Come On!!!

Let’s just say it’s Christmas in Pisgah. Hoodies, warm COFFEE, colored leaves and fired up fish! Temperatures in the mountains have been spot on for some of the best fishing of the year. This season has all kinds of opportunities for all anglers. We are on the best Fall bite I’ve seen in a while. Fish are happy, and willing to eat flies with the water we have pumping through the watershed. All you have to do is pick your poison. Everyday is involving nymphing, dry flies, sight fishing, and shots at large fish. You could be home on weekends watching football, or you could be here enjoying the best weather and angling opportunities North Carolina Fly Fishing has to offer. The Wild Brown Trout are moving a ton, which has resulted in some biggies hitting the net. The Rainbows are fat as they come, and boy do they pull line. Nymphing is really putting numbers in the net, but Blue Wing Olives and Midges have appeared, and it’s getting real dry fly like again. Sight fishing opportunities are perfect at the right times of day, and boy do we have some stories to show and tell. If I was single with no job, I would probably be spending the next 3 weeks in my car on the river (yeah it’s that good). Are team is growing at HEFF, and we are grateful to all who have helped us grow in the year 2020. Wild Fisheries are becoming less crowded with the Delayed Harvest Opening up, and if your looking into DH make sure you get out early. Crowds are still above average just due to the nature of the beast, but as it gets colder that will begin to slow down also. The mornings have been cool, but by 10 O’ Clock we are seeing lots of bugs and fish become very active. These fish have to feed hard right now to get through the Winter and the Spawn, and you need to be there feeding them flies!!! Spawning is close, with catches in the recent weeks showing wild fish beginning to develop eggs. We Probably have a good 1 to 3 weeks till we leave the Wild Brown Trout alone for a bit. Remember we need the wild fish to spawn successfully to ensure a better river in the future. We as anglers need to educate ourselves on spawning WILD fish, and what an important roll they have in our fishery. Don’t go target wild spawners!!! A lot of people do, (my wife told me to delete everything I typed after that last comma). Just stay away from it, and good fish karma will come to you year round. I encourage all anglers to put your waders on whether its your first time, or an avid angler wanting to get dialed in on the bite or chase a trophy. We appreciate all the support throughout the Fall, and are looking forward to seeing you soon.

Streamer Fishing A Colorful Day In Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina