Headed to the mountains next week to do a bit of fishing. My wife has decided to take up the sport and is still a relative beginner. For that reason I want to put her on some DH water so she can catch a few fish.
Wanting to try a new area (for me) I have been thinking about Stone Mountain State Park (Roaring River) or maybe Boone (Watauga River) (Helton Creek). I took her to the East Fork French Broad and the North Mills last spring.
Do any of you with knowledge of the two areas have any preferences? Also, any suggestions on patterns would be appreciated. Leaving next Thursday and gone until the following Tuesday.
Thanks!
I grew up in that area and would say fish the Wautauga and Helton. She should be able to pick up quite a few in there. If you do go into Stone Mountain I would Bullhead Creek. It is s fly fish only stream and has tons of fish over 20 inches. You have to pay for your beat (I think it is $15 a day now) and if you go to the upper sections the little brookies are quite willing to make your day fun.
I would probably just stop by a fly shop in Boone when you get there. All of those counties are in a bad drought and lots of the streams have slowed to a trickle. They would probably be able to tell you the best streams to try.
Thanks for the info. I tried Bullhead about 10 or 15 years ago but and the fish were huge but nothing that I could co would elicit strike. I know that the water is down but frow what I have heard…there is more water there than there is in the Brevard area.
John C. Hassell
Stone Mountain is pretty this time of year, but the fishing can be hit or miss. The water is low and it gets a lot of fishing pressure). I fished it every Friday for about 2 1/2 years. Best fishing for me was always Halloween through 2nd week of December and Valentines until the season opened.
Small prince nymphs, small hare’s ear, and pheasant tails in the deeper pools and just behind the whitewater from the small falls.
So much water, So little time
Lots of times the big ones in Bullhead are fooled by really small midge nymphs and BWO nymphs like a 22 WD-40. They are hard to fish with and the tippet pops a lot but that is one way to get the big trout. I think nobody throws the really small stuff at them.