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More Musings
     
July 2003 WNC Fishing Report
By: Scott Cunningham
Well as we all know it's been a WET Spring and Summer so far.
The local creeks, streams and rivers are all in great shape. It's been 5 or more
years since I've seen the water levels so high in July, sure is a nice site to
see. With the high water comes dirty and muddy water also and that's made it
tough on getting out there to fish. At this point you have to keep a clear
schedule and get out there when the conditions are right. I know that's tough to
do some days and sometimes it's impossible. When you just can't change your
schedule it helps to be flexible in your fishing preferences. It's nearly
impossible to blow out a high mountain brookie stream, well they get blown out
but only for short periods of time. While it's tough to blow out brookie streams
it's very easy to blow out the smallmouth rivers. So keep it in mind that when
the rivers are blown out you can all most always head upstream and find fishable
water.
Wild Trout Fishing
The wild trout fishing has been extremely hot!! With these great water levels
the fish are active and willing to eat. Terrestrials have been the ticket on my
last few trips. Plopping a beetle, splatting a hopper or laying out an ant have
all been effective. The fish are hungry and willing to move to eat. So don't
fret if your cast isn't perfect, give it a chance the fish have been moving
several feet to hit the fly. Normally this time of year we're fishing long
leaders with delicate casts. Not so this year, I've been doing very well fishing
beetles (mostly foam bodies) on 4x tippet and 7ft leaders. This short heavy
leader allows me to "PLOP" the beetle down and then wait for the fish to come
and get it!!
Delayed Harvest and Hatchery Supported Streams
Well the Delayed Harvest Catch and Release regulations are long and gone and so
are the fish! I would skip the DH streams this time of year. But don't overlook
going upstream to find great fishing. Hatchery Supported streams are fishing
well and have been stocked heavily. With the water levels being so high the
state has had a great opportunity to stock extra fish. Remember over the past
few summers the state had to skip the stocking on several streams due to low and
water water levels. Not so this year, the streams have been stocked well
and the fishing has been good. The terrestrials work here also!
Smallmouth Rivers and Streams
Well the smallie rivers are flowing and the trick is hitting them when they are
down!! :-) All kidding aside, for smallie fishing this summer you must be very
flexible. If the rivers are up, head upstream to the trout waters, but no rain
for a few days and the smallie fishing is on! We've had some great
afternoons smallie fishing this spring and summer. As with trout I tend to stick
with the theory... big flies in spring and small in the fall. With the water up
and moving, working large (size 4-6) poppers from the fast water, across the
seams, into the slower water has been very effective. Fishing the stiller side
cuts and eddies has also produced some nice fish but here it's important to make
less movement with your fly. As for flies, try some size 4-6 poppers and sliders
in black, chartreuse and this year I've had some good success with orange. For
underwater flies hellgrammite patterns and crayfish patterns have been working
and as always Clousers and minnow
patterns need to be in your flybox.
Good luck and feel free to drop me a line with comments and questions...scott@wnctrout.com
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