Join the NC Wildlife Resources Commission Thursday March 31st at 7:00Pm for a presentation by David Goodfred NCWRC fisheries biologist.

At this meeting, you will be updated on findings of the NCWRC’s smallmouth bass research, which includes great smallmouth bass fisheries such as the French Broad, Little Tennessee, Tuckaseegee, and Nolichucky Rivers.  Also, you will be introduced to other great smallmouth bass fisheries across the state.

All of this information has come from a 3 year study which objectives were to identify smallmouth populations, collect life history information, and evaluate stream management opportunities. Over the course of this study fisheries biologists collected more than 2,800 smallmouth bass from 42 stream stretches.

For more information contact David Goodfred at 828.659.3324 ext. 227

The 2011 Southeast Regional Fly Fishing Tournament was held this past weekend in the Nantahala National Forest. DRO Guide Bill Strickland finished 6th over all and will be the #2 seated angler to represtent the Southeast in the National Flyfishing Championships  which will be held in Cherokee, North Carolina.  This tournament is scheduled for  May 19th through May 22nd and will host the top 30 anglers in North America.  Stay tuned for more information.

2011 Southeast Regional Top 10

1. Randy Hanner          Team USA

2. Anthony Naranja          Team USA

3. Kurt Finlayson        Team USA

4. Josh Stephens          Team USA

5. Chris Lee          North Carolina

6. Bill Strickland          North Carolina

7. Cory Roberts          Georgia

8. Brian Katzenmair        North Carolina

9. Paul Bourcq          North Carolina

10. Kevin Lowe         Tennessee

Guide Landon Lipke runs a winter clinic on the Davidson River showing us just how to catch fish even on the coldest days of the year. With temps just above freezing, Landons clients brave the chilly water and have some great catches to show for their hard work.

Jr McClellan shows us a nice Davidson River brown trout that he caught. Keep sending us your fishing reports and sharing your photos. To submit your photo entry email walker@davidsonflyfishing.com

The 2011 flyfishing film festival tour stops in Asheville NC on April 9th at the Highland Brewing Co.  Doors open at 6:30 and show starts at 7:00pm. For ticket information contact Hunter Banks Fly Shop. $10 in advance $20 at the door.

Becca Wineka sends us a report from her previous trip to Montana. The Big Horn has always had a great reputation for quality fish and Becca’s nice brown confirms. Great job and look forward to seeing more pics from you all.

Thanks Cory for sharing your photo with all of us on the nice fish caught on the Davidson River. Keep the photos coming everyone as we all enjoy seeing whos catching what when and where.

Five Helpful Tips For Better Success With A Nymph

I often here people say that they do not like to nymph fish, that they prefer to dry fly fish. I agree that it is AWESOME to catch a lot of fish on dries; however 85% or more of a trout’s diet is what it finds under the surface of the water to eat. I feel that most people do not like to nymph fish because they are not successful with it. Here are five tipes to help you become a better nymph fisherman.

1.Add a lot more weight. Most anglers thank that a small shot or a bead head is often enough weight. This will rarely sink more than a few inches in the turbulent current found in most rivers. For instance, last week on a trip we were fishing a number 4 shot above two tungsten bead nymphs and a number 6 shot in between the nymphs.
2.Add weight between your flies. If you fish two nymphs and the lead fly is not weighted, be sure to add weight in front of it and between the flies. If you do not add any weight, the lighter fly will oftentimes get washed ahead of the weighted fly and a fish can eat it without ever stopping the drift. With weight in front of the second fly, it seldom gets washed ahead of the first fly and you will miss fewer strikes.
3.Watch for the strike. If you try and fish without an indicator, you will feel only about 1 out of every hundred fish that strike your fly. You need to have a way to visualize your strike. Most commonly used are strike indicators. However the really good fishermen have learned to watch their line or the knots on a knotted leader just as if it were an indicator for a strike.
4.Set the hook. When I am guiding I am amazed by the number of fishermen that tell me it was the bottom when their indicator bobbles. Sure sometimes it is, but I see countless times on a trip that I know it was a fish and when I yell “set” the client says no it was the bottom. Usually when you hook the bottom it does not turn loose until you force it to do so.
5.Wait on your cast. The other factor a lot of people do not like is that they tangle up a lot more with nymphs. This is due to the weight of the flies that you are throwing. You have to make your self slow down and wait on your back cast.

Fly Fishing | Climate Wisconsin from ECB on Vimeo.