Pisgah National Forest, The Great Smoky Mountains National Park and waters along the Blue Ridge Parkway
Updated Every Thursday
Water Conditions:
Temp – 58-60
CFS – just above normal water levels
http://waterwatch.usgs.gov/?m=real&w=map&r=nc
Hatches
Mayflies:
Sulphurs/PMD’s, Yellow Drakes, Brown Drakes, Slate Drakes, Light Cahills, some Green Drakes in the evenings on certain streams.
Caddis:
Tan , Black, Olive
Stoneflies:
Little Yellow Sallies, Little Green Sallies, Golden Stones
Midges:
Assorted
Terrestrials:
Ants, Beetles, Crickets, Hoppers, Inchworms
Fly Suggestions
Dry Flies:
Flick’s March Brown, CDC Compardun Sulphur, Yellow Palmer, Yellow Humpy, Chartreuse Humpy, Yellow Mayfly Drake, Light Cahill, Brown Drake Spinner, Slate Drake Dun, Slate Drake Spinner, Green Drake Dun, Coffin Fly (Green Drake Spinner) Tan Headlight Caddis, Black Elk Hair Caddis, Yellow Sally, Tennessee Wulff, Yellow Para Madam X, Yellow Stimulator, Ants, Beetles, Crickets, Hoppers, Inchworms
Nymphs and Pupa: Slate Drake Nymph, Mayfly Wiggle Nymph, Olive Hare’s Ear, Tellico Nymph, Yallarhammer, Crow Fly, Tan Braid Pupa, Olive Grand Poopah, Boss Hog Light, Yellow Tungsten Copper Stone
Streamers:
Spruce Fly, Hornberg, Muddler Minnow, various wooly buggers in medium size range.
General Information & Gear Tips
When I fish the wild waters I usually take the minimalist approach, (unless I am going to hike in more than a mile or so) by using a small chest pack such as the William Joseph “Amp” or “Current“ chest packs or the Fishpond “San Juan Vertical Chest Pack” with one C&F waterproof flybox filled with a good assortment of the Traditional Southern Appalachian Flies and some terrestrials mentioned last week.
My favorite rod/reel/line set up would be the Scott G2 7’7″ 2 wt rod, a Lamson Litespeed 1 reel and a 2 wt. Triangle Taper fly line. The G2 is a medium action rod with a quick tip for getting those dry flies into tight spots. The Lamson Litespeed 1 is made from ultra light aluminum so it is light enough to balance out with the lightweight G2 rod and the Triangle Taper fly line is perfect for a day of roll casting with an occasional opportunity for a few longer casts into larger pools.
Planning a fly fishing trip on the waters Western North Carolina?
Let the professional fly fishing guides from Curtis Wright Outfitters take you!