Cape Fear River, Falls Lake

Took my first trip to Raven Rock was great for a day hike, swimming, and fishing.  Safe for kids to wade and swim.  Its a well maintained park I didn't see garbage on the trail or in the water.  The information center was also clean and had maps to guide you.  It was well staffed which makes you feel safe in case someone is in need of assistance.  We hiked to the overlook for some scenery then to fish traps to swim and fish.  The river flow was perfect for my 8 and 12 year old sons to enjoy the day wading up and down the stream from rock to rock while I flyfished.  It was the hottest part of the day and not the most ideal conditions to fish.  The river is very wide so I concentrated my efforts to the shaded areas along the river bank.  I caught the usual bluegill and redbreasted sunfish and hooked a large carp that ran me down river where I had to put my rod under a tree.  I asked my son to get my vest but was ignored they were having too much fun swimming.  I decided not to bring my phone/ camera wading a new area good thing because chasing that fish downstream brought me into deep water and I got wet.  The fish hit a size 14 caddis pupa on 5x Fluorocarbon tippet.  Touched the leader(that counts as a release!) but never touched the fish I'd estimate him around 8lbs.  Great way to spend a 95 degree Saturday in June.  On the way out I stopped to chat with the Park Ranger who use to fish the river and gave me some tips on where to go in future trips. 
On Sunday I took the kids to Falls Lake and rented a paddle board and 2 kayaks from Rolllingview Marina.  Again the trip mainly focused on the kids enjoying some fun on the water. I fished from both the paddle board and kayak.  I found the paddle board flyfishing to be challenging and fun.  If the water is flat it is a great way to sneak into some good spots and the ability to stand up gives you the chance to really throw some far casts.   Caught the usual Bluegill and Redbreasted sunfish.  Nothing big hit that day but still fun exploring.  Next time I'll head there after 4pm and throw some streamers on a sinking line into water 10'- 18' ft.




Fly Tackle:  you can throw a bigger flyrod on both the Cape Fear River and Falls Lake.  5 weight is probably ideal.  Dialing up on leader to 4x may have helped me land the carp.
Dries: Assorted Hoppers in size 10-12
Nymphs: beadhead prince, caddis size 12- 16
Streamers: Black Wooley Bugger size 10

Cape Fear River Raven Rock State Park

Spin Tackle: spinning rod selection can be bigger on both the Cape Fear River and Falls Lake.   I would recommend a 7ft. medium light action rods.
River Lures: Beetle spin, Berkeley Power Bait Pre Rigged Atomic Tube, Roadrunners
Lake Lures:  Texas or Carolina Rigged worm,  deep diving crank bait resembling shad

Conditions: Hot, Hot, Hot, with temps in the mid 90s every day! and no significant rain.  Rivers are low and warming, Falls Lake was like a hot tub in some spots.  

The boys with a nice Largemouth Bass from the upper Neuse River

Wildlife Falls Lake: Saw about 10 black and turkey vultures at Falls Lake trying to get at a floating dead catfish.  They were waiting for it to get to the shore and running along the shoreline fighting with each other to see who got first dibs!  Osprey, White tail Deer, Red Tailed Hawk, Snapping Turtle. 
Wildlife Cape Fear River:  Kayakers getting stuck on the rocks(fun to watch), sunbathers, swimmers. 

The boys at the overlook at Raven Rock State Park

Cape Fear River

Neuse River Wade

Fishing remains good on the Neuse River in Raleigh.  Things are becoming consistent for summer fishing.  Fish are where you would expect them shade, deep spots with current breaks, pools below riffles, under every hanging sycamore tree in the river.  Dry fly fishing and nymphs are producing well.  I fished with my neighbor Luke Primm for his first trip wading in the river.  He did well fishing a Green size 14 Humpy and caught the best fish of the day a nice largemouth bass.  Luke's patience was a successful approach as we had to work our way through a busy Saturday of kayakers and tube floaters.  There are lots of small schools of baitfish in the middle of the river behind the riffles.  Once in a while you can hear a splashy rise from a largemouth picking one off it might be a good bet to throw a flashy #4 or 6 streamer in these areas from time to time.  Redbreasted and Bluegill sunfish are still the most numerous species caught in the river right now and we are targeting them.  Some catfish, chub, crappie, are around closer to the dam.  White bass fishing has cooled down considerably but you still may find some in the faster and deeper water flyfishing with white nymphs or streamers with marabou and spin fishing with small white jigs.  Although the flow out of Falls Lake is low right now, we had heavy rain last Wednesday night which made the river below Highway 401 high.  Keep in mind when looking to wade the Neuse River that the tributaries after the first few miles may rise the river to make wading difficult further downstream.  Hope you are enjoying the weather and fishing.  Cheers!

Fly Tackle: 3 or 4 weight fly rods, 9 ft tapered leader to 5x tippet
Dry flies: Elk Hair Caddis, Humpies 14- 16, 
Terrestrials: Hoppers, Ants, Beetles, Crickets 8- 14
Nymphs: Beadhead caddis, Prince, Zug Bug, Estaz Stone flies 12- 16
Streamers: Muddler Minnow, Wooly Bugger in black, peacock or white Size 6- 12

Spin Tackle: Ultralight rod and reel rigged with 4 to 6 lb test line.
Berkly Power Bait Pre Rigged Atomic Tubes in white, green and pearl.
Gulp Cricket
Johnson Beetle Spin
Roadrunners
colored Jigheads with a curly or split tail twister 

Fish Species(I have caught): redbreast sunfish, bluegill, green sunfish, largemouth bass, white bass, white perch, crappie, yellow perch, chub, catfish, Redear Sunfish.

Conditions: USGS Water data says the Neuse was flowing 116 cfs today at the spillway in Wakefield. It was a nice, sunny, warm day and 84 degrees.  The water is low and ideal for wet wading.  Sunscreen and or sun protective clothing was necessary such as UPF clothing and a UV Buff. 

Wildlife: Great Blue Heron, Red Shouldered Hawk, Partying Tubers with a floating cooler and floating stereo(wow), River Cooter turtle, ants are out and about, lots of Dragon Flies and Damsel Flies by the river.