Who has fished it? I’m fishing it this weekend and would like to hear from people who have fished it before. Is it a good fly river? What can I expect? What kind of fish can I drag out of it?
There doesn’t seem to be much info on the South Saluda online despite it being a stocked trout stream. I have seen a couple references to difficult access due to the majority of the river running through private property.
I know some of you must have tried this water out. Tell me everything.
I have fished it a few times before. Havent gone up there and been skunked yet. Always catch some stocker rainbows and browns. When u get on 276 in Cleveland park behind the f mart on the corner of river road and 276 and u walk across the field across the street and the stream is right there. Its where they usually stock. Up river road right below jones gap park is a fly only sectio that usually holds nice fish and in the park u can hike in and catch wild bows but its tight fishing but I think thays the middle saluda. Also if you keep driving down 276 to where it splits int0 cherokee foothills highway u can park on the side of the road and fish under eith3r side of the bridge. I have caught some nice ones there. And all along the road between the fmart and the road split you will see signs on the side of the road where u can pull off and walk to the river. Most of my fish have come to hand on egg patterns, squirmy wormies anf nymphs. But have also caught fish on you typical dries too
Good info but I need South Saluda info and you are talking Middle. I plan to hit the Middle some time but not this trip. This will be a quick trip and want to go in with some sort of knowledge so I am not starting from scratch. I normally fish in NC. This will be my first time fishing the SC upstate.
Also, where is the nearest fly shop up there?
I have no idea. I usualky just go to one of the shops in Charleston and stock up before I goi think academy sports in greenville have a pretty big selection of fly fishing gear but thats all I know
I have never fished that river, however a fishing buddy was on the river last year, some property owners are very aggressive about trespassing. He had a shotgun pointed at him and his friend. The property owner was after them for just walking in the river. They entered the water from another owner’s land with permission ! Still got a shot gun pointed at them and a gang of good ole boys later confronted them. Once the Locals talked to the fishermen, it was defused and everyone moved on. Who would want to mess with 2 Marine’s fresh from combat packing a weapon ?
Well I was there Saturday morning. The water was way to high to fish. With all the rain it was muddy and gross. A nice gentleman by the name of Bubba offered to let us fish from his land but with conditions the way they were we didn’t even see the point.
We needed to get to smaller water. We hit Jones Gap State Park to fish some of the wild trout and had a blast. We were the second and third people to fill out permit for the day even though it was kind of late. The only other guy on the river was this old guy that was super nice and helpful to two guys new to the river.
We were in a time crunch and only had maybe an hour and a half on the water. I caught 4 and my buddy caught 3. I landed 3 babies and a 9" and he got 2 babies and an 8", all Rainbows. It was a great day of fishing and Jones Gap State park is beautiful.
We even had a run in with the Park Ranger. As we had about finished gearing up I told my buddy to make sure he had his license ready because I saw the Ranger coming. He pulled up and asked if it was our first time there. I told him it was. He went over all the regs with me then waved and said have fun. Well I’ll be (**()ed. He was a really nice guy. Most of my Johnny Green Jeans encounters end with me mumbling something under my breath about what a prick that guy was.
So if the awesome fishing wasn’t enough I met the rare cool ranger. It really was a good day.
The rangers up there hwbe always been nice when I was there
quote:
Originally posted by smokeybonesThe rangers up there hwbe always been nice when I was there
Glad to hear that is the norm up there.