The stage is set for the 2011 USA National Fly Fishing Championships hosted by Cherokee, North Carolina May 19-22 2011.  Check the link below for more information

www.usnffc.com

Join the NC Wildlife Resources Commission Thursday March 31st at 7:00Pm for a presentation by David Goodfred NCWRC fisheries biologist.

At this meeting, you will be updated on findings of the NCWRC’s smallmouth bass research, which includes great smallmouth bass fisheries such as the French Broad, Little Tennessee, Tuckaseegee, and Nolichucky Rivers.  Also, you will be introduced to other great smallmouth bass fisheries across the state.

All of this information has come from a 3 year study which objectives were to identify smallmouth populations, collect life history information, and evaluate stream management opportunities. Over the course of this study fisheries biologists collected more than 2,800 smallmouth bass from 42 stream stretches.

For more information contact David Goodfred at 828.659.3324 ext. 227

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

DH regulations switch back to Hatchery supported regulation on Saturday June 5th so hit some of your local favorites before the trebble hooks and corn come flying.

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.