Stream in Western NC

[troutphisher]

I fished a hatchery supported stream today in the mountains of western North Carolina.
The air temperature was at 36 degrees when I started at 10:00am this morning.
The water temp was 38 degrees. This is a freestone stream medium size.

The water was very clear and running a little high. There was lots of ice in the slower pools, but for the most part the stream was open.


I started the day fishing a size 20 ptn in the runs and tail outs. The takes were very soft, but once on the fish fought hard. I managed to land some rainbows in the morning, but it was difficult to feel the takes.

Later in the afternoon, the fish started sipping bwo's, there was a good hatch around 1:30. I watched a run and saw several rises, so I switched flies to a bwo emerger pattern size 18.
I fished the tail out of some riffles, and the fish were on. The key to it was long casts as the water was very clear and the fish were spooky. I used a 9ft tapered leader with 3ft of 6x tippet, And waited an extra second or two to set the hook, I made sure the fly was pulled under.

Most of the fish caught were female brook trout, with a couple of rainbows.

It was fun to fish these conditions today, and try a new pattern I have been working on.

I tried two different emerger patterns, one with a tuft of CDC, post style, and one with a looped winged case, both flies worked good, but the CDC tuft style worked better.

Here are some pic's of the fish.

[trout_boy_II]

Beautiful!!  I'm jealous, having to stay home this weekend and decorate.  But then, I want to stay married another 30 years...

TB

[troutjedi]

Awesome stuff, TP!

[Woolly Bugger]

Beautiful!!  I'm jealous, having to stay home this weekend and decorate.  But then, I want to stay married another 30 years...

TB

 

Nice report T.P.

[walt]

nice tp..... nice.....

walt

[AlaskaBill]

Thank you for the report. Iam finally getting out this weekend. I won't have my phone so don't call. HHAHAH