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Fly Fishing Fly Fishing Beginner fly fishing industry fly fishing media ian rutter tailing loop
Added Date:
Monday, 3 Oct, 2011
Summary
In a an interview for a popular fly fishing blog, my guide friend Ian Rutter suggests the fly fishing industry -- now heavily engaged in a lot of hand wringing over its shrinking fortunes -- is at least partly to blame for its situation.
Content
In an interview for a popular fly fishing blog, my guide friend Ian Rutter suggests the fly fishing industry -- now heavily engaged in a lot of hand wringing over its shrinking fortunes -- is at least partly to blame for its situation:
We all aspire to fish for large fish in exotic locations, but it seems like that's the bulk of what you see in the fly fishing media. I seem to remember when Montana and Alaska were the ultimate while trout in the Smokies, Pennsylvania and New York were the "common" destinations. Now Montana is a baseline and everything has to be bigger and more extreme. It's fun for diehard fly fishers to watch those videos and read those articles, but it's a lousy way to attract new fly fishers.
Every week I talk to folks who are curious about fly fishing but weren't even aware that you could use a fly rod for bluegills, let alone bass or other very common fish. It's not unusual for me to hear from people who trout fish, but haven't cast a fly rod in a year because they don't live near trout water. I doubt anyone loves trout fishing more than I do, but is there any more perfect a fish for a fly rod than a bluegill? They rise, attack a fly, fight hard for their size, and most importantly, you can find them anywhere. I'm just mystified that the fly fishing industry continues to push more exotic fish and locations to a dwindling number of people when there are plenty of people who would love to get involved in the sport, even if they don't live near a trout.
If you read any of the popular fly fishing magazines, you might be nodding your head right now. South America, Russia and Alaska pretty much dominate fly fishing's print media, and you'd have to wonder how a wannabe fly fisherman would view that particular landscape. And just to prove Ian's no poseur, my last trip to Tennessee found us spending a day catching big bluegill (big enough to put a serious bend in the 6wt I was throwing). I had a ball. Would I have paid a guide for that trip? I don't know, I'm an experienced angler. But I do know I would have gone back a dozen times already if I lived there. And I'd take a beginning fly fisher there first. Of course, reality pokes its head in the door, and with ad dollars hard to come by at the moment, the magazines and travel agencies and fly shops will continue doing whatever it takes to hold onto their existing base. Learn More - Fly Fishing for BeginnersStill, the rapid growth in the number of anglers fishing for non-salmonid species seems real and ongoing, and it's one area where the Internet is dramatically ahead of fly fishing's print media. I'm never quite sure if fly fishing for carp or drum or whatever is a counter-culture rebellion against the sport's traditions, or simply fly fishermen giving high gas prices the middle finger (probably a combination of the two), but I don't care; I like it. In an era when $800 fly rods and $4000 destination trips consume the magazines, the real growth in the sport will probably remain a grassroots thing, and as Ian noted (at least in his neck of the woods), you don't get any more grassroots than bluegill.
It's unlikely we'll see too many "Bluegill specialists" popping up in the media -- and visiting fly fishermen will probably still glaze over when I mention the smallies at the local lake as a diversion -- but a healthy dose of sunfish (and carp, and drum, and smallmouth bass) could be one prescription for an ailing industry. In the shooting world, people don't start shooting long-range precision matches; they hammer away at cans with fun, affordable .22 rifles. The fly fishing world seems to have forgotten that. (You can read Ian's whole interview at the Tailing Loop.)
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Culturally inclined and well preserved, Asheville is surrounded by majestic mountains, lush national forest lands and scores of fresh water rivers and streams. Long recognized for ... moreits art-deco architecture, performing arts and numerous music festivals, this mid-size city of about 84,000 has also become well known for its abundant trout fishing and is frequently referred to as the Trout Capital of the South.
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And, you don’t have to go far to fish! The Davidson River, named after an early settler to the area and voted one of the top 100 trout streams in America by Trout Unlimited members, runs right alongside town. Less than an hour’s drive easily gets you to the Tuckasegee River. The South Fork Holston River (SoHo) considered one of the finest tailwater trout fisheries east of the Mississippi, and the Watuga River, also highly regarded, can be reached in 2 hours or less. By some estimates, there are over 4000 miles of public waters within driving distance of Asheville.
Rivers like the Davidson are most popular during the spring and fall months although year round fishing is permitted in tailwaters. During the hot summer months you may find yourself competing with tubers, kayakers, canoeists, swimmers and people just enjoying a waterside picnic.
Steeped in history and surrounded by natural wonders, Asheville offers a wide variety of options to those not choosing to fish. These include:
The Biltmore Estate, the largest single family home in the US
Asheville Art Museum
Black Mountain Golf Course
Beer City Bicycles
Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians
Great Smokey Mountains National Park
Appalachian Trail
There are several options for traveling to Asheville, including:
Fly into Charlotte’s Douglas International Airport and drive for about 2 hours
Fly into Piedmont Triad International Airport (serving Winston Salem, Greensboro and High Point) and drive for approximately 2 hours
Fly into Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson Airport and drive for approximately 2 hours
Only an hour outside of Asheville, all four sections of the Tuckasegee River are included on the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail, five if you count the West Tuck - and there ... moreare only 15 spots on the trail list! In other words, this river has a lot to offer. Beginning at the confluence of the Panthertown and Greenland Creeks, the river flows for 60 miles until it joins the Little Tennessee. Its basin is sizeable, draining an estimated 655 miles.
The river is well stocked with brooks, browns and rainbows, although there are still wild fish throughout. State support for the river is generous with an estimated 50,000 fish added each season. Not surprisingly, the river boasts one of the highest fish counts in North Carolina, purportedly 9,000 fish per mile. Large numbers of rainbows and browns reach trophy proportion, both in weight and length.
Delayed harvest has been successfully employed through the 5 mile section between 107 Bridge and the riverside park in Dillsboro. As a result, this section is catch and release only, from October to June. That said, experts consider this the best place to achieve a “Tuckasegee Slam” where you reel in all three species in one spot.
One of the more inviting aspects of this river is its accessibility. Highway access is ample and parking is well marked and available for most of the river. The East Laporte Park to the 107 Bridge offers picnic tables and public restrooms. The river can be waded and floated in the middle and lower sections.
The headwaters of the 78.5 mile long Watauga, begin at Peak Mountain in North Carolina on the western slope of the Eastern Continental Divide, and end at its confluence with the South ... moreFork of the Holston River. This trout filled tributary of the Holston is a mere 1 hour, scenic drive from Asheville.
Managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) the Watauga, like most rivers in the watershed, is affected by dams, water releases and reservoirs. The Watauga Dam created the 6,430 acre Watauga Lake. Three miles further down river, are the much smaller Wilbur Dam and Lake, used during the summer to release water back into the river. The 20 mile tailwater from Wilbur Dam to Boone lake is the most prized trout fishing part of the river.
Like other tailwaters in the region, the temperature remains between 50 to 55 degrees most of the year, providing great habitat for trout. The Tennessee Valley Resource Authority (TVRA) stocks the tailwater with rainbows, brooks and browns alongside a small population of wild trout. Most fish are in the 12 inch range although much larger fish are there to be caught. Estimates range from 2,000 to 5,000 fish per mile.
Depending on water releases the river can be waded although it’s advisable to get a TVA discharge schedule before entering the water. Wading access can be limited since property holders own the riverbed and can deny entry. The water may be fished at any time from a small boat, although due to shallow pools, you may want to keep one generator running if you use a drift boat. The river is composed of a few fast runs and long sections of rifles but large, long pools can also be found.
A favorite among NC fishermen, the Davidson originates in the mountainous Pisgah National Forest, a scenic area surrounded by other national parks and preserved forest land. As the ... moreriver wends its way south and nears Asheville, it empties into the French Broad River. Since being included on the Trout Unlimited list of top 100 trout fishing streams in the nation, its popularity has grown, bringing an increasing number of out-of-state anglers.
Luckily the state works hard to keep the river healthy and the fish flourishing. The river is divided into sections based on the regulations that apply to each. From its headwaters to the confluence with Avery’s Creek, it’s wild fish only, fly fishing only and strictly catch and release. From Avery’s Creek to the national forest line, you’ll find hatchery supported brooks and rainbows.
The section between the Pisgah hatchery and Looking Glass Creek is what really draws fishermen to this river. Here you can expect to find clear, slow moving pools, few overhead obstructions and lots of hatches that support brooks, browns and rainbows, many over 18-inches long. Like other heavily fished waters, the fish can be cunning and despite their large numbers, hard to reel in.
Route 276, near the town of Pisgah, parallels the river, providing lots of public access. There are stretches of restricted private land, although there is a 3 mile section where you can purchase temporary fishing access. Much of the river can be waded and enjoyed with your feet in the water.
Fly Fishing in Asheville with Curtis Wright Outfitters will ensure the best opportunity for you to enjoy this unique area and catch and release some spectacular fish. Our guides are ... morefriendly and knowledgeable.
There’s no better way to experience the larger rivers of Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee than in a boat. Float trips cover between 3-9 miles of river depending on the trip. So whether you are experienced or a novice, float trips are a great way to see a lot of scenery while catching fish. You will be able to sit back, relax, and enjoy the fishing, as our experienced guides lead you down one of these scenic rivers for an unforgettable trip.
Floating is preferred by many as the most effective way to fish the larger rivers of WNC. The Tuckaseegee River offers great scenery and fishing from October to June. The Watauga and South Holston are big, beautiful tailwaters offering dry fly, nymph and streamer action year round. The French Broad and Nolichucky are home to an abundance of very large smallmouth that can be taken on the fly or with spin gear. Smallmouth bass fishing is best from March to December. Whatever fish species you are interested in targeting, a float trip is an epic way to spend a day!
The Watauga river is located in east Tennessee near Johnson City and is just a hour north out of Asheville North Carolina. The Watauga river starts in Boone NC and flows west into ... moreeast Tennessee into Watauga lake. After it comes out of Wilbur dam it flows and winds for 22 miles of blue ribbon trout fishing water.
The Watauga river is a tail water, which is dam released off of the bottom of the lake providing cold water and great trout fishing year round. There are large numbers of wild and stocked brown and rainbow trout. There are consistent blue wing olive and midge hatches year round and huge caddis hatches in the spring and sulphurs through the summer months. The Watauga river has a wide deep river bed providing great float fishing trips for all anglers and skill levels.
Let Asheville Anglers float you down river for a Watauga river fly fishing trip of a lifetime. Whether you are in western North Carolina or east Tennessee the Watauga river is a great choice for any fisherman.
Float & Wade Fly Fishing Trips for Trout and Small Mouth Bass. Brown Trout Fly Fishing LLC is The Only ORVIS Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide Service in Asheville, North Carolina. We ... moreSpecialize in Guiding and Teaching Fly Fishing for Trout and Smallmouth Bass in Western North Carolina and East Tennessee.
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