Skip to main content Henry's Fork Anglers Cart (0) (208) 558-7525 Fly Shop Hours: Hours change seasonally. The smaller flies below have been productive for me on the DH section of the Catawba and Tuck. We value our client relationships and weve been fishing year after year with a lot of our clients since we first started our fishing guide service in 2016. If float fishing isnt your thing then we got some excellent wade fishing opportunities chasing stocked and wild trout. These fish are less pressured and more willing to eat during this time. #4.25.5. There is always opportunities to catch big smallmouth on light spinning tackle or the fly rod. We had a great day and we managed to get a good trout as well. The water temperature here during the winter is 50-55 degrees which is alot warmer than the freestone streams in the mountains. Gilead, NC 27306 (910) 439-2022 Located right on the water! The trout fishing will be excellent on the delayed harvest stretches on the Catawba, Curtis, Mill, and the Toe Rivers. Fly fishing is the preferred method for casting smaller flies to these eager fish. If I could predict when the smallmouth turn on to topwater Id be a rich man. Chartreuse on the sunny days and black on the overcast days. July is hot, but so is the fishing for river smallmouth. 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. Below is a nice brown we caught during a rainstorm on Curtis Creek. Normally Ill run lighter tippet because the water is usually very clear this time of year. We value your time as much as ours and will do everything in our power to make sure you have an enjoyable experience on the water. Its our goal to help you become a better angler on the water. Waccamaw River - Lake Waccamaw Dam. We are on the water every day and we are doing our best getting back with clients as soon as possible. Normally when they first stock the first will hit anything flashy in the color of pink and yellow. Bennett made a beautiful cast in the deep, slack water and the fish took off with the jig. Its flat out hunting for big bass on the fly. However, this month anglers will notice bass . We were fortunate to hit this local creek after a cold front came through and cooled the water down to a desired level. Lake Tillery was created for hydroelectric power by damming the Yadkin-PeeDee River and was completed in 1928. There are plenty of wade fishing and float fishing opportunities available on one of the many delayed harvest streams in NC. The crowds are nonexistent this time of year so come enjoy the river to yourself. Winds are out of the N at 3mph, with wind gusts of 11mph. There were lots of laughs and good times had on the lake. The lake draws many anglers from the Piedmont and coastal plain region looking to catch both smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Fly fishing in the Spring is hands down the best time to trout fish in North Carolina. These fish come up the river eating the trout so you can imagine how big the flies are we will be throwing. Saw the thread for the crappie tournament schedule and it got me thinking about lake Tillery. I also want to thank him for the clients he allows me to fish with because its a cool experience getting to show people the fisheries I have grown up on and fished my whole life. Normally your best fishing will be 7am to 11am so weve been out there early this month. There are clients that love indicator fishing and clients that hate it. We are located on nearly 40 acres with private access to Lake Tillery featuring 7 boat slips and a fishing pier for our campers' enjoyment. Its proved itself over and over, year after year on these mountain rivers. 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. The lake is home to some big largemouth bass and is also known as a put and take striper lake where the state stocks 25,000 fingerling every year. Lake Tillery, North Carolina Fishing Location and Fishing Information: Lake Tillery is located in Montgomery and Stanly Counties in North Carolina. Looking for a fishing report about a lake here in Alberta? The temperature reading on my truck this morning said it was 57 degrees outside. 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. In the winter time Im using 6-7x tippet. Thanks for taking the time to read our post. She is currently competing for Angler of the Year for IWFA so it was good to help her knock off a couples of species that can only be caught in western NC. August 18, 2022. Lake Tillery (NC) nautical chart and water depth map Lake Tillery nautical chart The marine chart shows depth and hydrology of Lake Tillery on the map, which is located in the North Carolina state (Stanly, Montgomery). We understand that everyone likes to catch fish which we can definitely do that, but if you want to focus on some advanced fly fishing tactics to accelerate your growth as an angler then give us a call to set up a trip with one of our professional guides. (January 2008) Photo by Ron Sinfelt. If youve been wanting to book a guided trip, but have been on the edge of deciding I would like to encourage you to book. The Linville Gorge holds some very large brown trout and is slowly becoming more of a smallmouth fishery. 9. The Catawba Tailrace offers some of the best brown trout fishing in North Carolina. These fish are beautiful and live in some of the coolest areas in the state. Our smallmouth float fishing trips take you down the river in our comfortable rafts enabling us to access areas they you cannot by foot. There are alot of fish in the river right now so let us take you to them and show you how to be a better angler. 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. Another notable bass fishing lake in close proximity to Falls and Jordan is Shearon Harris Lake. As many as 20 male stripers surround a single female, releasing milt tofertilize the eggs released by the female. NC wildlife will not give a weigh in permit at TuckerTown for more than 43 boats. Hitting the fish on the nose with smaller flies seems to work most of the time. Walleye fishing the river in april is the best time of year. Smallmouth will sit in these lines waiting for bugs to drift by. 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. They will be caught on jigging spoons, drop shots and jigs. Lake Tillery Rodney Crisco (Joe's Bait & Tackle, 704-982-8716) said bass move around a lot in summer. Falls Lake also known as Falls of the Neuse & Jordan Reservoir are on the border of the Piedmont and Coastal Plain region and are some of the best largemouth lakes in North Carolina. Weve been having great success on the higher rivers this time of year with stonefly patterns, prince nymphs, and eggs. You may need to work a little harder. October is when the big ones come out to play. 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. Weve been fishing dark colors in water with less than a foot of clarity. 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. What is a normal pattern on that lake for crappies this time. 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. The Catawba Tailrace is slowly starting to fish better and better. Start early and end early. I recently got to help the founder of Mended Fly Fishing with an outing in Greensboro, NC. There are a ton of wild trout streams around the mountains of North Carolina. If you have a trip booked in July be prepared to start early. . Id like to highlight the four trout species that are available in our public waters. August 18, 2022. We would love to talk to you about the best times of the year to fish or answer any question you may have about fishing. Clear Lake, Crystal Lake, Rice Lake and Silver Lake have winter aeration systems running. There is nothing better than floating down a beautiful mountain river chasing smallmouth bass on the fly. Another notable bass fishing lake in the coastal plain region is Lake Waccamaw. Fishing trips are fun for beginners and experienced anglers. BRIGHT SKYS, SO HIGH VISABILITY CRANKBAITS IS THE ANSWER. 81,591 messages. We wont be fishing the Catawba Tailrace until the fall unless you have an interest in chasing striper on the fly in August & September. We offer half day trips for $300 for two anglers and full day trips for $400 for two anglers. I enjoy taking people to the delayed harvest to boost their confidence before chasing wild trout because it can be a humbling experience. All fish were caught on a yellow stimulator and a parachute adams. The best fishing during the month of May will be floating the rivers for smallmouth and trout. We were fortunate to run a few trout fishing trips after rainstorms because the water temperatures were in a suitable range for the fish. The Catawba Angler offers family friendly fishing trips. We grew up two miles from this creek so this is our home water. Fly Fishing in North Carolina is one of the best experiences to do when visiting the mountains. The water temperature was 59 when we started and 63 when we finished. This is where we will hike into a backcountry creek and dry fly fish all day for rising trout. Norwood, NC in neighboring Stanly County uses as its town motto "Gateway to Lake Tillery". 8 oz. 54 degrees; 22.62 feet below pool. Fishing has been consistent on the French Broad and Nolichucky Rivers. There are some excellent wild brown trout fisheries in North Carolina, but much like the native brook trout streams getting someone to tell you where they are will be hard to accomplish. 2+. Lake Tillery is owned and controlled by Duke Energy and has 117.8 miles of beautiful shoreline with a maximum depth of 70'. Event's Official Web Page Location: City of Knoxville (GPS) Contact: Dennis Beckley - Event Director Phone: (865) 898-3101 NOVEMBER 2023 November 5, 2023 (2:00 AM - 2:00 AM) Daylight Saving Time Ends The clock is set back one hour at 2:00 AM (First Sunday in November). The brook trout directly above is a stocked fish. The bite started off hot during the morning, but tapered off mid day then the bite picked up significantly in the afternoon. Help Crappie.com by becoming a Supporting Member. After the spawn is over the water temperatures start to warm and the fish start chasing baitfish. 7 lb. Closed to fishing until April 29, 2023. Bass: Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that early in February bass should still be caught deeper in the main lake and at the mouths of creeks around the bait schools where other species including perch are feeding. Dead Drift Em: This method is very similar to drifting dry flies to trout. The French Broad and Nolichucky rivers produce trophy smallmouth year after year. There is little natural reproduction that goes on the gorge with these wild brown trout, but the majority of the fish are stocked. Early morning and sunset have been the best bite. MIKE MARSH Yadkin-PeeDee Reports Piedmont Lakes Fishing Report: June-July 2022 Each spring, adult striped bass swim from the Atlantic Ocean andAlbemarle Sound into the Roanoke River to spawn, about 130 miles fromthe sound.Most striped bass spawning begins when the water temperature reaches 62F. Walleye on Lake Hickory. Lets get back to fishing. Lake Tillery NC Fishing Reports, Map & Hot Spots Lake Tillery Stanly - North Carolina 74 catches 715 followers 47 spots Lake Tillery was created for hydroelectric power by damming the Yadkin-PeeDee River and was completed in 1928. The Catawba Angler specializes in fly fishing for smallmouth bass. It is approximately 16 miles long with some gorgeous coves off the main body of the lake. Guaranteed Payouts 1st Place $4,000 2nd Place $1,200, 3rd Place $1,000, 4th Place $700, 5th Place $500. I want to thank him for my wife for getting up at the crack of dawn with me before heading to the river. There are a lot of 10-14 inch fish in the Toe River so the next few years we should some true trophies caught out of the river. You do not want to miss it! Our guides passion is sharing the local fisheries that we have grown to love and appreciate with clients from across the United States. There is a healthy population of wild brown trout in the Davidson River so that is a good start for most anglers looking to catch one. Look for fish to stay in depths but be lethargic after the cold front. We haven't heard of any fishing activity there lately but when the weather warms up a bit at some point hopefully we'll get some reports to pass on. Improve your nymph fishing by doing this one thing! The guys and girls left looking for some awesome bags of largemouth that reside in . I want to highlight some of our best catches from spring time below. This fishery is 50 miles from downtown Asheville and offers excellent trout fishing from a raft or drift boat. To learn more about the smallmouth fishing around Asheville click the learn more link at the bottom of this page. Dec 04, 2021 - B. Everett Jordan Lake. If you want to chase these bigger fish using large nymphs and streamers then this trip is for you. Lift the rod tip up or wiggle it. These fish will test your drag, jump, and then tail slap water at you when you release them. The Catawba Angler, 750 Ebenezer Church Road, Old Fort, NC, 28762, United States, Winter Fly Fishing Report & Outlook for Spring 2023, Spring Trout Fishing in Western North Carolina. Black crappie are also common in large, slow-moving rivers in the Coastal Plain but will avoid areas that are turbid or murky. 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