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.