Fly Fishing Asheville for Trout

Fly Fishing Report

Fishing Asheville for Trout

By Richard Witt

While the beautiful fall foliage begins to turn here in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Brook and Brown Trout are changing to their own spectacular colors. The Southern Appalachian Brook Trout are donning bright orange bellies, with their sides painted in red spots with blue halos, and fins lined in black and white. The Brown Trout are showing deep yellow bellies, with their sides also painted in vivid red spots, and red spots also showing on their top fins.

This year the fall spawning of these two wild species has been slightly delayed due to low water levels and higher water temperatures this summer and early fall. However, the cool nights of the past few weeks have helped them along and their spawning cycle is in its early stages. We are extremely blessed to have over 3000 miles of trout streams and rivers to explore within an hour or so for fly fishing Asheville and Western North Carolina.

If you are fishing for wild trout, Tan Caddis flies are in full swing and the Fall/October Caddis are coming on strong. Large tan or orange fly patterns like the Foam Caddis, Goddard Caddis or Orange Stimulator sizes 10 and 12 are very effective at emulating the naturals. Tan Dynamite caddis pupae, Grand Poopah caddis pupae in orange/tan and the sizeable October caddis pupae are also very effective. Local Southern Appalachian patterns to try are the Orange Mayfly Drake and the Orange Palmer fished wet or dry.

The Delayed Harvest streams were stocked with good numbers of trout in October and should be stocked again around November 1^st allowing the catch and release for these cooperative fish to remain excellent while fly fishing Asheville. Each county in Western North Carolina has at least one designated Delayed Harvest stream, so whether you’re fly fishing Asheville or any of the surrounding WNC areas you are not far from great trout fishing. Some of the streams that have been stocked include the North Mills River, Tuckaseegee River, Watauga River, East Fork of the French Broad River, Little River, Shelton Laurel/Big Laurel and the Green River. Good numbers of fish are being caught on a wide variety of flies; such as, Caddis Nymphs, Egg Patterns and flashy Wooly Buggers.

Around the first hard frost try the Tellico Nymph fished dry to emulate bees that have fallen. Come mid-November the Royal Wulff and Royal Stimulator will be consistently effective flies along with assorted colors and sizes of nymphs. For additional daily fly suggestions or if you have an upcoming trip fly fishing Asheville you can speak directly with a professional guide by contacting Curtis Wright Outfitters.

With Winter just around the corner local anglers are aware that this is a great time for fly fishing Asheville. Fly fishing Asheville and Western North Carolina in the winter can be spectacular for many reasons. The fall colors are lingering but giving way to unencumbered views of the beautiful mountainous terrain. The woods, wildlife, and streams will be seeing less traffic and the quiet solitude of winter makes fly fishing Asheville a special time. Dry flies hatch throughout the winter at mid-day and nymph fishing the deep holes can also be very productive. It’s not unusual to see some 60 degrees days in January so any fisherman visiting from up north hoping for a retreat from the cold can, tie up or buy up some winter flies, consider hiring a guide, anticipate the mild weather, and keep that fly rod ready!