Early winter bite will not disappoint.

Hello all its been awhile since my last blog, the fishing in North Carolina was great this fall.  The Neuse River is back at normal wadeable levels.  During the fall there was a substantial change in the Upper Neuse  courtesy of Hurricane Matthew.  With the excessive rains from Matthew and the devastation it caused North Carolina residents in the southeast part of the river basin, the Army Corp of Engineers held the water back in Falls Lake to prevent additional damage to homes, farms, and businesses downstream.  Once they decided to let the water out, the Neuse River ran at 3500 for 2 weeks straight from October 21st to November 10th.  The results were thousands of fish washed into the river out of Falls Lake.  Most of the fish washed over were Gizzard shad in all sizes from fingerling to a foot.  Crappie and White Perch are also in the huge schools that came through.  Since November 10th, there has not been any large storms effecting the flow of the river and it has stayed at  safe wadeable level around 110 cfs.

The fishing has been great!  Plenty of fish are being called on buggers in all colors and nymphs.  If you are persistent some large White Bass and Crappie can be caught in the best fishing lies in the river.  Many of the deeper river spots right off the main current are holding fish.  With the low river flows there have been many people fishing the river.  Some of the common spots close to the Neuse River Greenway are getting pounded by fisherman and the trees are littered with bobbers as proof.  For added success take the lesser traveled paths to fish where others have not been.

Also, many fish near the spillway have been caught and released many times.  Try a barbless hook or pinch your barb down thus reducing the damage your hook causes on fish.  In addition, don't be worried about the cold the fish will still bite just fish slower, and lower in the water column.  In the winter nymphs become standard and dead drifting, high sticking, and casting upstream and working nymphs will work good when nothing else will.  These tatics will work on the Neuse, Eno, Cape Fear, and Haw Rivers.

On the beaches near the inlets there are red drum in the surf.  You can catch them using clousers on an slow retrieve.  I was taught this by David Goldstein an accomplished saltwater flyfisherman.  He's been catching drum in the surf for many years.  I used an Helios 2 8 weight with a Hydros Redfish line

I am now the proud owner of a Flycraft Stealth  what a great experience so far with their customer service and product.  Please contact me if you want to float the river!  I also have private water access to fish in Rolesville.  Happy Holidays!

Fly Tackle: Orvis 4 weight Recon 8' 6" Rod, Hydros SLII Reel, Orvis Axis Rod 8'6" 7 ft tapered leader to 4x.  Mystic Au Sable 8' 3" 4 wt fly rods and Ross Reels.

Dry Fly: small flies 18-22 like Adams Parachute, Midge, Olives.

Streamers: Dumbell or bead chain eyed wooly buggers, zonkers, and muddlers in white, chartreuse and olive with flash. 

Nymphs:  Prince nymph, Copper John, Hare's Ear, Pheasant Tail

Spin Tackle: Medium light spinning rod and reel rigged with 6 or 8 lb test flourocarbon line. Berkley Power Bait Pre Rigged Atomic Tubes in white, green and pearl.1/16- 1/32 oz Jigheads with realistic eyes white twister or paddle tail.  VMC Paddletails.  Minnows will do well under a float!

Conditions: Cold conditions will become more frequent as winter begins.  River temp is 49 degrees.   

Wildlife:   Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, Osprey.  

Summer, Summer, Summertime

Hey folks!  I hope you have a great summer so far.  Terrestrial fishing on the local rivers is fantastic right now and should continue into September.   It's hot out with temps in the 90s every day.  That's not stopping the great flyfishing!  I have been out with clients even during midday with great action flyfishing with a hopper and a dropper.  Largemouth bass are spread out all over the Neuse River in Wake Forest and Raleigh.  Sometimes being patient and working through and catching a few redbreast and bluegill gets some of the larger bass agitated and more eager to bite.

Redfish from Morehead City while fishing curly tail grub in The Newport River

When you see bass chasing redbreast or bluegill in an area you are fishing a bite will be coming soon.  Sometimes they will grab your fish!  Also, long casts directed at shaded sunken timber produces some bigger fish.  The river is running at its typical summer lows that means wading is easy but the fish are spooked easier.

My Tacky Fly  Box with emergers

Lighter tippets and stealthy wading has helped with results.  I find bass are more opportunistic in the river than in lakes and will hit terrestrials consistently.  It's all in your hook set.  Flies in sizes 8-12 still catch large bass.  This time of year there are many tubers, kayakers, partyers, and the like on the river.  If possible target areas below the take outs on the rivers.  The best spots to fish in the Neuse are below Capital this time of year.  Take care to return fish to the water quickly and avoid playing wish too long if possible.  September will be here soon and marks the best Hopper fishing of the season!  Tightlines!  EJ

The Neuse River flowing at around 2000cfs in July!

Largemouth in the Neuse below Capital Blvd caught on Chernobyl Ant

Small bass in a tight lie across the river.

Fly Tackle: Orvis 4 weight Recon 8' 6" Rod, Hydros SLII Reel, Orvis Axis Rod 8'6" 7 ft tapered leader to 4x.  Mystic Au Sable 8' 3" 4 wt fly rods and Ross Fly Start # 2 reels

Dry Fly: Chernobyl Ant 8-10, Amy's Ant 8-10,  Turks Tarantula Size 10-14, Rubber legged Stimulator 12-16, Ants 14-18.  

Streamers: Dumbell or bead chain eyed dragon and damsel flies.  Deer hair and Pugliese Blue Gill patterns.  

Nymphs: Any nymph you cast will produce bites this time of year!  Especially rubber legged hare's ear, prince, and pheasant tail. 

Spin Tackle: Medium light spinning rod and reel rigged with 6 or 8 lb test flourocarbon line.Berkley Power Bait Pre Rigged Atomic Tubes in white, green and pearl.1/16- 1/32 oz Jigheads with realistic eyes white twister or paddle tail.  VMC Paddletails.  Minnows will dominate under a float!

Conditions: Hot!  USGS water data says the Neuse River below the falls is flowing at 118 cfs which is below normal with temps in the 90s every darn day.  No rain here in a while here hope to get some soon.  Falls Lake is 90 degrees and the river is getting hotter too.

Wildlife: The Kayak, Canoe, Paddle board, and Tube hatch is in full swing on the river.  While on the river yesterday I saw a guy floating on an inflatable queen size mattress! Beware that there will be some interactions that may not be to your liking and just stay away from them when possible.  Don't cast when they are near.  If you desire seclusion focus your efforts during the week downstream from Capital Boulevard.  Turtles lots of them.  Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, Osprey.  

Summertime is finally here that drylfy bite is back in gear!

Summertime is here and it has come in hot!  All of the rivers are wadeable and in excellent condition.  I have moved some of my efforts toward floating bugs and frogs.  This is a great time of year to catch fish on dry flies, poppers, gurglers, frogs, and hoppers.  We have moved past the longest day of the year and full moon. Generally in June is when I start to focus my fishing on the early and later part of the day.  The morning and evening bites are more consistent when the sun is lower.

Marabou and Rabbit Strip Streamers in black, chartreuse, white and olive

As always streamers with dumbell or bead chain eyes are producing some great action.  Let your flies sink when possible and "get jiggy with it".  Nymphs fished with an indicator or by watching the end of your fly line will catch you a bunch.  The fish are very active and aggressive when the water tempertatures are at their optimum.  

Small White Bass on a Rubber Legged Prince Nymph

Carp are in some really shallow water in the lakes right now and you can target them with "buggy flies" in brown, black, red, orange, and olive.  Let your fly sink and get their attention!  They are hard to get to hit and are spooky to any disturbance or sight of you.  Stalk these fish and be pacient.  These fish will be close to tree stumps so use heavy tippet with long leaders.  Bass are feeding well this time of year.  With spawning done, they have moved into prime real estate to ambush prey.  Fish big log jams in the rivers with shade and sunken timber.  In the lakes concentrate on dropoffs or points with 8 to 10 feet of water.  If you know there is a bass in a location and it's not cooperating, try changing strip speed, and make sure to get your fly down before retrieving if using a streamer.   

The boys with a largemouth on a Turks Tarantula at Falls Lake

Get out there and fish! It's a great time to put on your board shorts, sunscreen, a BUFF, hat, and old pair of sneakers and wet wade our local rivers and lakes!

Prime fish real estate an undercut bank with roots in the water

Fly Tackle: Orvis 4 weight Recon 8' 6" Rod, Hydros SLII Reel, Orvis Axis Rod 8'6" 7 ft tapered leader to 4x.  Mystic Au Sable 8' 3" 4 wt fly rods and Ross Fly Start # 2 reels

Dry Fly:  Elk hair Caddis Size 10-16, Turks Tarantula Size 10-14, Rubber legged Stimulator 12-16, Ants 14-18.  

Streamers: Chartreuse Zonker Strip w/ a Silver Bullet head, Clouser, Wooly Bugger in Black, Brown, Olive, White and Chartreuse Size 6- 10

Nymphs: Any nymph you cast will produce bites this time of year!

Spin Tackle: Medium light spinning rod and reel rigged with 6 or 8 lb test flourocarbon line.Berkley Power Bait Pre Rigged Atomic Tubes in white, green and pearl.1/16- 1/32 oz Jigheads with realistic eyes white twister or paddle tail.  VMC Paddletails.  Minnows will dominate under a float!

Weather:  Its been hot this June with temps in the 90s.  We have been lucky to get rain every week.  River water is in the low 80s.  Falls Lake is heating up reading 85 and climbing. 

Wildlife: The Kayak, Canoe, and Tube hatch has begun on the river.  If you desire seclusion focus your efforts during the week downstream from Capital Boulevard.  Turtles lots of them.  Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, Osprey.  

Spring Ends, Summer Begins

This spring will go down as one of the best on record for flyfishing in our area! The weekly rains kept the local area rivers and lakes at great levels and the fishing was phenominal.  I got a new Orvis Recon 8'6" 4 weight with a Hydros SL II reel and all I can say is wow! It casts amazing and the reel is very smooth.

Cane Creek Reservoir Bingham, NC

For April and May I concentrated most of my fishing around the first 1/4 mile of the Neuse River near the spillway.  I  also fished the Tar River, White Oak Creek, Moncure Creek, Eno River, Haw River, Falls Lake, Wake Forest Reservoir, Cane Creek Reservoir,  and was not disappointed by any of them! 

Longnose Gar Neuse River Wake Forest, NC

 When the water is high I been throwing conehead and dumbell eye streamers in chartreuse and white when it is at normal levels I been fishing Rubber Legged nymphs of Prince, gold beadhead Hares Ear, and Copper John. 

White Perch Neuse River Wake Forest, NC

Dryfly action has been up and down with the water levels.  In high water there has been little to no dryfly fishing while normal level water has had great action using high floating caddis patterns.  Dragonfly and Damsel have begun to show there faces and streamers that mimic these larvae are starting to produce.  

Rock bass White Oak Creek New Hope, NC

Longnose Gar Tar River Rocky Mount, NC

Redhorse Neuse River Wake Forest, NC

  

When you are fishing different bodies of water species identification can be tough I have been using the NC Wildlife Fish Species Guide it can be found here http://www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/Species/Fish

Gar are spawning now and they are in rocky, grassy low water areas and can be caught using rope flies.  I caught many large redhorse this spring on beadhead nymphs and I had my first 2 bowfin on streamers last week! These fish are strong I recommend a 6 or 7 weight for large gar and bowfin. The only constant right now is change.  The river will be moving toward early summer water releases and dry fly action will be heating up.  I can guide you in my canoe now!  I am fully insured and CPR certified.  Have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend!    

EJ

Fly Tackle: Orvis 4 weight Recon 8' 6" Rod, Hydros SLII Reel, Orvis Axis Rod 8'6" 7 ft tapered leader to 4x.  Mystic Au Sable 8' 3" 4 wt fly rods and Ross Fly Start # 2 reels

Streamers: Chartreuse Zonker Strip w/ a Silver Bullet head, Clouser, Wooly Bugger in White and Chartreuse Size 6- 10

Spin Tackle: Medium light spinning rod and reel rigged with 6 or 8 lb test flourocarbon line.

Berkly Power Bait Pre Rigged Atomic Tubes in white, green and pearl.1/16- 1/32 oz Jigheads with realistic eyes white twister or paddle tail.  VMC Paddletails.  Minnows will dominate under a float!

Fishing is great right now!

 Hello all been a great few weeks of weather in the greater Raleigh area! The fishing has really turned on the rivers.  Catches of White Bass, White Perch, and Crappie have dominated while Largemouth Bass and Sunfish fishing is improving.  There has been some truly fantastic days on the Neuse for me in recent trips.  Fishing with streamers and nymphs has produced constantly. Dry fly fishing has not started however I did see some rises to stone flies yesterday.  The upper Neuse River close to the dam have has received a lot of fishing pressure this winter therefore you need to get to less pressured spots to increase your chances.  If you have waders use them but make sure to monitor the USGS water data.  I look at before every trip I go on a local river.  The Neuse River is wadeable now but be careful it is still quick in some of the runs.  If you are older or young(your interpretation) stay away from mid current flows find a good low gravel spot to access the spots you want to fish.  This time of year I am focusing on back eddies and foam lines where fish can get out of the current and ambush prey.  Some of your better fish will be tight to the seem and will keep smaller fish away from such prime real estate.  I have been fishing 4 weights fly rods recently and have been happy with the feel and results.  However there are some large bass and carp up river right now and my 4 weight could not turn or pull a few fish I hooked recently.  As the fishing continues to get better I may be throwing a 5 or 6 especially when tartgeting fish that will be measured by poundage!  Still no Shad to report except Gizzards.  Eno River is heating up for White Bass!  Email or call me if you would like a guided trip or to learn to flyfish.  See you on the river!

EJ

 Fly Tackle: Mystic Au Sable 8' 3" 4 wt fly rods and Ross Fly Start # 2 reels,  Orvis Axis Rod 8'6" 7 ft tapered leader to 4x.  

Streamers: Chartreuse Zonker Strip w/ a Silver Bullet head, Clouser, Wooly Bugger in White and Chartreuse Size 6- 10

Spin Tackle: Medium light spinning rod and reel rigged with 6 lb test line.

Berkly Power Bait Pre Rigged Atomic Tubes in white, green and pearl.1/16- 1/32 oz Jigheads with realistic eyes white twister or paddle tail.  Minnows will dominate under a float!

Fish Species(caught recently):  crappie, white perch, largemouth bass, redbreasted sunfish, channel catfish, chub.  

Conditions: USGS Water data says the Neuse was flowing low at 513 cfs today at the spillway in Wakefield. It was mostly cloudy,  high of 77 degrees perfect weather! 

Wildlife:  Great Blue Heron, Goshawk, Muskrat

Let's Get Ready to Get Ready!

December Largemouth

Hope everyone is enjoying 2016 so far.  Wow what crazy weather January has brought us with record high water releases,  rain, snow, and ice.  With some of the rivers unfishable at times and outright dangerous to wade, I have focused my attention on preparations for guiding and fishing.  I have restocked all of the fly boxes with some of my "goto flies" and some new designs both tied and purchased from Big Y Fly Co and Orvis.

Nymphs and Wet Flies

I have also purchased all new tippet, leaders, and fly line for all my reels.  I am trying some new fly lines from Orvis this season the Hydros Hd Depth Charge, Hydros Hd Bank Shot, and Hydros HD Trout casting all of them has been great!  All are ideal for the situation they are called for.  I am looking forward to fishing White Bass in the Neuse and Eno Rivers soon.

Buggers

Minnow streamers(clousers, muddlers, skulls)

In other news, my last few outings at "The Spillway" have seen me calling Wildlife Resources Enforcement Agents for people illegally netting game fish, fishing without a license, and exceeding size and creel limits.  It is upsetting to see the blatant disregard for North Carolina fishing regulations on a daily basis.  We as conscience sportsman need to be proactive by knowing the regulations and report any activity that is illegal.  I generally don't have a problem with addressing these individuals but, lately it seems the groups of people have been getting bigger and unpleasant.  I have emailed the Enforcement Officers covering Wake County and the Upper Neuse River and they have encouraged all to report any suspected violations.  Also, I continue to find litter from people such as jigs, line, and bobbers which I collect every outing.  If you see this stuff in the water and its in reach its always good to get it out if you can.  The last thing I want is a hook tearing through a pair of $300 waders!  Together we make a difference!  Comment, email, or call me anytime!  Cheers, EJ

Hoppers and Poppers

Fly Tackle: Mystic Au Sable 8' 3" 4 wt fly rods, Orvis Access 4 wt and Ross Fly Start # 2 reels, 9 ft tapered leader to 4x tippet 
Streamers: Buggers in white Size 6- 10
Nymphs: Rubber Legged Bead Head Hairs Ear Prince and Copper John

Spin Tackle: Ultralight spinning rod and reel rigged with 6 lb test line.
Berkly Power Bait Pre Rigged Atomic Tubes in white, green and pearl.
1/32 oz Jigheads with realistic eyes white twister or paddle tail
Johnson Beetle Spin, Phoebe, Mepps, Panther Martin, Rooster Tail

Fish Species(caught today):  bluegill, white bass, white perch, big crappie, channel catfish

Conditions: USGS Water data says the Neuse was flowing 2530cfs today at the spillway in Wakefield. It was sunny,  high of 53 degrees.  Chest waders needed be careful!

Wildlife: whitewater kayakers having a blast in the high fast water release, illegal poachers fishing and netting.  If you see activity of people netting fish and keeping them say something and call NC Fish and Game that you are witnessing a violation.