trout fishing

Chuckman

Chuckman

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2005
Location
Huntersville
so whatcha recommend for a entry level fly fisherman creek-wise for this weekend in and around Boone area. I am so-so but I really dont want to battle the crowds. once delayed harvest kicks in I may switch to single hook spinners. I want to bring home meat, so whatevers working. I tend to like slow water too, as I can tell whats going on a little better. generally I pond fish topwater for bass/bluegill with bugs.

secondly, whats the best way to keep the little buggers till I come home? small cooler etc? this will actually be my first trip in a loooooong time that I plan on keeping some, so Im not really up on whats correct these days.
 
from huntersville Id probably head to the South Toe

Keep a small cooler in the truck and a hip creel or vest while fishing just dump them on ice when you get back to the truck
 
Ive got family and friends in Boone and need to go about 1/month or I go insane from living in the 'flat'. So thats my jump off point. What does that do to my selection? What to fish this time of year- dry / wet/ nymphs / droppers of a combo?
 
I would fish the Watagua River or head over to Ashe Co and hit Three Top, Big Horse, Big Laurel, Cranberry Creek or Helton. Helton switches from DH to Geeneral this week and there will be a shitton of worm drowners on it so I would wait. Use gold 1/16, 1/32 Panther Martin/ Rooster tails, 5' UL w/ 4lb test. Leave the 8ft switch at home if you are meat fishing. I usually use a 10 ft stringer and a cooler in the truck. I hit a spot w/ 10 casts and move on so i just empty the stringer into the cooler. Good luck and post pics!
 
Just south of Boone, East of Linville is Wilson Creek. There's actually SEVERAL creeks in that area.
The first book on this page is a great resource of Trout streams. at one time I found it online in pdf form, but can't find it now. I have an older copy and I've used it several times.(click on image)
 
They stock the ponds in Banner Elk and Beech Mountain. If Wildcat lake is refilled that's where I'd go. Closer than that is fosco and the back side of Beech Mountain, down towards Watagua(sp) towards Watagua Lake....
 
Franklin said:
I would fish the Watagua River or head over to Ashe Co and hit Three Top, Big Horse, Big Laurel, Cranberry Creek or Helton. Helton switches from DH to Geeneral this week and there will be a shitton of worm drowners on it so I would wait. Use gold 1/16, 1/32 Panther Martin/ Rooster tails, 5' UL w/ 4lb test. Leave the 8ft switch at home if you are meat fishing. I usually use a 10 ft stringer and a cooler in the truck. I hit a spot w/ 10 casts and move on so i just empty the stringer into the cooler. Good luck and post pics!
Click to expand...
youve been reading my mind. this is pretty much what I have decided on doing. any ideas where to park etc and how much stream frontage is on private land? I am so used to getting in a canoe or kayak and floating the New that I am soo not prepared to do this. I know thats lame but I have a big piece of hunting property and have so much trouble with tresspassers that I try to be real careful where I go sos to not be hypocritical = :gay:. Im going to save Helton for the weekday. thinking more about pine swamp as well. three top is close to a buddies so I might give that a try too. it switches from DH at noon on sat right? up till then its C&R on artificial single hooks?
 
three top is hatchery all the time, Helton is the only DH stream in Ashe Co I think. There will be fish to catch on Helton saturday but it will be PACKED. I mean "get so pissed I dont bother anymore" kinda pissed. Three top: start where it enters the New off of 88 on Three Top Rd so ya cant get lost damnit.: Park at the run down building beside the bridge, walk down the other side where they meet. There are so many pull offs on TT it is good, great walking stream and I have NEVER had a problem where there wasnt a no tresspassing sign. But if you stay in the water you can walk where ever you want to. Gold Panthers an Roosters, 1/16 and 1/8 at deep spots and drown some worms. I fish those streams 15-20 times a year and catch plenty if it has been stocked recently http://www.ncwildlife.org/fs_index_03_fishing.htm check this weekly and you will be just fine! Probaly be fast water and murky with all the rain, fish deep and hit holes until you find one that hasnt been cleared. I have caught at least 3 fish over 20" on three top in the last few years. Good luck and damnit now I wanna go!
 
I've never fished up in boone. I always go to Cherokee Nat. Forrest up by the casinos. They stock every week and we have pulled out some monsters up there. The last one got mounted...about 23" long. I'm usually either on a fly rod or a light spinner with corn.
 
update?
 
Thinking about trying again tomorrow. last time I went (the reason for the first post) I fished Three Top and Big Laurel. May be going again to Three Top tomorrow just cause its insanely beautiful and they stocked it again this week and the wifes with the girls all day- AND it costs me all of $25 to NOT BE IN CHARLOTTE = priceless. so why would I want to be in the cave when I could be up there, since I dont do $hit when its this hot. Also thinking of scouting that big ceek that everybody said to stay away from since last time it was just opened to delay harvest. Gotta see what the fuss was about.
 
Ive went fly fishing close to every day last week (rain and everything!)

We went down to valley crucis, the little park they have there. My friend caught a Brown or Brook, about 10 inches long, I caught nothing.

Im still learning to cast it though, Ive yet to hook anything on my rod. I was using nymphs the other day, but I think its still to early for those? Dry flies that have some yellow color seem to be the one everyones using.
 
if you want to learn to cast, and get your technique down - and the backyard gets boring- hit the farm ponds for bluegill- using black ants or poppers although poppers cast totally different than anything else due to weight. but it does help you learn on casting without spooking them too bad.
 
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