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
