 2 1/2- to 3-pound bass, Fulk said, and the fishing pressure it gets is relatively low compared to other reservoirs on the Yadkin chain or Lake Wylie or Lake Norman close to Charlotte. Weather, flows are perfect. Connecticut Fishing Report- January 26, 2023. THE WEATHER IS TURNING HOTTER AS NORMAL, WATER TEMPS IN THE 84 DEGREE RANGE. Fishing Report - , | Sportsman's Warehouse 10462 S River Heights Dr. South Jordan, UT Change Store My Account x For the best experience, please sign in. Updated 2/22/2023 12:20:40 PM. The rainbow trout above was caught out of a delayed harvest stretch north of Asheville. Give us a call today to schedule your fishing adventure this summer. Normally I always have a few dry flies in the box during this time, but anytime you see a sipping smallmouth they will be eager to take a popping bug. Smallmouth bass are the hardest fighting fish we have around the mountains of North Carolina. Below are some pictures from the Catawba Tailrace this May. W. Fishing has been consistent on the French Broad and Nolichucky Rivers. Wild trout fishing in North Carolina provides a unique experience for anglers because we wade smaller mountain streams for stream bred fish. The Catawba Angler offers half day and full day bass charters on the lakes and rivers of western North Carolina. Summertime is terrestrial season. . Guaranteed Payouts 1st Place $4,000 2nd Place $1,200, 3rd Place $1,000, 4th Place $700, 5th Place $500. Im looking forward to getting the boat back on Lake Erie. The heavy racked buck was shot early morning at 210 yards. We look forward to seeing you on the water. Perched between Uwharrie National Forest and Morrow Mountain State Park, it is one of the most scenic lakes in North Carolina and a great place and one great place to catch fish. Sdermalm Afc Fishing. The logging operations at the turn of the century almost depleted the native brook trout populations so thats when non-native trout were introduced in NC to help bring back trout populations. We threw a lot of smaller black streamers to mimic the stoneflies and hellgramites in the river so Lisa did a good job of slowly fishing the streamers. 1000 Islands/Lake Ontario . The best fishing during the winter is going to be throughout the Delayed Harvest Stretch. Dead Drift Em: This method is very similar to drifting dry flies to trout. When I started my business in 2017 I wanted to make guided fishing trips in western North Carolina available to everyone no matter their income. However one of the biggest draws to fishermen are the giant blue catfish that swim in this reservoir. We were able to take kids fishing on a private lake and show them the sport of fishing. The river is excellent for recreational fishing and boating. When the water is clear weve been having great success on flies which we will go into detail of what has been working and what we can expect the rest of the summer. We all hope for the days when the smallmouth hit on top and top and his son got just that. Lake Tillery was created for hydroelectric power by damming the Yadkin-PeeDee River and was completed in 1928. The five main insects in NC is stoneflies, caddis, midges, blue wing olives, and terrestrials. Start early and end early. October is when the big ones come out to play. Below are just a few pictures from the DH stretches in May. I think between the warmer water temperature (72 degrees) and overcast day it created an ideal scenario. Winter is on its way out here in the mountains. Learn the best hot spots and latest news about Iowa's fishing opportunities from region to region. Once this happens the bite turns on. Smallmouth can be picky throughout the season that runs from March to November, but we bounce around from three different rivers to put clients in the best water to catch fish. Lake Seminole fishing Guides March 24, 2021 fishing report I had the pleasure of Bass fishing with the Shepard . Forums. The majority of smallmouth in our stretches of water will be in just a few holes. Owned by Progress Energy, the lakeshore has been carefully managed to assure a healthy balance of residential development and undeveloped shoreline. It was an ideal location for a river smallmouth to be holding. Fishing will continue to be good all winter long on the lower elevation creeks and rivers. 8. Trout fishing has been fantastic this month and will continue to be good the entire month of May! Normally if we get a good cold front to come through that cools the water off then clients can be more aggressive on popping and the twitching of the bugs. Chartreuse on the sunny days and black on the overcast days. All Rights Reserved. We have spent the majority of our time in the boat this winter, but have had some excellent days wading the Catawba. A crayfish pattern isnt supposed to be fished fast and a fleeing minnow isnt supposed to be fished slow so Im big on informing my clients how fast you need to retrieve certain flies. If you are a bass fishing Angler then the Nolichucky should be on your bucket list. Lisa and I chased red breasted sunfish, trout, and smallmouth on a local fishery and we managed to catch close to 20 fish on the fly rod. When you decided to pick up fly fishing you knew you were at a disadvantage compared to using a spinning rod. Recently on the Catawba River we got into a Blue Wing Olive and an Early Black Stone hatch that offered us some excellent sigh fishing to pods of stocked fish. Weve had our best success on the Catawba River since there is more flow on it than the smaller mountain creeks. This is when we head to the hills to chase wild fish where the water temperatures are lower and there isnt a ton of fishing pressure. This stretch has long, deep holes that hold good populations of bass in the summertime moving upstream from the lake looking for those cooler river temperatures. Bill & Carol. North Carolina brown trout can get very large and attracts anglers all over the country to try to tango with one. August 18, 2022. BRIGHT SKYS, SO HIGH VISABILITY CRANKBAITS IS THE ANSWER. Jodi reels in red snapper. The North Carolina mountains boasts plenty of fisheries that contain wild and stocked trout. Another notable bass fishing lake in close proximity to Falls and Jordan is Shearon Harris Lake. "Before dawn, fish buzzbaits around the grass. Below is a nice brown we caught during a rainstorm on Curtis Creek. Lake Russell. The fishing in the spring is consistent all day long because of the suitable water and air temps. The best fishing on the wild trout streams is March through December. Norwood, NC in neighboring Stanly County uses as its town motto "Gateway to Lake Tillery". Whenever the water temperature drops below 60 degrees the bass will start chasing baitfish again and normally you net a lot of big fish during these months. The stretch runs through small sections of private land that isnt accessible by foot so these areas yield a bunch of fish. Its versatile. Weve been catching a bunch of rainbows and a few browns on the Catawba since that is the majority of the fish that were stocked this past fall. You wont be disappointed. Aquatic invasive species continue to pose a threat to Crystal Lake; species established include Eurasian Watermilfoil Stay close to the action with our up to date fishing reports. It was a clear morning to blast off for the 66-boat field! The Catawba Tailrace offers some of the best brown trout fishing in North Carolina. With a high around 73F and the low around 48F. Chasing these fish will make you a better angler. I think its going to be a dry month so finding creeks and rivers with the most water in it will be key. The bigger rivers that meander through the NC mountains provide good fly fishing for river smallmouth as well. Minnesota fishing reports are displayed with the body of water with the most recent fishing report or content at the top of the report list. . Lucky Tusk The French Broad has been off colored for the last month, but I am okay with that because the less fishing pressure this summer means a better late summer/early fall bite. Table of Contents show. These fish lack the beauty of the native brook trout but are still pretty fish nonetheless. Normally if the crowds are bad you can bounce up to Newberry Creek or the wild water of Curtis Creek and do well throwing dries. We have had clear water on the French Broad River so I have been out there every day chasing those big smallmouths that have some big appetites this time of year. Travis and Jordan are good buddies of mine from way back in the day when we all used be apart of collegiate track and field teams. Thread starter CharlesIngalls . Enjoy the photos. The smallmouth bite is good all summer. View All | Fishing Gallery | Hunting Gallery | Photo of the Week . The reality of it is that most of the time thats not the case here in the mountains of NC. Click to view dozens of lake information regarding Catch & Release, Walleye, Northern Pike, Whitefish, Perch, Trout & Goldeye fishing . Herons and alligators can be seen along the way, and a lucky sighting of a bald eagle is possible. The best fishing is below Waterville dam and into East Tennessee. The river has an abundant supply of baitfish and crayfish that is needed to grow trophy river smallmouth. The North end has amazing views with . Tillery, which forms the border between Montgomery and Stanly counties, is the sixth lake from the top of the Yadkin system, although half of the impoundment technically belongs to the Pee Dee River system. Lift the rod tip up or wiggle it. In May you start seeing smallmouth coming out of the deeper water and will stage anywhere there is structure, safety, good current and food. The state record rainbow trout in North Carolina weighed over 20 pounds and was caught out of a stream 60 miles from Asheville. If float fishing isnt your thing then we got some excellent wade fishing opportunities chasing stocked and wild trout. I couldnt do it without her support. Weve been getting just enough rain to keep the rivers higher than years past, but still fishable. After the spawn is over the water temperatures start to warm and the fish start chasing baitfish. Emerging from the mist like an apparition, a boat materializes. What was cool about catching this fish is that Ive had a few encounters with it over the last few years where I see it chase out smaller fish we hook. Start writing down notes from every fishing trip you take and you will be surprised how it will benefit you down the road. There arent many striper in the Tailrace, but if you are looking to grind and catch your first striper on the fly then we welcome you. September 14, 2022 by Brent Pollock. Continue reading. The Catawba Angler is a fly fishing guide service that offers wade fishing trips on Curtis Creek. Table of Contents show. Our Lakes for the 2023 season are Tillery, High Rock, Norman and Badin.