Lots going on lately

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: USGS Water 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.

Wildlife: tubers, kayakers, Kingfisher,  Dragonflies.