I fished the Bedford section of the Neuse River yesterday. The river still remains low with not enough rain recently to get them to release more water. It still fished well for bass and brim but was a bit more challenging with the need to make longer casts not to spook fish. It seems once the larger bass see you it is tough to get them to hit. Action was predominantly on top with some foam hoppers . I also threw some streamers. I threw at some carp that I cant seem to get to hit if someone can help me with that it would be great email me edwardstern51@gmail.com . We are experiencing great weather with warm days and cool nights. I still wet waded a perfect morning the first step was cool, but I got use to it quick.
My terrestrial box: hoppers, dragon, damsel, spiders, ants and poppers(that I rarely use)
Large sunfish fishing was a bit slower in this stretch of water. The Bedford section receives the most fishing pressure in the river because Paddle Creek customers mainly float this section. Regardless, I like to fish it once the summer is ending and fall is beginning. The bass seem to be in groups not solitary I am finding them with 2, 3, or 4 other fish with them. Make long casts. If you are walking downstream try to no send silt into the downstream area you plan to fish approach from the opposite bank. Also, stay low to the water, minimize false casting, and try a longer leader.
2 year old largemouth on a hopper
Another point of advice, in some spots that you know consistently hold good size fish that spook easily, try staying out of the water and fish these areas from land.
Typical spot near the bank under an overhanging tree
Shellcracker on a small bead chain eye wooly buggerredear sunfish)
Largemouth on small Dahlberg Diver
My streamers: circus peanut, zoo cougar, muddler, small clouser, mick finn, and other uglies.
Thanks to www.mysticoutdoors.com and www.columbia.com
Fly Tackle: 3 or 4 weight fly rods,11 ft tapered leader to 4x tippet Dry flies: Elk Hair Caddis, Humpies, Ants, Beetles 14- 16 for Brim Terrestrials: Hoppers, Crickets 6-10 for bigmouths Nymphs: Beadhead caddis, Prince, Zug Bug, Estaz Stone flies 12- 16 Streamers: Muddler Minnow, Clouser, Wooly Bugger in black or white Size 6- 12
Spin Tackle: Ultralight rod and reel rigged with 6 lb test line. Berkly Power Bait Pre Rigged Atomic Tubes in white, green and pearl. Gulp Cricket, Johnson Beetle Spin, Phoebe
Fish Species(I have caught): redbreast sunfish, redear sunfish, bluegill, green sunfish, largemouth bass, white bass, white perch, crappie, yellow perch, chub, catfish
Conditions: USGSWater data says the Neuse was flowing 132 cfs today at the spillway in Wakefield. It was sunny, high of 81degrees. The water was perfect for wet wading only a couple more weeks til it gets to cold.
Wildlife: red shouldered hawk, kayakers, great blue heron, beetles, spiders, Dragonflies, big green grasshoppers!
Hope all is well and you enjoyed your summer. The fall is when the fishing gets better! I'm not saying the river hasn't consistently produced fish, but less people on the river, shorter days, cooler weather and water, more species biting, all contribute to better fishing. This has been a great year of bass fishing on the Neuse River in Wake Forest and Raleigh. There seem to be more and larger fish in the river this year as compared to years past. Last year it seemed the majority of the largemouth were around 9 inches. This year they are all around 12 or larger.
Largemouth on the new Mystic Au Sable 4 wt
I am starting to guide on the Neuse River and other rivers in the Raleigh/ Durham area. I have been approved for Pro Guide program from Mystic Rods. They have sent me some great flyrods that are ideal for Brim and Bass fishing in the Raleigh area. I got out on the Neuse this evening and it fished well. With the good bass fishing we have been having I have been using some larger flies to focus on them. Big hoppers and large streamers have been generating some aggressive strikes to say the least.
The redbreasted sunfish and Bluegill fishing is good in the shallows along sunken timber, under trees, and below steep banks where food collects.
I have been spotting carp, catfish, and gar setting up in the same areas as past trips. My son caught a Catfish on a Phoebe last week! I may attempt to target all 3 species in some future trips. These fish can be quite large.
View downstream from Capital Boulevard on the Neuse River
Last week I fished the Haw River near Mebane and it was excellent. The same common fish as the Neuse River redbreast, bluegill and largemouth but larger and more frequent. It made me wonder if they had seen a fly before. I didn't have my camera but next report I'll definitely get some photos.
If you want a guided wading trip on the Neuse, Haw, Deep River, Cape Fear River or your local lake or pond please email me I will provide all flies, leaders, tippet, rods, and reels. edwardstern51@gmail.com
Thanks to
Fly Tackle: 3 or 4 weight fly rods, 9 ft tapered leader to 5x tippet Dry flies: Elk Hair Caddis, Humpies, Ants, Beetles 14- 16 for Brim Terrestrials: Hoppers, Crickets 6-10 for bigmouths Nymphs: Beadhead caddis, Prince, Zug Bug, Estaz Stone flies 12- 16 Streamers: Muddler Minnow, Clouser, Wooly Bugger in black 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, Phoebe
Fish Species(I have caught): redbreast sunfish, bluegill, green sunfish, largemouth bass, white bass, white perch, crappie, yellow perch, chub, catfish
Conditions: USGSWater data says the Neuse was flowing 125 cfs today at the spillway in Wakefield. It was cloudy, high of 88 degrees. The water was perfect for wet wading only a couple more weeks til it gets to cold.
