I’m headed back to Stone Mtn this weekend. Any folks knowledgable about the hatch willing to send some pointers my way? Would appreciate.
Too Busy, if you’re around any evening this week, would love to drop by and maybe pore over a map with you to get some places to try with my boys. Let me know! Thank you sir.
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
From what I remember Stone mnt. is a delayed harvest/ hatchery supported stream… therefore “Hatch” doesn’t mean anything… If you wanna catch fish in those streams just take some brown, olive, and black woolyboogers and swing em’ across and down stream with a little twitch… done…
Now I do beleive they have some Wild designated water and in that case the hatch also does not matter… Small stream fish in WNC are oportunistic… they will eat anything that hits the water as long as it looks and acts like food. I prefer larger buggy patterns like Stimulators and Caddis… Yellow is always a good color, tans work well too. The biggest key is a dead drift… don’t let the current drag your fly line around or the fly will start “skating” and will deminish any chance you had at fish. Also stealth is key on the small wild water… wear drab clothing, keep a low profile, and fish upstream… move slow and try to keep yourself hidden as best as possible.
Terrestrials work well this time of year as well, beetles and ants produce… just make sure to make the fly “smack” the water when you deliver it… Dead drift is equally important with the terrestrials as well.
Also nymphs will produce alot of fish for you… Black copper johns, BH prince, and BH pheasant tail in sizes 14-18 are the bread and butter… Drop one about 3’ below a stimulator and you can fish the top and bottom to see if the fish are looking up or are eating down low… this is called a Dry/dropper rig… it takes some getting used to to cast… but its a killer in small pocket water like what you’re gonna find…
Good luck to you, and enjoy the cool water…
Mad Mike
"to hell with insane… I’m OUTsane!!! "
Thanks MM… Does any of the Angler’s have a good selection of said flies now?
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
yeah… we have some here in MTP, but we are admittedly a little low. I think the WA store has a little better selection right now. We always try to stay stocked up on the “Meat and Potatoe” patterns for trout fishing, but it never hurts to hit a shop up there to get some different stuff.
Wild fishing in WNC is really alot less complicated than people make it out to be… The biggest thing is stealth, and presentation… do those two things right, and catching fish will happen!
Mad Mike
"to hell with insane… I’m OUTsane!!! "
Thank you sir. We were there later in the fall last year and my son and I both caught some, so we considered that good for our first time ever in a stream. Looking to do a little better this time I hope!
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
Dave
You can swing by this evening if you like. I’ll head out to the garage and grab my NC Atlas and Gazateer maps.
I hope there’s some water up there. I was in Boone last month and it was deathly dry up there. Wilson Creek and a bunch of tributaries into the Watauga were dried up.
There’s always “some” water in the east prong of the Roaring river. It gets low and super clear so even the stocked fish get skittish in late summer. I’d fish the deep pools this time of year starting at the back of the park.
Hit the first pull off and walk downstream beyond the park boundary. There’s a big rock ledge with a small fall that keeps the pool aerated.
moving upstream hit the riffle and pool where the Corps placed the big cut boulders, then the bend pool where the car is parked. skip over the beaver dam swamp section and stop at redneck rock if there isn’t someone there. After that park at the group camping lot and head right. Usually a few fish to be found in each pool for about 150 yards downstream, not much upstream until you get beyond the handicapped access just past the parking area. The stretch from there to the back of the church always gives up a few fish.
If you want a challenge, drop some $$ in the box and rent a section of Bullhead creek. There are some big honkin trout in there that have seen every fly known to man. They’ll still fall prey to a stealthy approach and a drag free drift. The biggest fish are in the lowest sections, the best fishing is further in when the pools get smaller and there’s more cover to shelter your approach.
Gimme a shout if you want to swing by. Anne is at the movies and I’m chillin with the kids.
821 5254 home 217 0271 cell
Who’s ready for a sleigh ride?
www.kayakfishsc.com
Wilderness Systems Kayak Fishing Pro Staff
Wait until October to fish up there. Not many fish left in those creeks in late summer.
Water was real low, and I didnt even fish. Had a big group and more of a family trip than a fishing trip.
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”