Took some time off from chartering in the inshore waters of Charleston and headed up to the Delayed Harvest section of the Nantahala River. Was on the river by 0730 Friday morning, and the fish were hungry. Caught and released many of the normal stockers of 14 to 16 inches, and two large hatchery brood brookies - one was 20 inches and the other was 18. Lots of fun on a 2 wt. fly rod. Yellow stones, blue winged olives, and caddis were hatching well.
Saturday started out much the same till the rain started murking up the water to the point where the gold ribbed hare’s ear, even in dark brown, stopped working. On a whim, I had tied up a few chartreuse San Juan Worms, and thought that the murky water was a good time to give them a try. After catching a couple of normal sized fish, a monster brown took the green worm and the fight was on - this time on my 4 wt. I try to fight large trout gently to try to keep them calm - seems like the more resistance they feel the harder they run. This brown, estimated at around 26 inches, hadn’t made a run yet and was getting close - too close. Having no where to go, I stood very still as he brushed by my waders and circled behind me only to make a mad drag-screaming dash for the other side of the river and broke the tippet. End of that story.
By Sunday morning, the water had cleared up well, and the largest fish caught was a 20 inch hatchery rainbow with only one eye. This time my keep-them-calm theory worked, or either the fish couldn’t see which way to run.
All in all, a great way to unwind for a weekend vacation. Even with the rain Saturday, the mountains are gorgeous this time of year, and the fishing is fantastic. As great as it was, I’m glad to be back in the inshore waters of Charleston.
Good Fishing and
Thanks,
Captain David Sarratt
captain.david@searatcharters.com
http://www.searatcharters.com