Winter lake fishing has been fishing really well lately with the mild weather we are having  thus far. Break out your sinking lines and take advantage of your local hatchery supported lakes in Western North Carolina for some great trout fishing. For more information on lakes to fish or guided trips call the shop and ask for Bill.

With periods of warm fronts beginning to move through the area it gives us hope that  Spring is near. If you get a chance to head out to your local lake look for bass moving to their pre spawn staging areas.  Water temps are starting to climb up into the mid 50′s so bass will begin staging on primary lake points as they begin their move to the spawning grounds. These areas are points that are close to the main channel of the lake or the mouth of a large cove.  Points that have added structure are a bonus because fish will tend to migrate to these areas as they offer opportunities to ambush shad and bream that are staging for their spawn as well.  Target the sides of the points that have the deepest drop offs. Theses areas allow for the bass to drop into deeper water if water temps begin to fluctuate due to the ever changing pressure systems that spring can bring.  The most effective patterns are craw-fish jigs and firetiger crank baits that imitate the staging bream. If you are fishing in stained water always keep a spinner bait close by.  As the water temps begin to warm up follow these bass to the secondary points of the lake until they reach the flats in the back of the coves and the mouth of the creeks. Here they will begin their spawn so give them a chance to spawn and then follow them back out to the deeper water where they will stage for the warm Summer months.

What a great way to get warmed up for Spring fishing! Starting February 1, 2011 through February 28, 2011  buy a 2 person half day guided trip on the DRO private water for the price of a 1 person half day. That’s a savings of over $100 and a great way to get back into the swing after a cold winter. This promotion is blog specific so you must notify that you want the blog promotion at the time of booking in order to receive your discount.

Tight Lines!

Kanuga Conference Center gets local recognition on News 13 for their annual flyfishing trip with Davidson River Outfitters.  Over the past few years Kanuga has coordinated groups of 30 people from aroound the country to enjoy serenity and spirituality.  To see the video see link below.

http://www.wlos.com/shared/newsroom/features/absolute-le/videos/wlos_vid_248.shtml

DRO Spokesman Walter Parrott has his clients displaying their trophy smallmouth for the camera. Warm temperatures and lack of rain have made the smallmouth bite as strong as ever.  Walter has reported several fish being caught over 5 lbs on top water and various baitfish patterns. 

If interested in more information on fly or spin smallmouth floats contact Walter Parrott and Walker@davidsonflyfishing.com

Hot temperatures have been consistent over much of Western North Carolina over the past 4 weeks making trout fishing very unpredictable. Fortunately for DRO Guide Bill Strickland he can still entice a big fish to  eat despite the unfavorable conditions. Fish early and stay on top with terrestrails or super small mayfly patterns. Once the clock reaches 9AM, its time to go home !

When the water gets low or warm, or you have a bright blue jay day, trout tend to get very weary and spooky. Making it more difficult, sometimes impossible, to catch fish. Here are some helpful tips for catching and approaching these spooky fish.

1. Watch your wading. Sloppy and rough wading have saved more trout than any regulation written by man. When the water is low they are even more tuned into sloppy wading. Try to wade like the Great Blue Heron, lift one foot up place it gently back on the stream bed then move the other foot in the same manner.
2. Stay out of the water. Stay as far out of the water as you can. The more waves that run over the fish the more they spook. So stay as close to the bank as possible.
3. Make every cast count. The more casts that splash down on a trout’s head or the more times you rip your line off of the surface of the water, the more fish you are spooking. So make your first cast the best one. Try to mend your cast in the air so that you are not making the mend on top of the fish in shallow water. If you have a heavy current and a lot of white water the disturbance of picking up and mending or recasting does not matter as much.
4. Watch your shadow. In low water the trout are more likely to be scooped up by large birds, Heron’s, Eagle’s and Osprey’s. They are very aware of any shadow that may come across them and dart for cover often spooking the other fish in the hole.
5. Try to fish in lower light conditions. Fishing early and late will help you in several factors; the fish feel safer and lie in slightly more open areas because they are not as visible to other predators. Also you do not have to worry about your shadow and your movements are not as accentuated by the bright sun.

How to Tie the Near Nuff from Bill Strickland on Vimeo.