Dirty Bird from Bill Strickland on Vimeo.

Early spring brings a lot of life to the streams of WNC, not only fishermen but insects and increased metabolism in the trout. Here are some helpful tips to make the most of your next early spring trip.

1. While the fish are far more active than they have been in the last couple of weeks the water is still really cool (ok almost cold). Fish are still lethargic in the morning and evening hours. So fish slow and do not be in a big hurry.
2. Rising fish (or what we perceive to be rising fish) are often eating emerger’s just under the surface of the water rather than duns. Before casting to the rise with a dry fly look to see if the fishes head is breaking the surface or if it is his back. I was fishing with Dave Hughes last week when we encountered rising fish we switched flies to a dry and no takers about 5 minutes later we switched to a soft hackle pheasant tail with no shot and fished just below the surface and caught a lot of nice fish.
3. Mid day is still more productive than early morning and late evening. For at least the next couple of weeks the fish will still prefer to feed in the middle part of the day when the water is at its warmest. Once the water reaches 52 and stays there overnight then the fishing will be good in the early morning.
4. For at least the next couple of weeks dark colored flies will out produce light colored flies. Typically I fish a lot of Parachutes Adam’s, Pheasant Tail’s, Kevin’s Stoneflies, and dark colored caddis or small black stimulators.
5. Fish larger tippets, and land more fish. In the spring the fish have had the winter off and the water flows are generally higher. SO fish have to make an immediate decision eat the bug or watch it go by. I have always fished higher tippet sizes in the spring because of this, usually 4-5x. With the advances that have been made in fluorocarbon tippets I can even do a larger size. Last year I never fished any tippet smaller than 5x fluorocarbon and have found my self fishing 3-4x fluorocarbon and catching more fish because I am not breaking fish off as much as I did with the lighter tippets

Below are five tips for you to use when you arrive to your favorite spot and can not seem to figure out what to use or what the fish are feeding on.

1. If fish feed under or around the trees only after the wind blows then the fish are feeding on ants or inchworms that are being blown out of the trees. If they are feeding under the trees and there is no wind or when the wind is not blowing they are feeding on flying insects, i.e. beetles or bees.
2. While approaching the stream check the bushes and spider webs for any insects. Are there any mayflies trapped in the spider webs? Are there any caddis flies flying out of the bushes when you shack or bump into them. Are there any stonefly cases on the rocks or logs? 
3. What are the weather and water conditions, as a general rule you should fish bright colored flies on bright days and dark colors on gray overcast days. Example: blue wing olives are more active on gray overcast days and hoppers are more active on warm sunny days.
4. Never under estimate the power of the STONEFLY. Stoneflies have a three year life span in the stream and are available to trout everyday of the year. They are also very poor swimmers and are very vulnerable to trout in times of high water. When nothing else works a stonefly will usually catch a few fish. Remember that stoneflies live in clear fast water on the bottom under rocks, so your fly should be fished near or on the bottom.
5. Keep adding weight to your fly. A lot of times in warm weather or when fish are inactive they lay on or near the bottom of the river. Keep adding weight to your fly until you start catching fish or you are continually hanging on the bottom. Inactive fish are as lazy as some humans and will only move a couple of inches to take advantage of a free meal.
6. *Bonus Tip* Remember when the fish will not cooperate you can always go have an ice cold beer.

Limay Minnow from Bill Strickland on Vimeo.

Tying the Girdle Bug from Bill Strickland on Vimeo.

Josh has his entry in with a nice Watauga River Brown Trout

Tying the Parachute Adams from Bill Strickland on Vimeo.

Trout have to eat to survive. While we all stopped fishing because the weather got cold, the fish still have to eat; therefore fishing can be even better in the cold. I enjoy winter fishing probably more than any other time of the year. There are fewer people on the river and the fish I catch are generally larger.

1. This is the clearest water of the year. You will need to approach holes cautiously. Fish will spook easier this time of year than any other time. Watch so that your shadow does not fall over the fish you are fishing for.
2. S L O W down. While most anglers fish just as fast as they do in warm weather, the fish are lethargic and will not run the length of the pool to attack a fly. You may literally have to drift the fly over the fish three times to make him eat it.
3. Know what the fish are feeding on. There are not a lot of insects available to the trout in the cooler water, mainly midges, stoneflies, and a few baitfish or crayfish. There are also some worms available after it rains.
4. Larger flies are the key. Fish either large flies that imitate stoneflies, or fish midge larva and pupa, generally sizes 20 and smaller. I typically fish a size 8 Kevin’s Stonefly, with a #20 chocolate WD 40 trailing the larger stonefly.
5. While it is tempting to fish very small tippet, don’t. There is usually increased water flow, so I typically fish 4x fluorocarbon to my lead fly and 5x to my dropper. This results in fewer lost fish, and fewer lost flies on the bottom.

Beginning Fly Tying  $40 per person   

Dates:  January 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th.  From 6pm- 8pm.  

Join Instructors Bill Strickland & Lou Barlow for our beginners course in fly tying. This class is designed to get you up and started tying basic patterns or you can use this as a refresher course if you have not tied in several years.  The class will cover majority of all the tools used for tying and will teach you basic flies to tie such as the Elk Hair Caddis, San Juan Worms, Egg Patterns, WoolyBuggers, etc.  We will supply all the tools and materials while in the class and also provide each person with a DRO fly tying manual.  If interested please email Bill Strickland at bstrickland@davidsonflyfishing.com.

Bass Flies   $35 per person

Dates: February 10th, 17th.  From 6pm – 8 pm

Join Instructor Walker Parrott as he shows you how to tie basic and advanced flies for catching big bass this summer.  This class is recommended for those individuals who have some fly tying skills.  Flies will include Clouser Minnows, Poppers, Sliders, and various other flies.  For more information please contact Walker at Walker@davidsonflyfishing.com

Southern Appalachian Trout Flies   $40 per person

Dates: January 23rd

Learn to tie local flies with one of the Masters in the Industry. Kevin Howell will teach you how to tie some of the traditional Southern Appalachian Flies such as the Yallar Hammer, Sheepfly, Secret Weapon, as well as a few other mountain trout flies. Previous tying experience is preferred.  Contact Kevin Howell for further information at info@davidsonflyfishing.com

Rod Building  $ 75 per person

Dates: January 5th, 19th, 26th….. February 2nd

This class will teach individuals how to build their own graphite fly rod.  You will cover all aspects of building a rod from selecting materials and handles to wrapping guides and epoxying the rod.  DRO will supply all glues,epoxy,and rod driers.  Student swill need to provide 1″ roll of masking tape, a 1/4″ chain saw file, and a pair of sharp fine point scissors.  You will also receive a  HOW TO  manual for rod building and 15% discount for all material ordered through DRO.  For more information email us at info@davidsonflyfishing.com

As we change into a fall fishing pattern there are several things that fishermen can do to increase there catch through out the day. That may be slightly different than the techniques that they were using for summer time fish.

Fishing is good throughout the day, you do not have to fish early or late. Trout will feed all day as they are trying to feed up for the winter, and for spawning in late November in our part of the country.

Terrestrials are a very good fly to use in the fall. However fishing an ant or beetle or hopper in the early morning when it is cool and they are not as active is probably not going to produce as many fish as if you fished the same fly later in the day.

Go big or go home, large trout especially browns like to make a good meal out of eating smaller fish this is especially true in the fall a large trout is capable of eating another trout half his size. So fish large streamers yes even in clear water for larger browns and rainbows.

Fishing dark colored mayfly nymphs and caddis pupas in the morning are a good choice. Then transition to the dries as the day warms up.

Do not be afraid to impair action to your fly until the water gets below 50 degrees. Fall trout tend to more aggressive, so skating flies, stripping flies, or adding some type of movement to your fly may result in more aggressive strikes.