Early spring brings a lot of life to the streams of WNC, not only fishermen but insects and increased metabolism in the trout. Here are some helpful tips to make the most of your next early spring trip.

1. While the fish are far more active than they have been in the last couple of weeks the water is still really cool (ok almost cold). Fish are still lethargic in the morning and evening hours. So fish slow and do not be in a big hurry.
2. Rising fish (or what we perceive to be rising fish) are often eating emerger’s just under the surface of the water rather than duns. Before casting to the rise with a dry fly look to see if the fishes head is breaking the surface or if it is his back. I was fishing with Dave Hughes last week when we encountered rising fish we switched flies to a dry and no takers about 5 minutes later we switched to a soft hackle pheasant tail with no shot and fished just below the surface and caught a lot of nice fish.
3. Mid day is still more productive than early morning and late evening. For at least the next couple of weeks the fish will still prefer to feed in the middle part of the day when the water is at its warmest. Once the water reaches 52 and stays there overnight then the fishing will be good in the early morning.
4. For at least the next couple of weeks dark colored flies will out produce light colored flies. Typically I fish a lot of Parachutes Adam’s, Pheasant Tail’s, Kevin’s Stoneflies, and dark colored caddis or small black stimulators.
5. Fish larger tippets, and land more fish. In the spring the fish have had the winter off and the water flows are generally higher. SO fish have to make an immediate decision eat the bug or watch it go by. I have always fished higher tippet sizes in the spring because of this, usually 4-5x. With the advances that have been made in fluorocarbon tippets I can even do a larger size. Last year I never fished any tippet smaller than 5x fluorocarbon and have found my self fishing 3-4x fluorocarbon and catching more fish because I am not breaking fish off as much as I did with the lighter tippets.

The Gary Loomis Story Part 1, complete from Sam Root on Vimeo.

Join Walker Parrott and Bill Strickland for a 7 day fishing expedition through some of Montana’s legendary waters.  This all inclusive trip provides you with everything you need for catching plenty of fish along the Madison River, Missouri, Yellowstone, and of course Bear Trap Canyon. With 3 days of wading and 3 days of floating your sure to cover plenty of water in search of that fish of a lifetime.  This trip is September 11th -18th and is $2,600 per person based on double occupancy. Also included is 3 dozen flies and a 3 pack of leader and tippet.

For more information on this trip check out our Destinations link on our website or email Walker at walker.parrot@davidsonflyfishing.com

Look Forward to seeing you in Montana

The decision to hire a guide is sometimes a hard one, but it is also a great way to learn new water or methods. It is also a way to safely navigate new water. However, if you have ever hired many guides I am sure that you have had, what I commonly call, “the trip from Hell, with said guide at the helm. Here are five things that you should look for to ensure a quality guide. In the next edition, I will address five things that you need to do for your guide to ensure that you have a good trip.

1. Does your guide have a reputation? The fly fishing industry is a very small place and you are only a couple of introductions away from anyone that you want to know. Find out if any of your buddies have ever fished with the guide, or has ever heard of him. Chances are if he or she is a good guide then someone you know has fished with them or at least heard of the business they are with.
2. Book your guide well in advance. I am not talking about a week, I am talking about 6 months, it is not uncommon for Walker or I to have clients scheduled anywhere from 6 months to one year in advance. The best guides go first, the longer you wait the less the chance that you are going to get the guide that you want.
3. Never book the cheapest guide in the area. Usually there are several guides in a given area, most of which are close colleagues. Therefore their prices will be similar, the guy with the lowest price, (you know the one with the low ball bid) is probably a fly by night operation. Or is trying to book trips with no thought of long term stability or you returning as a client. It is just like the car dealer with the cheapest parts – you are going to get what you pay for.
4. When looking to book trips in foreign countries find out if you guide speaks English or if you need to have a basic understanding of their language. There is nothing worse than blowing a large fish because you could not communicate with your guide. Some of the best guides in Central America speak little English, but they are the guy’s you want to fish with – so be sure you can speak a little Spanish.
5. If you are going to be fishing in the big blue pond then be sure that the guide’s boat is appropriate for the conditions that you are going out in. For instance a Panga is a great boat for Central America, but I do not want to fish out of Panga off of Hatteras in November for Stripers.

The winner of the November fish of the month challenge goes to Andy Braznell for his Rainbow slab caught on the upper Davidson River.  Congratulations to Andy on his catch and his dozen FREE flies from Davidosn River Outfitters.  This month is the last month of the contest so get you pictures in for a chance to win a dozen FREE flies.

Congratulations to Mr. Osherow for his hefty drum caught last week off the coast of North Carolina.  Thank you to everyone else who submitted their photos this month. By far this was the toughest month of all to reach a decision.