Foscoe Fishing Company Blog - Fishing Tales
Disclaimer: All fishing tales related herein may be whoppers. Telling the classic “tall tale” when it comes to fishing is an art and we are proud of being good story tellers. We reserve the right to add an inch or two to measurements of caught fish using advanced, hard to catch photo software enhancements. All customers who attend classes or guided trips will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement stating they will not make truthful statements about the 12″ fish we caught when it was really only 6″. Thank you for your cooperation, and come back to see us again soon!
The Death of Delayed Harvest
With Delayed Harvest waters turning over to Hatchery Supported soon, the yearly trout slaughter is upon us. The first Saturday in June marks the end of the catch & release single hook regulation on Delayed Harvest (DH) waters. At noon, the DH waters will revert to Hatchery Supported regulations. No lure restictions (bait), no size limit, and a 7 fish creel limit.
The state says that DH streams are managed like this because the stocked trout would not survive the summer. Personally I disagree with this. DH waters do have a lot of stocked trout that may or may not survive, but there is also a large number of stream born wild trout in the water too. I am a firm believer in catch and release fishing, especially for trout.
If you insist on keeping fish, please be responsible and take no more than you are going to eat. If you see someone in violation of these regulations, report them to the Wildlife Resource Commission 1-800-662-7137. Poachers are bad news for all anglers, and it is our responsibility to protect and conserve our fishing opportunities in the High Country.
Boone Fork Browns
The past weekend I had the opportunity to fish with Steve Morin. Steve fished Thursday afternoon and Monday morning on our trophy section in search of massive browns, and he was not disappointed. After landing some gorgeous browns and rainbows with subsurface patterns, we switched to larger terrestrial patterns for some topwater action. After a brief thundershower, we ended the afternoon on a massive brown which left everybody smiling. Steve returned Monday with his in-law Art. Despite heavy rains, the morning was very productive, with both anglers landing “golden trout” within the first few minutes. As he had done Thursday, Steve concluded the trip with a stud brown, which measured 23″ in length and had a 15.5″ girth.
Bluegill Bruisers
Does anyone like to fish to Bluegill with the fly? Well, I can tell you one guy that loves it. There is not a more eager fish to my knowledge that is more fun to catch on light tackle than a Bluegill. I have fished all over the country fresh and salt water and this is one of my favorite fish to catch. Joke if you will but try it and you will remember the tug of the Blue-gill is mighty.
fish till dark or longer,
enjoy, matt
Banner day on the Watauga
I floated the trophy section of the Watauga with clients Rob and Bill Bass, two fishermen who have been celebrating Bill’s birthday with Foscoe Fishing for the past ten years. We began the day wade fishing the South Holston to avoid morning generation on the Watauga and landed the best fish of the day, a 16″ brown. A couple of dozen dinks and a few nice rainbows later, we took a lunch break and headed for the Watauga. The afternoon float was spectacular, with fish cooperating in just about every hole we fished. A handful of beautiful rainbows and browns in the 13″-15″ range were landed, along with several smaller fish. Let’s hope the fishing stays this hot all season long.
Giant Koi in the Watauga?
Last week I found myself fishing on the Watuaga river. The day started just like any other day of fishing with Nice catches of wild rainbows and browns. I worked runs and pools with nymph rigs and finally decided to walk downstream to a favorite hole I had left behind. When I got there, same thing, browns and rainbows but wait, whats that huge orange and black thing swimming in the shadows? I suddenly realized that the trout in this pool were not alone! I only saw the monster fish once before it vanished. If I had to guess I would say that the giant fish was a Koi that escaped from a pond nearby. I know one thing, I’ll be back to find out!
Fly Fishing Schools
With fishing picking up and trout on the rise, now is great time to take a school and learn how to fly fish. Earlier this week we did a 2 day school with a gentleman from Greensboro.
We had a great time learning the ins and outs of fly fishing, and an awesome time on the river the second day. There was a lot of insect activity on the water with an abundance of large mayfly nymphs, as well as some small yellow sallys hatching in the morning.
Hellbender on the Fly
Nasty Hellbender
When you get tired of catching trout in the stream, and the smallmouth are not biting yet, its time to pursue the elusive hellbender. One of our guides was fishing the Watauga DH last week, and got a nice surprise on the end of his line.
As he was swinging a wooly bugger through a trough hoping to get a big trout to eat, he instead hooked this prehistoric throwback hellbender. Hellbenders are native to this area and the New River drainage, and can be as big as 2 1/2 feet long. Apparently wooly buggers are part of their diet.
If you do catch one of these things, you don’t want to pick it up trust us. When they are agitated, they secrete a disgusting slime like substance similar to rubber cement. It stays with you and its nasty. We’re gonna stick to trout from now on.
So, can I fish this stream?
This is a tricky season to negotiate around the regulations. With the hatchery rivers closed for the month of March and the delayed harvest waters catch and release until June a-lot of people get confused.
Be careful and check along the stream banks for signs showing the regulations. If you can’t find any check your NC fishing/hunting regulations book. It has a section outlining stream designations. The river is usually divided between bridges and or tributaries to show different designations. All else fails call the shop to make sure your not fishing where you shouldn’t.
good luck
matt
Weight and Nymphing
Nymphing is one of the greatest techniques for catching trout. It has been a tried and true method for many years.
One reason it is so effective is that trout eat most of their diet under water. This being said, nymphing can still be tricky if the depth isn’t controlled properly. We can control depth by minimizing or adding weight! Split shot is the most widely used and comes in many different styles and sizes. It is often good to carry various sizes so that depth can be adjusted according to stream or river conditions. Remember, your effectiveness with nymphing decreases if your fly isn’t getting to the fish!
I think its called Sun
After a long winter, its looking like that big orange thing in the sky has decided to show up again. Delayed Harvest waters have been stocked, and fishing season is upon us.
We have been out a few times playing with the stockers, and it has been a blast. The state stocked a good number of large fish, and they have been in the stream long enough to get some good fight in them. Remember that Hatchery supported streams are closed until the first Staurday in April.
