The stage is set for the 2011 US Flyfishing National Championships hosted in Cherokee, North Carolina May 19 – 22 2011. Check the link below for more information.

www.usnffc.com

Rise Fishing Company came into town last week to demo their new line of flyfishing rods. Teamed up with guides Walker Parrott and Bill Strickland they set out to fish the famous Davidson River. The day was full of excitement, lots of fish, and sun which is something we have been lacking here lately. For more information about the Rise Fishing Rods check out their website at www.risefishing.com

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

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.

What a great way to get warmed up for Spring fishing! Starting February 1, 2011 through February 28, 2011 buy a 2 person half day guided trip on the DRO private water for the price of a 1 person half day. That’s a savings of over $100 and a great way to get back into the swing after a cold winter. This promotion is blog specific so you must notify that you want the blog promotion at the time of booking in order to receive your discount.

Tight Lines!