Tar Heel Fly Fishing

Red Hot Fishing Out There!

noreply@blogger.com (Tyler Legg) — Sun, 06 May 2012 19:15:00 +0000

I'll admit it, a very busy schedule has left me no time to blog, fish, or ultimately have a life. Now that things are starting to calm down a bit, I'm hoping to post (and fish) more.

Judging by all of the reports I've been seeing on social media and numerous blogs, fishing is red hot right now. There's a whole list of bugs that are hatching, temperatures are perfect, and the fish know it. Get out and enjoy if you can!

Wild streams

If you want to get away from the crowds, try fishing a nearby wild stream. They're fishing well right now and as long as the drought doesn't get too bad, they'll continue to fish well. Take a small box of dries (maybe a Green Weenie or Tellico Nymph on the side) and start counting fish. Try a yellow Stimulator, Yellow Para Adams, Yellow Elk Hair Caddis, PMX, Trude, or a Turk's Tarantula. Yellow seems to be the color of choice right now.

DH waters

The DH waters were recently stocked and should contain plenty of fish. Most generic patterns will serve you well. Try a #12-14 yellow Stimulator, #16 Elk Hair Caddis, #14-16 Yellow Para Adams, #14-18 Copper John, #14-18 Pheasant Tail Nymph, Green Weenie, Squirmie Wormie, etc.

Send in your NC fish pics and I'll slap them on the THFF Fish Wall!

-Tyler

17 Year Old Lands 66Ib State Record Striper

noreply@blogger.com (Tyler Legg) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 01:53:00 +0000

It's not Photoshopped folks. 17 year old Tyler Shields was expecting a leisurely afternoon out on Hiwassee Lake with a couple of buddies, but that leisurely afternoon on the water turned into something I'm sure he'll never forget. On 10 pound test and an open face reel, Shields reeled in a state record 66 pound striper, that shattered the old NC record of 54 pounds set back in 1991. The most impressive thing is the fact that the fish was less than 2 pounds shy of the world record freshwater striper. Read the story here. Awesome job Tyler!

Fly Fishing News From Around the Country...

noreply@blogger.com (Tyler Legg) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 02:15:00 +0000

Jose Wejebe, host of the popular Outdoor Channel TV show Spanish Fly, died in a plane crash in Everglades City, FL earlier today. Horrible news. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. Read the story here---> http://bit.ly/HfGJzT

Cyclist is injured when he runs into a "booby trap". That booby trap was later found to be the fly line of an angler. Read the story here----> http://noconow.co/HoLwNw

Tom Rosenbauer on "Should I stay or Should I Go?" A podcast episode discussing whether or not anglers should stay put or move on to their next potential target. Listen here----> http://bit.ly/HtAtXL

Watershed Movie trailer directed and narrated by Robert Redford. Watch here----> http://bit.ly/GEtYAX

THFF on Twitter!

noreply@blogger.com (Tyler Legg) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 03:32:00 +0000

It seems as if I've been tweeting about everything BUT fishing on my personal twitter page. To fix that, I've created a separate Twitter account dedicated to fly fishing in the Tar Heel State. I'll do my best to tweet daily tips (might not be every single day though at times), along with fishing info, pics, and more. If you'd rather see all fishing tweets, @CarolinaAngler is what you want to follow.

-Tyler

Troutfest 2012...

noreply@blogger.com (Tyler Legg) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 02:45:00 +0000

Troutfest 2012, one of the largest venues centered around fly fishermen, is right around the corner! This year, the expo will be held on Friday, May 18th, and Saturday 19th/Sunday 20th. The banquet/auction is being held that Friday evening and the expo kicks off on Saturday at 9:00am. Bob Clouser and Lefty Kreh will be there again this year. Unfortunately Joe Humphreys won't make be able to make the trip down to TN. We'll miss him, but we'll look forward to next May.

Troutfest is all for a good cause, too. All proceeds go to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Fisheries Department where they'll be used to maintain and improve fish habitat within the Park.

I will be there that Sunday from 1-5pm as a fly tying demonstrator. Learn to tie my Extended Body Inchworm, Vinyl Rib Stone, several semi-realistic patterns, and more!

Hope to see y'all there!

Best Advice: Go fish!

noreply@blogger.com (Tyler Legg) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:39:00 +0000

Almost feels like summer out there. Almost. Heat, followed by afternoon storms makes you question the time of the year. Thankfully, the humidity has been relatively low lately, though it's beginning to creep up (52% humidity in Asheville with a temperature of 65° at the 11am observation). The temperatures—which are well above average—are making things feel more like early summer. No wet wading just yet (that water is still going to be chilly) but sooner or later, waders will be overkill and wet wading will be the way to go. Of course the temperatures will be the deciding factor. So far, so good. Temps will fluctuate as they normally do in the spring as warm air ahead of the cold fronts is replaced by dry, cooler air behind. Regardless, the weather is absolutely spectacular!

Excellent weather makes for some excellent fishing. You simply can't beat the conditions right now. DH waters are stocked and ready to be fished. Wilson Creek, Stone Mountain, and the North Mills, would be my top 3 DH waters. If DH fishing isn't what you're after, check out the Nantahala tailwater or the C&R section of the Davidson River. I'm confident this weekend will be crowded on most rivers given the warm weather. I'd get there early if possible. Wild waters will eliminate the crowds, so if you don't mind catching a ton of 7" vibrantly colored wild fish, small streams should treat you very well.

As far as flies go, nymphs in the morning and dries in the afternoon will be the ticket. Quill Gordons, Blue Quills, and caddis are all hatching right now. Try an emerger when you notice the first bugs starting to come off of the water. Fish will usually pick them off first before gorging on the adults. Eventually, once the hatch is well underway, switch to a dry and watch the fish rise to meet it!

With all of this being said, the best advice I can give you is this: GO FISH!

Brighter Future Than Previously Expected For the Brook Trout...

noreply@blogger.com (Tyler Legg) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:21:00 +0000

This morning's Charlotte Observer... Gas prices. College basketball. Hollywood. Academy Awards. Brook trout. Daytona. Wait... Brook trout? Yep. My eyes immediately deviated from the headlines to the words "brook trout" in a split second. It's pretty cool that our beloved brook trout is getting some face time in the largest newspaper in North and South Carolina. Check out the article here.

-Tyler

The State Makes Some Changes in the Stocking Schedule...

noreply@blogger.com (Tyler Legg) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:55:00 +0000

The state will be stocking on a different schedule, as noted on the NCWRC website. Make sure you check the stocking dates if you're planning a trip to a DH stream in the following months! Arriving at your favorite DH river only to discover that the trucks won't arrive until the next day would be beyond frustrating...

Joan Rivers Hits the River. It Hits Her Back.

noreply@blogger.com (Tyler Legg) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:24:00 +0000

WHAT?! No wading belt?

Ironic her last name is "Rivers".

Our friends at Montana Fly Co. tweeted the article this morning and it's been floating around social networking sites all day.

Fly fishing receives a considerable amount of attention amongst celebrities. Notable celebrities who fly fish (or fly fished when alive) include President Obama, Jimmy Buffet, Eric Clapton, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Ted Williams, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Harrison Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ted Turner, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Ernest Hemingway, Andrew Carnegie, Henry Winkler, Liam Neeson, Brad Pitt, Bing Crosby, Woody Platt (lead singer of the popular Brevard, NC based bluegrass band the Steep Canyon Rangers), Richard Nixon, and now..... Joan Rivers. Female fly fisherman are noticeably increasing, celebrity or not. Paula Deen was guided on an NC river several years ago. With all of that being said, celebrities (that aren't the "outdoorsy type") and fly fishing seem to always end in either choas or humility (or at least that's the pattern I've been seeing recently). On the other hand, sometimes it goes smoothly. In Joan's case, it was everything but smooth. I think Joan's dignity is floating around on that Wyoming river. She probably hasn't found it yet. Poor Joan. Read the full article complete with additional pics here.

-Tyler

Photoshop Antics...

noreply@blogger.com (Tyler Legg) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:28:00 +0000

Most of you guys have probably seen the Dos Equis commercials revolving around the most interesting man in the world. Here's the world's most interesting fly fisherman, whipped up by yours truly. You're welcome, anglers.

The Trout Drought Is Over...

noreply@blogger.com (Tyler Legg) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:17:00 +0000

Early November was the last time I fished. The long "trout drought" finally ended today on a wild stream in WNC. I continuously asked myself if I still knew how to fish. It's been awhile! The tippet is the end of the leader, right?

My initial plan was to fish for wild brookies. The Park Service closed the gates (and likely won't open them until spring), so I marked brook trout off of my list and resorted to fishing a nearby wild rainbow stream. Wild streams can be hard to fish in the winter, as wild fish tend to be much more lethargic and secretive than stockers. The stream I fished—a small, 10ft wide tributary—looked fishy, but only gave up 1 vibrantly colorful wild rainbow and several misses. In my book, 1 wild trout in the winter, equals about 10 in the summer. Great day to be out on the water!

More Rain On the Way

noreply@blogger.com (Tyler Legg) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:43:00 +0000

More rain is forecasted to move in from the south and west this evening/overnight and into tomorrow. Most of WNC should be rain free by lunchtime, so if you're heading out to the river tomorrow, bring the wading jacket, especially before noon.

A lot of folks have been asking if the fishing will be worthwhile this weekend, given the rain we're seeing. The short answer, is yes, as long as you play it safe. Rivers and streams will rise, as a general .75-1" is expected across many portions of WNC on top of the rainfall we've already picked up. I highly doubt the Davidson will spike to 3,000 cfs, or Wilson Creek will be completely blown out, but there will be plenty of water to contend with. Periodically check the water levels here.

More water means streamers, large nymphs, and heavier tippet will serve you well (in most places). Try a San Juan Worm, Squirmy Wormie, Ooey Gooey Grub, Vinyl Rib Stone, or an egg pattern on 4x. If you're failing to hook up, don't immediately change your pattern, but tie on a smaller size. Anglers tend to initially reach for the larger sizes, because they're more visible (I'm guilty!). Usually it's a fly that's too big that strays fish away, not necessarily the pattern itself. Try a dropper. Tie on a larger, heavier nymph, such as a stonefly. This will act as your lead fly and will get both flies down to the bottom. Tie on a smaller fly behind your lead fly. A lot of times, the larger stone will attract a trout's attention only for the fish to settle for the smaller pattern trailing behind.

If you head out, enjoy! Watch the water levels carefully!

-Tyler

Why Do You Fish?

noreply@blogger.com (Tyler Legg) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:42:00 +0000

"I think I fish, in part, because it's an anti-social, bohemian business that, when gone about properly, puts you forever outside the mainstream culture without actually landing you in an institution." John Gierach

For some, it's solitude. Others agree it's an incurable addiction. Some folks will tell you it's not about catching fish, but rather it's spending time with family and friends that makes fishing worthwhile. If you put these reasons—along with many more—into a blender and mix it all up, the proverbial smoothie would be my reason. Over the years, I've had the opportunity to fish in numerous states, from Florida to Montana. I've found that catching fish isn't the only variable in the equation, although it is at the top of almost every angler's to-do lists. Fish aside, I find myself captivated by the scenery, the people, the experiences, the culture of the different regions you visit, the memories, the laughs, the time spent with loved ones... The list goes on and on. Everyone has their reasons, some unique, some shared by many others. Because you're reading this, I'm inclined to believe fly fishing keeps you sane. That roaring river, that tranquil lake, or that crystal clear bonefish flat, is likely your home away from home. It is for me. So, as an angler, why do you fish?

Savor It While It Lasts

noreply@blogger.com (Tyler Legg) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 03:35:00 +0000

North Carolina has its fair share of unusual winters. If you've lived here long enough, you're probably nodding in agreement. This winter has been nothing short of unusual. Snow, while the higher elevations have received some, has eluded most of us thus far and the bitter cold just won't settle in like it relentlessly did last winter. When you combine warmer-than-average temps and virtually no accumulating snow in most areas, you get some better-than-average fishing conditions... Usually. Sitting in an office, or sitting in class on days like today have you constantly dreaming about wading in a river somewhere. With a SW wind and full sun, much of WNC hit the 60s. Tomorrow looks even better, despite the chance for a few showers. Savor it while it lasts, because it looks like the cold is coming back. I'd get a trout fix while it's relatively warm.

If you hit the DH waters, make sure you have an assortment of patterns. Princes, Copper Johns, Micro Mays, Pheasant Tails, Hares Ears, Hise's Hetero-Genius, Squirmy Wormies, San Juan Worms, Para Adams, Para BWOs, Woolly Buggers, Slumpbusters, and so on, should bring plenty of fish to your net.

Don't know where to go? Here's some destinations to consider:

1) Stone Mountain State Park DH

2) Wilson Creek DH

3) Davidson River

4) North Mills DH

5) Nantahala River

6) The Smokies. Can't go wrong with fishing the Park. Whether it be the Oconaluftee, Big Creek, Cataloochee, Little River, Cosby Creek, or Abrams Creek, you should discover some decent fishing opportunities. If you get skunked, the scenery should make up for it, as always.

Send in any fish pics you'd like to share on the THFF Fish Wall! Shoot me an email, or send them to me via Facebook, Twitter, or Google+.

Enjoy the weekend!

Happy Holidays From THFF!

noreply@blogger.com (Tyler Legg) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 21:31:00 +0000

First off, I want to thank all of the THFF fans and readers out there. Another year of THFF is right around the corner and I'm excited about the opportunities that may lie ahead. Without you guys, THFF wouldn't be in existence. The support means the world to me. I'm humbled when a fan approaches me at a show, shakes my hand, and thanks me. I should be the one thanking you guys. Again, I can't thank you all enough for the support and camaraderie over the past several years.

I want to wish you and yours the merriest of Christmases. Enjoy time with family and friends. I implore you to take a moment to reflect on our many blessings and ultimately why we celebrate CHRISTmas.

Oh yeah, if Santa's a bit late this year, he's likely on the Pere Marquette catching Steelhead (the video above recaps his trip last year). Pretty sure it's an annual thing for Old Saint Nick. We all know how good the chrome fishing is up in Michigan this time of the year...

Tebowing...

noreply@blogger.com (Tyler Legg) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:43:00 +0000

Click the picture to read the article.

We all know who Tim Tebow is. Lately he's been the star of every single pregame show on every single network before every single NFL football game. I won't go any further on how I feel about Tebow, but I will share a pretty funny picture and article (above) from Field and Stream. Yep, Tebowing has finally reached the fly fishing community.

Can't be any worse than planking on the river...

Source: http://iplanking.com/nature-planking/

Rivers Will Rise

noreply@blogger.com (Tyler Legg) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:07:00 +0000

It's going to remain rainy and dreary through Christmas Day across the south. A conveyor belt of storm systems will make for a soggy couple of days. Get ready for rising rivers if you plan on heading out for a day of fishing. The majority of the streams and rivers in WNC are at normal levels, but that will likely change as rain filters into the region over the next few days. Watch out for BWOs, as the dreariness sometimes brings them out. I'd use your typical nymphs until the rivers start to rise. Pheasant Tails, Princes, Hare's Ears, Lightning Bugs, Micro Mays, and Zug Bugs (amongst other choices) should work. Try your favorite streamer when the water rises. Zonkers, Woolly Buggers, Clousers, and Matukas being examples. Cast to the opposite bank and slowly strip your streamer of choice back. Get a rythym going. You know, strip, strip, strip, stop, strip, strip, etc. Dead drifting your streamer can be deadly as well.

Good luck, and send in those fish pics for the THFF Fish Wall!

Sends Chills Up Your Spine...

noreply@blogger.com (Tyler Legg) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:54:00 +0000

Here at THFF, you guys have probably noticed I love this great country. Love would actually be an understatement. While driving home from work, I heard Dierks Bentley's new song, "Home." I thought the song was moving and inspirational. Until I saw the music video. "Moving" and "inspirational" doesn't begin to describe how powerful it is. The soldiers that are coming home from Iraq have been fighting for everything in this video. THFF is a fly fishing blog, but without the freedom we possess, I highly doubt THFF would be in existence.

Enjoy. I implore you to watch it. Remember, it's OK to cry sometimes...

Oh yeah, Dierks is an avid fly fisherman. Notice the Simms trucker hat..

What's a Trout Again?

noreply@blogger.com (Tyler Legg) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 06:07:00 +0000

Ever wonder what happens to an angler's brain after a prolonged absence of fishing? Look no further than a Twitter conversation between Brandon Robinson, James "Grizzly" Cates and I...

Me: Been fishing lately?
Griz: Not in a while, been hunting a little more... seems I've neglected the fishing duties, been about a month
Me: I feel ya man. Haven't been out since early November. Refresh my memory... what does a trout look like again?
Griz: It has two legs, right?
Me: Pretty sure they're related to giraffes, but I'm not 100% sure.
Griz: Yes, they both have spots and run real fast.
Brandon: And here I was thinking they were marsupials...
Griz: that's when they put their young in their tail and hang from rocks, right?
Me: I'm posting this convo on the blog..

Top 10 Fly Fishing Gifts

noreply@blogger.com (Tyler Legg) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 19:36:00 +0000

December is here and you're probably looking to find that perfect gift for that angler/fly tyer on your list. What better way to check that angler off of the list than a visit to your local fly shop? Not only are you greeted and helped by fellow addicted fly anglers who live and breath fly fishing, you are helping to stimulate your local economy. It's a win-win situation in my book.

Big box stores are choking small businesses. I'm not bashing those large corporations, but simply saying that local fly shops will greatly appreciate your business. I'll admit, every now and then I'll purchase a thing or two from one of the big box stores, but I do it sparingly and usually only because my local shop doesn't carry the item I'm looking for. Whether or not you order online or at the shop, spread the love! Show your support.

Not sure what to get that angler? Here's a top ten list of some popular fly fishing items that are sure to make any fly fisherman all giddy inside. Keep in mind, some shops don't carry certain brands (Orvis dealers may not carry Simms products and vice versa).

10. Simms G4 Pro Stockingfoot waders

9. Orvis Pro Guide Waders

8. Renzetti Traveler Pedestal Base Rotary Vise

7. Scott S4

6. A Mooseknuckle Lanyard

5. Fishpond Wasatch Tech Pack

4. Orvis ZG Helios fly rod

3. Ross Fly Start 2 reel

2. Jeb Hall's renowned books, Western North Carolina Fly Guide or The Southern Appalachian Fly Guide

1. And of course, a box full of hand selected flies for your area is always an excellent idea. The shop guys/girls will help you out on a perfect selection. If they don't, well...

Have a recommendation? Feel free to share!

Show Your Wild Trout Pride

noreply@blogger.com (Tyler Legg) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 23:45:00 +0000

Fly anglers are known for sporting a myriad of decals on the back of their trucks. Those decals are pretty much the equivalent of tattoos. A lot of times, you can easily discover the angler's preferred rod brand, wader brand, favorite shops, favorite fishing sites/blogs, whether or not they enjoy freshwater of saltwater, etc. Jeff Harrell over at Finatic Designs is now selling WILD! trout decals, so now everyone will know you are wild trout addict. They look nothing short of sick. It's a great looking design that immediately lets other anglers know that you support wild trout.

Click the pic to order one (or two, or three, or four)!

Black Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Tyler Legg) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 20:26:00 +0000

I'm up in SW Virginia currently looking out across the the old, rugged, Appalachians. I'm definitely thankful for the fact that I'm not swimming in the crowds right now. It's a zoo out there folks! Many are out risking their lives shopping on this Black Friday (alright, it's not that bad, but as y'all know, it's just a little hectic). If it's anything like last year, tonight's news should be entertaining to say the least.

If you're out on the river, enjoy. Picture perfect weather out there is giving way to some picture perfect fall fishing. Enjoy every minute of the beautiful weather, because Old Man Winter is on his way and judging by the forecast, he's going to barge through the door like Kramer from Seinfeld. We're about to see a transition from warm to cold beginning about early next week and likely lasting for several weeks. I'll have more in depth information over on Carolina Weather soon. Will this transition have an impact on the fishing? You better believe it. For the time being though, your generic patterns will catch fish on most rivers. On DH waters, try a Squirmy Wormie, Eggi Juan Kenobi, Prince Nymph, Copper John, Pheasant Tail Nymph, San Juan Worm, Para Adams, Stimulator, etc. Try ripping a Zonker or Woolly Bugger across a pool. If you;re fishing more technical water, such as the Davidson, midges and smaller nymphs/dries coupled with thin, long leaders need to be used.

Send in those NC fish pics for the THFF Fish Wall! You can email them to me at wncflyfishing@gmail.com, or send them via Google + or Facebook.

We Salute You

noreply@blogger.com (Tyler Legg) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 04:46:00 +0000

The brave men and women that have fought, are fighting, and have bravely and selflessly laid down their life for this great nation are true heroes. Albeit most I've had the pleasure of talking to humbly disagree with the fact they are heroes, they have defended our great nation so that we can live in a free country.

My great grandfather, one of many heroes.

Sifting through a shoebox full of my great grandfather's pictures, I came across several photos, circa early to mid 1940s from his days in Europe during the largest and most violent war mankind has ever witnessed. He never spoke of the war. Not one mention. We were utterly clueless about his involvement in WWII until he passed away. Upon realizing what he had accomplished, we all were speechless. My great grandfather, PFC Johnnie Gunter, was an MP with the 103rd Infantry Division out of Rapides Parish, Louisiana. We later discovered he drove amphibious boats onto the banks of Normandy during D-Day. As they landed, I'm sure he witnessed some of the most horrific scenes he's ever had the displeasure of seeing. I can't begin to imagine. I quickly realized why he kept this info to himself. To this very day, sifting through that shoebox full of photos and antiquated documents is a bit overwhelming.

Veteran's Day is winding to a close. Frankly, I believe everyday is Veteran's Day. I salute all that have served—from the Revolutionary War to the current War On Terror—all that are currently serving, and all that are gearing up to serve the red, white, and blue. Without you guys, the United States of America wouldn't be what it is today. Whether you're in the USMC, USAF, Army, Navy, or Coast Guard, I say thank you for everything you guys do.

Expo Recap, With Some Fishing On the Side..

noreply@blogger.com (Tyler Legg) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 02:44:00 +0000

Wrapping up one great weekend! The 3rd annual WNC Fly Fishing Expo was a success, with a host of anglers, dealers, shops, demonstrators, and anglers in attendance. Great to see everyone there! Already looking forward to next year.

This morning I met my buddy Kevin on the Davidson, where we both were determined on putting a fish over 20" in the net. Kevin and I have been fishing the backcountry brookie streams all summer long, so it was definitely a change of pace hearing the reel zing and watching the rod bend.

It's been a while since I've landed a fish over 10", given my incurable brook trout addiction. Of course the first fish of the day happened to be a stocker brookie. I guess I'm cursed. We both netted a handful of wild rainbows/browns in addition to plenty of those pesky northern strain brookies that have escaped from the adjacent hatchery.

In the end, no fish over 20". I lost count of how many times we both either missed a strike or broke off on a huge fish. In fact, the most common phrase used today was "I had him" and "man that was a nice fish". All in all though, we agreed it was a good day. With that being said, we were not the only anglers that didn't meet the goal of the day. The kid, fly rod in hand, stomping back to the car with his arms crossed, was introduced to the technicality of the Big D. We all love the Davidson, but man alive it can make you lose your mind if you don't bring your A game. The challenge brings me back though.

The Squirmy Wormy strikes again. A wild brown from the upper D.

Kevin with a nice bow.

Fall Issue of Southern Culture On the Fly

noreply@blogger.com (Tyler Legg) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:38:00 +0000

The fall issue of Southern Culture On the Fly is here! Click the pic to read the zine.