heading up in october. any tips on water to fish, guides, flies, etc
thanks
Hello, I live in Asheville but used to get out that way a fair amount.
If you are looking for relatively catchable trout and non-strenuous fishing, the “delayed harvest” stretches open in October with catch-and-release in heavily stocked waters. Nearby are Big Snowbird Creek below the Junction (end of road) and the Nantahala above the powerhouse. Big Santeetlah Creek is stocked monthly, but the headwaters and small tributaries are managed for wild trout. Farther away, you could consider the Hiwassee tailwater in Tennessee or the “enterprise” waters on the Cherokee reservation, which are stocked weekly. Cherokee has a stretch of catch-and-release trophy water on Ravens Fork where huge trout are stocked and a special license is required. Just below that, the bit of the Oconoluftee from Ravens Fork down to the Parkway bridge is less crowded than most Cherokee waters and has plenty of wild trout. At Cherokee you need a daily permit but no state license.
For wild trout, Big Snowbird above Junction has browns and rainbows. You would just wade upstream. To escape, you have to crawl up the gorge wall to the trail above. If you are up for a 90 minute hike, walk the trail from junction to above High Falls (Mouse Knob Falls) where there is some of the best brook trout fishing in the state.
Other wild trout streams in the area include Slickrock Creek (hike in, browns only), Deep Creek and other Cheoah tributaries near Tapoco, Fires Creek in Clay County, and all the streams in the SW sector of Smoky Park. For a guided trip, you might look for a guide in Bryson City or Fontana who can take you across Fontana Lake to Forney Creek, or one in Andrews or Murphy who knows the remote Tellico River headwaters.
The Nantahala tailwater below Topton is worthwhile. You have to get the discharge schedule from Duke Energy. During discharges, it is an unwadable torrent covered with paddlers, and about all you can do is high-stick along the banks. Usually there is low water in the evening and early morning, but don’t get caught
Thanks for all the info. we are staying on the west buffalo and the guy renting the cabin also recommended snowbird creek (15 minute drive). looks like there is no shortage of water. i only fly fish part time and most of it is for tailing reds in salt flats, but i am going to give it at least a couple days effort.
thanks again for your tips and i plan to hit a few of these spots. will report my results
hutch
pawleys island
he’s pretty white for a fly guy
Hutch, if you don’t have much experience with mountain trout, it would be worthwhile getting a guide to teach you. Otherwise, you are most likely to find success on the “delayed harvest” water, such as Snowbird downstream from the end of the road, or else at Cherokee. The simplest way to catch trout is to swing a wet fly (such as a #10-12 Wooly Bugger) across and downstream in slower water.
I haven’t fished West Buffalo where you are staying, but it might be worthwhile. Its tributary Squalla Creek has some public water in the national forest, and I’ve heard it is a good small stream for wild trout. On small streams you can have success with a large dry fly such as a #12 Humpy or Elk Hair Caddis.
Coincidentally, at that time, I will be taking my first shot at redfish in the grass on spring tides at Edisto. And I won’t know what I’m doing any more than you will in NC!
Make sure and practice your roll casts before you go. almost no room for a backcast in those creeks
Well i fished Snowbird, west Buffalo, Squally,Nantahala, and Lake Santeetlah. Had a really good time with some success. Caught some nice bream in Santeetlah. 2 trout in Snowbird (the delayed harvest water had not been stocked yet). I got a really nice guide, Daniel Boone, for half day, but the trout were not very cooperative. He did however teach me a lot so when i heard that Nantahala delayed harvest had been stocked late in the week and i had a couple of hours on the way home i was able to catch a half dozen or so on a bead head. Thank y’all for the great advice.
he’s pretty white for a fly guy
Glad to hear it. The Nantahala delayed harvest water is very pleasant to fish. While you and I were changing places, I caught some reds in the North Edisto with Capt. Ron Davis, but not on the fly.
The falling leaves are always a problem this time of year, at least they are for me. I’d try nymph fishing instead of dry flies.
oc