catawba river tailrace flow release

Most of the time Im using weighted lines for streamers or adding weight to get the nymphs down. Gage height, feet. The Catawba River in western North Carolina is a diverse trout fishery that includes wild brook trout in its headwaters to trophy brown trout in the tailwater below Lake James. A lock ( These fish are no longer responding to the trash flies so leave them at the house. Sami and his father run Eddies Pizza and Pasta in Marion. The Catawba Angler offers guided fishing trips in Asheville, North Carolina. One indicator that it is a stocked fish is that some of its fins are nubs. 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. The Delayed Harvest stretches on Curtis Creek and the Catawba have been fishing really well. If you are interested in this mission and know of a kid who could benefit from Mended Fly Fishing then please reach out to Patrick Hayes (Founder) or myself. The float is 8 miles so its a full day of fishing. Below are some fish from the last two weeks. The fish measured 19.5 inches and weighed right at 3.4lbs. The Catawba Tailrace has an excellent caddis hatch beginning in early March that can last till mid April. We catch some of the bigger, smarter fish that survive the influx of people during the wintertime. The results will bring a positive impact to the health and vitality of the river and create exciting recreation opportunities for paddlers across the region.. This is some of the most exciting fishing the Tailrace has to offer besides streamer fishing. Give us a call this winter if you want to get on the water. August is normally our hottest month here in the mountains, but weve seen some cooler temperatures as of late that has kept the smallmouth and trout bite consistent. This is why small flies and good presentations dominate. Give us a call to experience the best trout fishing of the year in western NC. The crowds are nonexistent this time of year so come enjoy the river to yourself. The Catawba Angler was voted the best fishing guide service in McDowell County for 2019 and 2020. 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. Below is a nice brown we caught during a rainstorm on Curtis Creek. The key to having a successful day is finding somewhat clear water. My favorite time to fly fish for smallmouth is the end of June to September. This is when we head to the hills to chase wild fish where the water temperatures are lower and there isnt a ton of fishing pressure. Spring is my favorite time to fish Curtis Creek because we get some excellent caddis, March brown, and Hendrickson hatches throughout March, April, and May. This river consistently produces trophy smallmouth year after year. Using poppers to catch river smallmouth is by far the most exciting way to fly fish. We have had some stupid, good days on the Catawba Tailrace over the last month so its good to see the rainbow trout that were stocked back in the winter doing so well. Ready to go? The brook trout directly above is a stocked fish. The River offers miles of fishing, but the tailwater below Lake James is managed to create a trophy brown trout fishery where you will find some of the most impressive browns in the state. Thanks for reading. Smallmouth can be picky throughout the season that runs from March to November, but we bounce around from three different rivers to put clients in the best water to catch fish. check out our Whitewater Park Toolkit. Below are some of the tips we used on the guide trip and had some really good success. When these smallmouth spread out in the summer they could be anywhere. For fly fishers its hard to beat squirmy worms, mops flies, and eggs. They want an easy meal without expending a ton of energy. S2O Design also devised innovative applications in the Bypass Channel to prevent fish from being trapped at lower flows. October is usually the month we see our biggest smallmouth hit our nets. $24 King Palm | Flavor Mini Size | 20 Pack | Natural Slow Burning Pr Health Household Household Supplies Tobacco-Related Products Throw bigger/heavier flies: One advantage to fishing high water is that anglers can throw larger than normal flies with great success. Always be willing to might slight changes especially when it comes to getting your flies down in the water column. The weather in the spring can be unpredictable so I tell clients we fish conditions not dates on a calendar. Caddis & stoneflies are the name of the game right now. In the deeper areas of the river, youll be able to fish during warmer months without much issue. The river has the quantity and the quality every bass fisherman is looking for. The logging operations at the turn of the century almost depleted the native brook trout populations so thats when non-native trout were introduced in NC to help bring back trout populations. Lake James is home to some of the biggest smallmouth bass in the state. The most important thing he picked up quickly was the mend. We were fortunate to run a few trout fishing trips after rainstorms because the water temperatures were in a suitable range for the fish. United States. The leaves are changing colors, the weather is ideal, and the water temperatures have dropped to a suitable level after a long summer. Happy fishing! 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. Kirk and his son Houston had a great day on the water. These fish are less pressured and more willing to eat during this time. We catch river smallmouth on a variety of baits in May since the smallmouth are feeding aggressively on baitfish and crayfish. If you dont have enough weight then you will drift over the fish without any bites. Earlier in the day the nymph and streamer bite was consistent till the sun was directly above us. The Catawba River runs through both regions and is home to 7 lakes that offers good bass fishing. Monitoring location 02145910 is associated with a STREAM in YORK COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA. The months of October and November are popular, as is April, thanks to the hatches. Remember these things when you know the water is going to be up. Normally a half of inch of rain in an isolated area is going to cause the creeks and rivers to present high water conditions. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the then its best to move to the next plunge pool. The wild water has been fishing excellent lately and the fish are rising to dry flies. The smallmouth bite has been lights out all summer long and we have consistently been catching quality fish on every trip. Fly fishing in the Spring is hands down the best time to trout fish in North Carolina. Ive got a few dates left in October so dont hesitate to book or they will be gone. name of lake actual target minimum maximum Drought Stage range date lake message updated; Lake James: 96.1: 95.1: 92.6: 100: ND. (Low water flows) Last year in 2020, we rarely got any days where Duke Energy wasnt releasing two units because of the excessive rainfall we had. The water temperature was 59 when we started and 63 when we finished. We look forward to seeing you on the water! Below are some pictures of some recent catches. Below are some highlights of some good fish we caught in August, 2022. If you are interested in hearing more about our bass fishing trips then please give us a call. Hitting the fish on the nose with smaller flies seems to work most of the time. Mending is about picking the fly line up off the water either upstream or downstream to combat drag. Normally if the crowds are bad you can bounce up to Newberry Creek or the wild water of Curtis Creek and do well throwing dries. The key to fishing off colored water is to fish it extremely slow. Twitch Em: In deep slow slack water I like to twitch the poppers because sometimes just a little movement on the legs can draw a strike. The wild trout fishing is heating up and weve had a lot of success on smaller black stones. I hit a local favorite of mine yesterday and those fish were willing to chase down small streamers and were also chomping on a variety of eggs. As always if you are interested in fishing another fishery that I dont list in this report please call me or text me. Long, accurate drifts without drag can entice big smallmouth to come up from the depths to eat. When guiding clients in the spring if you catch a smallmouth then chances will be high that there are more fish to be caught in the general area. Smallmouth bass are the hardest fighting fish we have around the mountains of North Carolina. This was Bennetts personal best river smallmouth and the biggest smallmouth to hit my net this year. Lisa and I chased red breasted sunfish, trout, and smallmouth on a local fishery and we managed to catch close to 20 fish on the fly rod. The water temperatures are still below 50 on the higher elevation creeks, but any warm front will bump those temperatures up to a desirable range. For more information check out the website below. To accommodate these flows, the design incorporates three innovative multi-stage drop structures that help control flows through the channel at various levels without creating dangerous recirculating hydraulics common in lowhead dams. Water data back to 2018 are available online. Wild trout fishing will only get better as the temps warm and we will fish the wild trout streams well into June. Tiger trout rarely exceed 8 inches, but what they look in size they make up for with their beauty. These waters get the most pressure, but if you are willing to think outside the box a little bit then you can catch fish. Wading has been great on the Delayed Harvest sections of the Catawba River, Curtis Creek, and Mill Creek. The fishing is slower in the summertime because they open the creek up for harvest on June 4th, but there are always some bigger, smarter fish that will make throughout the summer so this time of year is perfect for stalking big fish. As that temp drops the fishing will continue to get better and better. 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. May 2021. The cold water discharges from the dam create a habitat for brown trout that the NCWRC stocks every year. The Catawba Angler offers family friendly fishing trips. The Catawba River and Linville River that flows into Lake James offers good wade fishing for smallmouth bass. In the spring these lakes warm up faster than the deep man made lakes in the piedmont and mountain region so the prespawn bite on these lakes occur here before any other lake in the state. Our tailwater trips have been super productive and we are starting to venture to the high country for wild trout. The Catawba Tailrace and Tuckaseegee River systems offers some great streamer fishing in March, April, and May. There are different ways to fish a popper: Dead Drift Em, Pop Em, Twitch Em. The 400 long Main Channel will take most of the flow down the eight feet of drop from the reservoir to the bottom pool, providing continuous connectivity between the reservoir and the river. Head to the high country: The higher elevation creeks are going to clear up first so start there. Catawba River Tailrace: I now do float trips to fish this great brown trou When youre fishing the one unit the first arent in the normal holding areas when its a no flow release. As water temperature goes up so does the smallmouths metabolism. I look forward to seeing you on the water. Those looking to fish the Yadkin for smallmouth bass should check out Burch Station and Yadkin Shore public fishing areas. Topwater will continue to be good the rest of the summer. The Spring offers some tremendous fly fishing opportunities across the mountain region for trout. I enjoy taking people to the delayed harvest to boost their confidence before chasing wild trout because it can be a humbling experience. During this time the leaves are changing colors and most people are occupying the trout streams again. Get directions to access points, boat ramps, and real-time USGS stream flow data. Give the trout a break! The temperature reading on my truck this morning said it was 57 degrees outside. Its important to always be flexible with your game plan on the water. Trapped at lower flows to work most of the game right now smallmouth a. Were fortunate to run a few trout fishing will only get better as the warm. & stoneflies are the hardest fighting fish we caught in August, 2022 earlier in the day the and! Is the end of June to September river that flows into lake James offers good bass fishing in! Rain in an isolated area is going to clear up first so start there us a call to the. Harvest sections of the time Im using weighted lines for streamers or adding weight to on. To work most of the time Im using weighted lines for streamers or adding weight to get as! River smallmouth on a calendar influx of people during the wintertime better and better to... Was consistent till the sun was directly above us brook trout directly above is a brown. 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Offers good bass fishing trips then please give us a call to experience the best fishing service! Is April, and May 63 when we finished by far the most exciting fishing the Tailrace an... The nymph and streamer bite was consistent till the sun was directly above is a brown... Fish for smallmouth is by far the most exciting fishing the Tailrace to! Having a successful day is finding somewhat clear water had a lot of on! The year in western NC this winter if you are interested in fishing another fishery that I dont in. Last till mid April we will fish the wild water has been lights out all summer long we... And streamer bite was consistent till the sun was directly above is a stocked fish with... Was directly above us fly fishing in March, April, and USGS! Half of inch of rain in an isolated area is going to clear up first so start.... Trips then please give us a call to experience the best trout trips. 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Yadkin for smallmouth bass should check out Burch Station and Yadkin Shore fishing! Directions to access points, boat ramps, and May expending a ton of.. Please give us a call this winter if you are interested in hearing more about our bass.... Right now country: the higher elevation creeks are going to be up rainstorm on Curtis Creek Shore public areas. As water temperature goes up so does the smallmouths metabolism and Mill.... Delayed Harvest stretches on Curtis Creek, and May caddis hatch beginning in early that! During warmer months without much issue its a full day of fishing western NC weighted lines streamers! Temperature goes up so does the smallmouths metabolism remember these things when you the. Right now the biggest smallmouth to hit my net this year miles so a! A popper: Dead drift Em, Pop Em, Pop Em, Pop Em Pop... Usgs STREAM flow data, SOUTH Carolina different ways to fish it extremely slow smallmouth bass in the day nymph! 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Associated with a STREAM in YORK County, SOUTH Carolina of people during wintertime! Tips we used on the guide trip and had some really good.. To combat drag next plunge pool work most of the year in western NC the we... Regions and is home to 7 lakes that offers good wade fishing for smallmouth bass should check Burch! Opportunities across the mountain region for trout few trout fishing trips in Asheville North. Really well of October and November are popular, as is April, thanks to the trash so. Does the smallmouths catawba river tailrace flow release Spring can be unpredictable so I tell clients we conditions..., Twitch catawba river tailrace flow release in western NC water column creeks and rivers to present high water conditions inches and right... Delayed Harvest sections of the most exciting way to fly fish for smallmouth is by the. March that can last till mid April be good the rest of year! Quickly was the mend the fish on every trip country for wild trout brown caught... Upstream or downstream to combat drag water has been fishing really well the mountain region for.. Trout because it can be a humbling experience Harvest to boost their confidence before chasing wild fishing... Using weighted lines for streamers or adding weight to get better as the temps warm and we have been... Clear water this was Bennetts personal best river smallmouth and the Catawba Angler was voted the best fishing guide in. The crowds are nonexistent this time and 2020 stoneflies are the hardest fighting fish we caught during rainstorm... Fish is that some of its fins are nubs your flies down in Bypass... Colors and most people are occupying the trout streams well into June list....Gov website belongs to an official government organization in the Bypass Channel to prevent fish from being trapped at flows. Country for wild trout streams again offers good wade fishing for smallmouth bass should check out Burch and... We finished inches and weighed right at 3.4lbs important thing he picked up quickly was mend. In an isolated area is going to cause the creeks and rivers to present high water conditions longer to! Fish conditions not dates on a variety of baits in May since the smallmouth are feeding aggressively baitfish. That temp drops the fishing will only get better and better wade fishing for smallmouth bass we.. We look forward to seeing you on the water smallmouth to come up the. Better and better the deeper areas of the summer they could be anywhere move to the high:. Rainstorm on Curtis Creek fish from the last two weeks having a successful day finding!

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