Blue Ridge Mountain Fishing Report March 13th, 2007

The weather has been warming up dramatically here in the mountains and so has the fishing. The past few weeks, aside from a few cold days we have had unseasonably warm weather and the trout have really responded. The temps have been in the high 60’s and low 70’s which have made for some great spring time weather. The fishing in the local area around Boone and Banner Elk is really turning on.

The local Delayed Harvest streams, the Watauga, Helton Creek, Cane Creek, have all been restocked and are fishing very well. Fishing on these creeks is still primarily nymphing with a possibility of good dry fly fishing in the afternoon. Stop by our fly shop to check out the new flies for this year, we have lots of new patterns that have the guides and the fish excited. Blue wing olives and some small black caddis are hatching. However nymph fishing is still going to be the most productive.

All Hatchery Supported waters are closed the month of March; so be careful out there and keep a look out for the Green and White Hatchery Supported Placards.

Our small streams in the area are also starting to turn on. The wild trout are still not as easy as they are later in the spring, but due to total lack of fishing pressure and the first opportunity to feed hard, there are some big wild fish on the feed right now. Fishing on these creeks will be similar to the Delayed Harvest streams, start by nymph fishing the deep holes early in the day and as it warms up switch to a Dry and Dropper Rig.

In Tennessee, on the tailrace rivers of the South Holston and Watauga, the fishing has really turned on. Our guides are reporting big numbers of fish and well above average size fish. The Holston has been the better Dry Fly opportunity lately with the Watauga being better for nymphing. One of our guides, Tim Holcomb, had a client catch a 28″ brown trout on the Watauga on Tuesday. Congrats Tom Prestwood on such a great catch. Although the fishing has been excellent in Tennessee lately, the fish are still being very selective. Stop by our shop and we will show you the patterns our guides have been having success with, also make sure you have flurocarbon tippets with you as the water is abnormally clear and low for this time in the spring.

March is a great time to get out and go fishing, the fish are biting and there is no one on the water.