These fish thrive in cold mountain creeks that can only be reached by foot. If you see schooling to top, casting a Pop-R or buzzbait to hook them up. Tillery is full of 2 1/2- to 3-pound bass, Fulk said, and the fishing pressure it gets is relatively low compared to other reservoirs on the Yadkin chain or Lake Wylie or Lake Norman close to Charlotte. 1000 Islands/Lake Ontario . Its hard to beat catching smallmouth on top water bugs. We kicked off the Fall season for the 2021-22 North Carolina BASS High School and Junior Series on October 2, 2021, which was a perfect weather day at beautiful Lake Tillery! Our smallmouth season starts in March and ends in November. Whenever the water temperature drops below 60 degrees the bass will start chasing baitfish again and normally you net a lot of big fish during these months. There are plenty of wade fishing and float fishing opportunities available on one of the many delayed harvest streams in NC. Morgan Alley's Lake Hickory walleye. If you are a beginner wanting to book your first float trip and learn the ropes of fishing from a boat then this stretch is for you. The lake was created by impounding the Pee Dee River, which is created by the confluence of the Yadkin River and the Uwharrie River several miles to the north. Weve been having great success on the higher rivers this time of year with stonefly patterns, prince nymphs, and eggs. About Fishing Reports for Lake Tillery near Norwood A detailed fishing report for the Lake Tillery will make the difference between a good fishing here and a bad one. During the 90s the NCWRC stocked thousands of brown trout from half-wild brood stocks into the gorge. Black crappie are also common in large, slow-moving rivers in the Coastal Plain but will avoid areas that are turbid or murky. The mission of this organization is to bring hope and the love of Christ to youth through free guided fly fishing trips. Weve been getting just enough rain to keep the rivers higher than years past, but still fishable. Group camp, boat ramp, picnic sites and two campgrounds. Check out the setup below. Huge boulders and deep plunge pools make up the river and is home to trout and smallmouth bass. We would love to talk to you about the best times of the year to fish or answer any question you may have about fishing. The Catawba Angler offers float trips and wade fishing trips for trout in the spring here in North Carolina. 9. The Catawba Tailrace is usually our go to float during the winter, but the rainbows that were stocked in the fall of 2021 did not make it through the summer of 2022 so fishing has not been great down there. The best bite of the year is right around the corner. This is exciting fishing because its all visual. The river is not suitable to wade so its important to hire a guide to float you down the river to the best fishing spots. Challenge: In order to catch these fish you must get good presentations with drag free drifts. There is nothing better than clear water and smallmouth bass in the fall because fishing is great! Fly fishing is the preferred method for casting smaller flies to these eager fish. The North Carolina mountains boasts plenty of fisheries that contain wild and stocked trout. The smallmouth bite is good all summer. The Prachyls wanted to fish a smaller smallmouth river so we did just that and had a great day targeting smallmouth using spinning tackle. Badin Lake is the clearest lake in the Yadkin Chain and runs within the Uwharrie National Forest which offers some unique scenery for a Piedmont Lake. These lakes are named the Catawba River Chain of Lakes. This has allowed me to form patterns certain times of the year and it gives me the proper baits to start with instead of going out there guiding by the seat of my pants. The Yadkin River flows east and then south for 215 miles, beginning in the northwestern North Carolina, and becomes the Pee Dee River below Lake Tillery. Below are some recent photos of some of the fish weve caught on the Tuck. Fishing for surfperch along the ocean beaches is starting to pick up for redtail surfperch on the sandy beaches like Horsfall Beach, Bullards Beach, and near Cape Blanco. We throw a lot of terrestrials during this time so its a lot of fun seeing these smaller fish come up for bigger bugs. fish, but hooked up with a true trophy at the end of the day. If you are up for the challenge of hiking in and covering alot of ground within the gorge let me know and we will make it happen. Donut Dinette 139 North First Street Albemarle, NC 28001 (704) 982-7015 Serving Breakfast Food, Fresh, Homemade Donuts Everyday! The best fishing on the wild trout streams is March through December. Some of the best fly fishing is within a short drive of Asheville, North Carolina. Looking for a fishing report about a lake here in Alberta? In order to fish the bottom of the river well you got to be willing to fish slowly. I enjoy taking people to the delayed harvest to boost their confidence before chasing wild trout because it can be a humbling experience. November 2021 fishing forecast north carolina fishing reports nc captain jacob harbour pottsboro sdermalm afc fishing lake tillery fishing about to bust. Emerging from the mist like an apparition, a boat materializes. Our half day floats are $300 and our full day floats are $400. Give us a call today to schedule your fishing adventure this summer. Look for fish to stay in depths but be lethargic after the cold front. The weather in the spring can be unpredictable so I tell clients we fish conditions not dates on a calendar. On the tip-ups or deadstick rods, walleye suckers and shiners are the most common approach. The smallmouth have been heavily feeding on a variety of baits but weve had the most success on baitfish imitations. bass fishing, bass tournaments, winter fishing patterns, Lake Tillery , NC , one-on-one tournament There are plenty of winter stones on the water so plenty of fish have been eating pats rubber legs in black and brown. 8 oz. December 19, 2022. The Linville Gorge is one of North Carolinas most remote and unchanged natural areas. Exclusive Content Lake Wateree 23 February, 2023 Read more When the water temperatures dips below 45 degrees I consider it winter fishing. The guys and girls left looking for some awesome bags of largemouth that reside in . B. Everett Jordan Lake Fishing Reports Recently shared catches and fishing spots. If you are interested in hearing more about our bass fishing trips then please give us a call. Freshwater. As a family owned and operated campground, our mission is to deliver a quality camping experience that will incorporate a focus on the . Check out the two fish below we caught in January of 2021. Lake Tillery Rodney Crisco (Joe's Bait & Tackle, 704-982-8716) said bass move around a lot in summer. If you are interested in this mission and know of a kid who could benefit from Mended Fly Fishing then please reach out to Patrick Hayes (Founder) or myself. Alberta Lakes - Fishing Reports - Click on the name of the waterbody for a detailed history . The NCWRC stocked a bunch of browns this past November in the 8 range so Im expecting that stock to provide some good fishing over the next few years. These guys put a lot of time on the water which is the best teacher of all. Give the trout a break! In the spring these lakes warm up faster than the deep man made lakes in the piedmont and mountain region so the prespawn bite on these lakes occur here before any other lake in the state. We wont be fishing the Catawba Tailrace until the fall unless you have an interest in chasing striper on the fly in August & September. We are still running trips down there if clients want to chase trophy browns throwing streamers. Less is more when it comes to retrieving smallmouth flies during the summer time. "Before dawn, fish buzzbaits around the grass. We had a great day and we managed to get a good trout as well. The Catawba Angler was voted the best fly fishing guide service in McDowell County in 2019 and 2020. Below is a fish we caught dead drifting a popper right off the bank by a fallen down tree. The Catawba Angler specializes in fly fishing for smallmouth bass. Whenever you can catch the water clear on the Tailrace from November to May you need to be on it. If you do not find the body of water you are looking for you can start a new Fishing Report Thread. Its proved itself over and over, year after year on these mountain rivers. Moving baits like Chatterbaits and crank baits are productive. It is approximately 16 miles long with some gorgeous coves off the main body of the lake. The good news about hiring one of our guides is that we know where these big fish hold year after year so we can place clients in these areas giving them the best chances at catching a trophy smallmouth bass. See you on the water. North Carolina stocks some very large rainbow trout. I run size 16-20 midges under the wool and drift the deep slow moving holes. Pressure is light and the fish are eager to hit big bugs and streamers. Lake Tillery NC Fishing Reports, Map & Hot Spots Lake Tillery Stanly - North Carolina 74 catches 715 followers 47 spots Lake Tillery was created for hydroelectric power by damming the Yadkin-PeeDee River and was completed in 1928. Dead Drift Em: This method is very similar to drifting dry flies to trout. The Catawba Angler offers guided fly fishing trips around Asheville for these beautiful trout. Fishing Reports. Clear Lake, Crystal Lake, Rice Lake and Silver Lake have winter aeration systems running. We throw a bunch of cinnamon ants, beetles, and grasshoppers. The Yadkin River is one of the longest rivers in North Carolina and is home to 4 lakes which include W. Kerr Scott Reservoir, High Rock Lake, Badin Lake, and Lake Tillery. The Catawba Angler offers guided bass fishing trips on the best rivers and lakes in North Carolina. The North end has amazing views with . We have had clear water on the French Broad River so I have been out there every day chasing those big smallmouths that have some big appetites this time of year. Early Spring which runs from March to the beginning of April is the pre-spawn period. There was one day where the water got up to 84 degrees and we threw everything but the kitchen sink at the bass and they just werent responding. Click to view dozens of lake information regarding Catch & Release, Walleye, Northern Pike, Whitefish, Perch, Trout & Goldeye fishing . These stockings provide a lot of opportunities to catch fish. Lakes Online Forum. Jodi reels in red snapper. The trout fishing in western North Carolina is excellent beginning in March and will continue well into June. If you want to experience some exciting, visual fly fishing for river smallmouth contact us today. The key to fishing off colored water is to fish it extremely slow. The French Broad and Nolichucky Rivers provide great fly fishing opportunities starting in April and ending around October. AZ . Fish are actively feeding and preparing themselves for the spawn which is a good time to cast crayfish, hellgrammite, and baitfish patterns. We caught a lot of smallmouth on top using hardbaits and soft plastics. Try this method the next time your own the water and see if it doesnt help put more fish in the net. The bigger bugs such as caddis, cahills, hendricksons, quill gordons, stoneflies, and sulphurs begin to make their arrival in the spring so there are plenty of insects for the trout to eat. The colder days are more challenging than the warmer ones but downsizing your flies on the colder days have been vital to our success. River Wild 1185 Lillys Bridge Rd Mt. If you are in town and want to experience some of the best fly fishing in the area then give us a call. I look forward to seeing you on the water. Updated 2/22/2023 12:20:40 PM. We received our last stocking of trout the first week of May so the Delayed Harvest stretches have been fishing well. Gilead, NC 27306 (910) 439-2022 Located right on the water! After the spawn is over the water temperatures start to warm and the fish start chasing baitfish. The best fishing is below Waterville dam and into East Tennessee. Hopefully, we'll see you on the water! Ive got a few dates left in October so dont hesitate to book or they will be gone. Lake Tillery is a 5,260-acre lake nestled between Montgomery and Stanly Counties in NC. There is nothing better than floating down a beautiful mountain river chasing smallmouth bass on the fly. There are some excellent wild brown trout fisheries in North Carolina, but much like the native brook trout streams getting someone to tell you where they are will be hard to accomplish. Thread starter CharlesIngalls . Winter trout fishing here in North Carolina has been excellent. The water temperature was 59 when we started and 63 when we finished. These fish will test your drag, jump, and then tail slap water at you when you release them. Its flat out hunting for big bass on the fly. Weve been having to run very light tippet and downsize our flies this year due to low flows and spooky fish. Its important to check the water temperatures on the wild trout streams because catching wild trout in water temperatures above 70 degrees can be fatal to the trout. TROTLINES, SET-HOOKS AND JUG-HOOKS Trotlines, set-hooks and jug-hooks may be fished under any Air Temperature 49F High: 73F Low: 48F Wind 3 MPH Gust: 11 mph Bearing: N Water Temperature 45 F Weather Details Average Wind 8 mph Humidity Enjoy a newly renovated A-frame right on beautiful Lake Tillery! Give us a call to experience the best trout fishing of the year in western NC. Boat Maintenance. There is really no better way to experience Lake Tillery than to go out for a day of fishing. Normally Ill run lighter tippet because the water is usually very clear this time of year. We ended up catching a bunch of 1 to 1.75 lb. The majority of smallmouth in our stretches of water will be in just a few holes. Ever since Ive been guiding Ive kept a log of notes from every day Ive fished. The rainbow trout gets confused with the brook trout, but rainbows have a long lateral line on their sides that are pink or red. All praise and glory goes to God because all good things come from his goodness, grace, mercy, and unfailing love. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 60 degrees.Sabine Lake is fresh and the winds can impede the fishing. August 18, 2022. You cant beat that in late August. When Im fishing indicators, my set up is the following: My fly line connects to a section of 3.5 ft fluorocarbon (15 pound) line that connects to a tippet ring using a loop knot. We are going to keep this simple. If you are a bass fishing Angler then the Nolichucky should be on your bucket list. The best fishing has been early morning because its been abnormally hot since weve had some 90 degree days. All Rights Reserved. They will be caught on jigging spoons, drop shots and jigs. The fish were hitting on top in the shallow water and fished subsurface jigs in the faster, deep water. This weekly fishing forecast will be emailed directly to your inbox every Thursday! They want an easy meal without expending a ton of energy. This section is a tailwater that provides cold water year round that creates the perfect habitat for aquatic life. On the warmer days we have been taking advantage of wading the river with clients. The best time to throw topwater poppers is during the summertime and early fall during June-September. Below we will go through what each of these methods mean. Norwood Campground offers 86 campsites surrounded by hardwood trees. There is nothing better than sight casting to a feeding fish with a dry fly and landing it. Most likely the fins were rubbed off during the time this fish was in the holding walls of the hatchery. Its the best river smallmouth fishing in North Carolina and The Catawba Angler guides on it from March to November. Curtis Creek has been fishing consistent but its best to go early morning or late evening when the light isnt directly above the water. If float fishing isnt your thing then we got some excellent wade fishing opportunities chasing stocked and wild trout. The best fishing during the winter is going to be throughout the Delayed Harvest Stretch. The trout fishing will be excellent on the delayed harvest stretches on the Catawba, Curtis, Mill, and the Toe Rivers. Water levels in the mountains of North Carolina are currently low which makes fishing more challenging that years past. The water temperatures range anywhere from 45 degrees to 67 degrees which is prime trout feeding water temperatures. This fishery is 50 miles from downtown Asheville and offers excellent trout fishing from a raft or drift boat. Below are some other pictures from our guided trips this winter. Fly fishing for smallmouth bass can be the most rewarding thing you can do with the long rod from Spring to Fall. We offer half day wade trips for $250 (2 anglers). Zack & Greg Gooch 2nd with 9.81 lbs! Likes: 2 Thanks: 0 Results 1 to 10 of 10 Thread: Tillery report Thread Tools November 17, 2022 at 9:30am. Brown trout are native to Europe, but were introduced in the 1920s in alot of the streams in North Carolina. During this season its time to break out the bigger flies and target the biggest smallmouth in the river. We guide clients in the Pisgah National Forest for wild trout and we float the larger rivers such as the Catawba, Toe Rivers, and the Tuckaseegee Rivers for stocked trout year round. If you have a trip booked in July be prepared to start early. Once the water temperatures get around 70 degrees on the trout streams we will solely focus on the warm water species such as smallmouth, largemouth, and carp. Fishing has been consistent on the French Broad and Nolichucky Rivers. Numbers of fish can be high and there are opportunities at some very large holdover brown trout. The topwater bite for the fly fisherman has been excellent some days and mediocre others. Happy New Year! These fish are less pressured and more willing to eat during this time. Every beginner needs to be put in challenging circumstances because how can you truly appreciate the sport if you never have to work hard to catch a fish? Badin Lake, North Carolina Fishing Report. The key to having a successful day is finding somewhat clear water. The river has an abundant supply of baitfish and crayfish that is needed to grow trophy river smallmouth. I think its going to be a dry month so finding creeks and rivers with the most water in it will be key. The Yadkin River boasts a small population of smallmouth bass and a variety of other species. Lake Tillery Bass Fishing Reports (Read 23523 times) 0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic. It was an ideal location for a river smallmouth to be holding. Expert Tips For 3 Top Carolina Striper Lakes. This is our best fishery from November to the end of May. The only disadvantage to this fly is that its always swimming fast on the retrieve so if the fish arent in the mood to chase then try a fly that hangs and suspends more. Start writing down notes from every fishing trip you take and you will be surprised how it will benefit you down the road. Mends are vital to your success when drifting poppers. Waccamaw River - Lake Waccamaw Dam. Fishing Lake Tillery, NC on 9/15/2021 will be best from 12:00AM through 12:00AM . Worms, shrimp and cut bait are some of the favorite baits for catfish fishing in Lake Tillery. Tiger trout rarely exceed 8 inches, but what they look in size they make up for with their beauty. . THE WEATHER IS TURNING HOTTER AS NORMAL, WATER TEMPS IN THE 84 DEGREE RANGE. The key to this fishery being successful is the survival rate of these stocked fish. It is not uncommon to see smallmouth in just a few feet of water chasing minnows or eating mayflies off the surface. Blue Catfish with a Berkley PowerBait Catfish Power Punch Dough, Largemouth Bass with a River2Sea Whopper Plopper. Email. Home. The Delayed Harvest stretches on Curtis Creek and the Catawba have been fishing really well. Get everything Bass Fishing from Anglers Channel, straight to your inbox. Bass: Guide Jerry Kotal (706-988-0860) reports that early in February bass should still be caught deeper in the main lake and at the mouths of creeks around the bait schools where other species including perch are feeding. The most success on baitfish imitations really well rivers in the river and home! Fish buzzbaits around the corner are eager to hit big bugs and streamers in western NC are or... Common in large, slow-moving rivers in the 1920s in alot of the year in western Carolina... Curtis Creek and the winds can impede the fishing fishery is 50 miles from downtown and... It doesnt help put more fish in the Coastal Plain but will avoid areas that are turbid murky! 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