Trout

Scrub

Twelve Pointer
Contributor
Anybody fish for trout in the mountains late fall/early winter in NC?
 
Last edited:

Loganwayne

Ten Pointer
Thinking about fishing some around Cherokee this winter. You fly fish or just use bait?

Fly fish. It and the park are both good places to fish. Cherokees stocking schedule isn’t consistent like NC stocking schedule


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Loganwayne

Ten Pointer
I’m no expert but yes I use nymphs And some times very small dry flies
061c579ec3c8c4595c3fe595f3fe3f7d.plist
a84c02d403e8d0e8328c14c729e4064b.plist


This is a good book for reference it was made by a local guy for WNC fly fishing


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

turkeyfoot

Old Mossy Horns
If you wanna catch and release go to any delayed harvest stream they stock first Oct and Nov I catch fair amount in fall winter
 

old dog

Spike
Some of the biggest wild trout I have caught have come in the winter. Same big caddis indicator trailing a wet royal coachman and a nymph (hares ear type tied with squirrel) that I use all year, just a deeper set on the wets.
 
I used to fly fish in high school but never could master anything but nymphs. I stick to natural baits, spinners, jigs, etc.
 

valetroutfisherman

Ten Pointer
I've fished East fork of French Broad in November about 8 years ago, it was so cold I had to break the ice close to bank to get in water. I was fly fishing, them trout barely sipped the flys off the water.
I've also fished Helton creek. Mills river.
I turn over rocks to see what's attached too.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
 

valetroutfisherman

Ten Pointer
My SIL and I went to Cherokee back in late Oct, and the water was so low. It was hard to fish. We still caught some. But not as many as normally.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
 

alt1001

Old Mossy Horns
Winter fly fishing can be tough. Trout aren't as apt to chasing meat like they are in the warmer months. I find myself fishing smaller nymphs and being much more patient. Fly placement is key as they aren't likely to move much for food so if you're fishing a run, give yourself a few extra casts before moving on as you never know how much an inch here or there can change the outcome. If you were to ask me what my favorite cold water flies are, I'd say stick to the basics. Go with beadhead hares ears or pheasant tails. I like blood midges and rainbow warriors as well. Don't go big, remember typically the water is very clear in the winter. If you can fish around a low pressure system, that's good too. I've had good luck going in after a good winter rain where it warms and muddy's the water up a bit.
 

Panthera

Eight Pointer
I like to fish waters where single hook in line spinners are allowed. Used white and yellow Rooster tails and Panther Martins in black and yellow.
 
Top