Thursday May 8, 2008

May provides anglers with some of the most beautiful days of the year and some of the best fishing opportunities. May is the last month until October that Delayed Harvest streams are catch and release and they are loaded with fish. Two great DH options are the Watauga River outside of Boone and Helton Creek on the Virginia North Carolina border in Ashe County. Both of these rivers have been having good hatches with a grey caddis dominating the bug mix. For anglers intent on catching trout on dry flies now is the time. Both tent wing and elk hair patterns in #14 and #16 are effective. Other insects include an assortment of mayflies and stone flies in various colors. Yellow and green stone flies in sizes #16 and #18 have begun to hatch and will continue to be a good fly to use through June. We have a great CDC Yellow sally pattern at the shop that matches these little stoneflies perfectly. The parachute adams in all sizes imitate all of the darker color mayflies including the large March Browns and is a must have in your fly box. Yellow mayflies have also started to come off through out the day and can be imitated with sulpher and PMD patterns size 16 and smaller. If you are not in the mood for fishing dries there are several good nymph patterns that have been working. March Brown nymphs can be a bright green color and are all over our streams this time of year. A size 12 olive haresear is a great pattern for this type nymph. Other important patterns include copper johns, pheasant tails, micro mays, and tellicos in all sizes. The flies mentioned above will also work very well on the Hatchery supported streams which have been on fire the last few weeks. Even though bait fishing is allowed on these there are still plenty of fish to be caught with a fly rod. Next on the list is the small wild streams which have been fishing just as well if not better than the larger rivers in our area. Remember that large bushy dry flies will be your best bet. Important patterns include elk hair caddis, Royal Trude Coachman, Tennessee Wulff, and orange and yellow stimulators. Both wild rainbow and brook trout streams have fished incredibly well this past week and are sure to please all the way through the dog days of summer.

The Tennessee tail races are living up to their reputation this month providing plenty of action to those with the proper fly selection. The fish on the South Holston have been taking various nymphs in the morning and feeding on dry flies in the afternoon as the bugs begin to come off. Sulpher nymphs, blue wing nymphs, micro mays, and midge larva flies will work great from size 16 to 24. Sulpher hatches have been sporadic in the morning but have been heavy before dark. CDC sulpher dries and emergers should be used during this time of day. If you get some cloud cover during the day get ready because the blue wing olives are going to start hatching. BWO parachute and CDC patterns will work as well as emerger patterns such as RS2 sizes 18 and 20. Also there are still some midge and black fly patterns hatching at the top. The Watauga river is also fishing very well with Sulphers hatching and a strong focus on midges. Late in the day a sulpher spinner fall is possible. 30+ fish days are the norm not the exception right now.

May is also a fantastic time to smallmouth fish. Our smallmouth trips have been producing some solid fish and some very high numbers. Streamers have been working well in several colors and they are beginning to pay attention to poppers. However next month will provide better top water action. On one of our recent trips over 40 fish were landed. If you are looking for a hard fighting fish on a fly rod look no further than the river smallmouth.

The fishing is truly incredible this month so stop by the shop if you need any pointers or need that certain fly. Enjoy the Spring!

Sunday, March 2, 2008

The High Country is giving us a hint of things to come - temperatures in the high 50’s the next few days and our wild songbirds are much more active. Several of our fishermen have even reported catch a few trout on top with elkwing caddis tied with CDC.

The fishing continues to be good and promises to steadily improve as we go through the month of March.

Remember that all hatchery supported streams (green diamond sign) are closed this month to all fishing so that stocking can get under way. Drop by the store and I’ll tell you the story of a young guide who took a client out for a half day of local fishing. When they returned to the shop the client was extremely excited about the 40 trout he had caught, and the fact they saw no other fisherman. The guide got a great tip. Guess when & where they were fishing. Whoops!!! Easy to forget about this rather archaic NCWRC rule – so be aware!

Mother Nature is a great tease. We often get our most snow the month of March. If you are planning a fishing trip, give us a call for local weather info.

Of course, March also brings increasing amounts of insect activity. Our local streams are still quite cold with temps in the low to mid forties. Nymph fishing is still the best choice. The delayed harvest waters are producing great catches, sometimes in the worst of weather. Be sure to watch for the beginning of top water activity. Two of our favorite nymphs are a black bead head hare’s ear with a drop of epoxy on top of the thorax and a soft-hackled bead head pheasant tail. Size 16 for both works well.

On the Watauga River tail water, blue wing olives are providing nice hatches, although the fish are often taking the emerging nymph. Several of our guides have been floating the Watauga regularly and are having nice catches – good numbers and sizes. The South Holston is doing its usual thing – good days using midge emerges, midge pupas and blue wing olive patterns followed by really tough days. Even these tough days offer a good chance of catching one of those great big browns! If you are going to the Holston, stop by the shop for some of our unique flies. Remember – the South Holston rewards patience. Often, the best time spent on a Holston trip is the first 20 minutes after you gear up at riverside – sit down, let your pulse get back to normal, look at the water, look at the first several above the water, look up higher in the air for insects and for birds feeding on insects. Last but not least, look on the streamside bushes, rocks and your wader legs for insects.

We had a great time at the Charlotte show and enjoyed seeing many of you there. Call us and book a guided trip with one of our professional, Orvis certified guides. Also call for any stream info you may need. We are a full service outfitter and can satisfy all your fly fishing needs. 828-963-6556.

Sunday, January 13, 2008 10:30AM

26 degrees, cloudy, snow flurries - A great day to go fishing!! Honest - just think about it a minute.

Our local streams now have good water levels, average water temps from 37 degrees to 42 degrees. A recent artic blast drove temperatures to the low single digits for several days, essentially putting a halt to all fishing (rumor has it that our guide Matt was dredging a streamer under the ice on Elk River these coldest of days). Now, however, the temperature has moderated and fishing our local Delayed Harvest & wild streams has been excellent. #10 & #12 streamers & flash buggers are doing well - be sure to get your nymphs right on the bottom. A rig using a bugger with a #16 beadhead zugbug dropped about 6-8 inches off the bend of the bugger hook works well. Our local weatherman has predicted a mild winter and we are still booking guided trips through February into March. One tidbit to remember: on calm, sunny days (even in freezing weather) you will often find our trout easing to the surface and sipping small midges - a #18-#20 griffiths gnat or #16 soft-hackled fly works well. Our local insect population seems to have flown south. We see a few afternoon midges and blue winged olives in the air. Of course, if you lift up a rock in the streams you will see a great number of nymphs(especially stoneflys) and caddis larvae.

A world away (weatherwise and hatchwise) are our fabulous tailwater fisheries - the Watauga and South Holston Rivers. Recent float trips on the Trophy section of the Watauga River have been very productive. Bluewing olives and midges with a scattering of cranefly adults are most commonly seen. Large nymphs and streamers are producing nice sized trout. Matt, one of our guides, has been floating this section of the river quite often recently. Call us (Foscoe Fishing Co.) at 828-963-6556 for Matt's up-to-date report. The famous South Holston is once again acting like the fabulous and notorious fishery it is well known for. There have been few chances to float the river because the TVA hasn't been releasing water that would allow for a float trip. But, WOW, the fishing has been very good. Various soft-hackled patterns, bluewing olive adults and emergers, and midge patterns are working well. Here is an example of a recent, typical South Holston week: Sunday through Wednesday provide good catches of nice sized browns (14 - 18 inches) both on the surface and just above the bottom. Thursday and Friday have the fish sipping on the surface throughout the day and very few insects are seen. The fish are showing no interest whatsoever in the old standby flies you have in your box. You finally remember that you are fishing the South Holston - "midges, midges, midges" - "small, small, small". You finally are able to catch these rising fish on a very small (#28, #30, #32)(honest!) midge emerger pattern. Ed Engle has an excellent book on this type of fishing.On Saturday there are almost as many fishermen on the water as there are rising fish but a few fish are caught on bluewing olive patterns. Black flies are seen on the river this time of year. Black fly pupae are seen in abundance on rock bottoms below Emmett Bridge. Look for increasing numbers of bluewing olives on the water. Remember, the worst weather days can bring the best hatches.

All of us wish you and your family a Happy New Year. The Guys and Gals of Foscoe Fishing Co. 828-963-6556

May 6, 2007
Spring is finally in full swing here in the High Country. We have finally got some rain this weekend and the water levels are looking good around here.

May is the last month of catch-and-release on the Delayed Harvest waters, so all you who want to enjoy the D.H. waters should get out as much as possible this month. May seems to be the month that these streams really start to switch gears from a strong nymph bite to a strong dry fly bite. Nymphing under a strike indicator with a few split shot is still the rule until mid-morning on these streams. Once mid-morning roles around, it is time to switch to the dry-and-dropper rig. Stop by the fly shop and our prostaff will be happy to assist you with setting up for this kind of fishing.

May is also the month that the small streams turn on fire in the High Country. All the small streams in the area have decent water levels, and the bugs are really starting to turn on. All the Wilderness streams such as Wilson, Cragg Prong, N. and S. Harpers Creek, China Creek, and most all the others are fishing strong right now. Dry-and-dropper rigs are the way to be fishing on these streams right now.

This month is also an excellent time to fish lower down on the bigger rivers in the area. The Elk, Watauga, and New Rivers are a few examples of rivers that hold both Smallmouth Bass and lunker Trout when you are in the right area. Come by the fly shop and we can point out a couple of spots for some mixed bag fishing.

Later in the month will be when the bigger smallmouth rivers like the New and Nolichucky Rivers really come into their own. Usually the third week of May seems to be the magic week for the excellent topwater bite for the smallies. We are offering float and wade trips for smallmouth with both spinning and fly gear if you are interested in trying something new here in the mountains.

The Tennessee tailrace rivers begin to fish better and better this month. Our Caddis hatch is really almost over now, but the mayfly hatches are just starting to crank up. Both the Watauga and the S. Holston are fishing incredible right now. Make the time to get over to Tennessee if at all possible, you will not regret the drive.

March 13, 2007
The weather has been warming up dramatically here in the mountains and so has the fishing. The past few weeks, aside from a few cold days we have had unseasonably warm weather and the trout have really responded. The temps have been in the high 60's and low 70's which have made for some great spring time weather. The fishing in the local area around Boone and Banner Elk is really turning on.

The local Delayed Harvest streams, the Watauga, Helton Creek, Cane Creek, have all been restocked and are fishing very well. Fishing on these creeks is still primarily nymphing with a possibility of good dry fly fishing in the afternoon. Stop by our fly shop to check out the new flies for this year, we have lots of new patterns that have the guides and the fish excited. Blue wing olives and some small black caddis are hatching. However nymph fishing is still going to be the most productive.

All Hatchery Supported waters are closed the month of March; so be careful out there and keep a look out for the Green and White Hatchery Supported Placards.

Our small streams in the area are also starting to turn on. The wild trout are still not as easy as they are later in the spring, but due to total lack of fishing pressure and the first opportunity to feed hard, there are some big wild fish on the feed right now. Fishing on these creeks will be similar to the Delayed Harvest streams, start by nymph fishing the deep holes early in the day and as it warms up switch to a Dry and Dropper Rig.

In Tennessee, on the tailrace rivers of the South Holston and Watauga, the fishing has really turned on. Our guides are reporting big numbers of fish and well above average size fish. The Holston has been the better Dry Fly opportunity lately with the Watauga being better for nymphing. One of our guides, Tim Holcomb, had a client catch a 28" brown trout on the Watauga on Tuesday. Congrats Tom Prestwood on such a great catch. Although the fishing has been excellent in Tennessee lately, the fish are still being very selective. Stop by our shop and we will show you the patterns our guides have been having success with, also make sure you have flurocarbon tippets with you as the water is abnormally clear and low for this time in the spring.

March is a great time to get out and go fishing, the fish are biting and there is no one on the water.

January 29, 2007
Recent trips to the South Holston have been producing excellent dry fly opportunities this week. Cold temperatures and occasional snow showers yesterday did not seem to hold the fish back. Though fishing started out slow in the morning the afternoon produced a decent hatch of blue wings as well as midges and small black flies. A heavy feeding occurred for about a two hour time span in which we found it hard to float blue wing imitation without drawing a rise or hooking into a fish. Three of us ended up catching over thirty five fish even though we called it an early day. Matt Maness, one of our Orvis Endorsed Guides, reports that the fishing was just as hot on Thursday when he caught two 18 inch, a 17 inch, and a 16 inch trout out of one hole in less than thirty minutes. Fishing is good if you are willing to brave the cold. Nymph fishing has been the number one producer on our local rivers, such as the Watauga and the Elk River. Working your nymphs slow and deep will be your best bet. Small streams have been doing well on warmer days especially those in the Wilson Creek area. Small stream winter fishing will almost always be better after mid-day when the sun has warmed the surface temperature. Check out our hatch report if you plan on going and make sure to dress in layers.