First Day of Summer

Big Mama caught on a clouser minnow

Hope you are enjoying the warmer weather in the Raleigh area.  Late May and June fishing has been great between rain storms.  Despite the wet weather the river has produced good fishing at every level 150, 750, and 2000 cfs have all produced.  White Bass and Largemouth Bass are on the prowl ambushing shad especially in the upper river.  At times you can see them pushing shad clear out of the water.  This is the time to throw the biggest fly in your box and slam it on the water and strip immediately and be ready.  .   Last year we had a fantastic May this year it looks like June will be the better month on the Neuse this year and we should have a great summer.  Lately we have been targeting the Largemouth with 8 weight rods, floating line, monofilament furled leader with 2x tippet throwing big deerhair poppers and large streamers.  Fish near dropoffs, sunken timber and as far as you can cast your fly under an overhanging tree in the shade.  Pound productive areas with multiple casts. Sometimes persistence will pay off.  There are many 2 and 3 year old Largemouth willing to hit.  For the larger fish stealthy approach and longer casts are necessary.  I was fishing a ledge a few weeks back near a sunken tree and missed a hit and a saw a flash near my fly.  I went back to that same spot and was greeted by my best largemouth this year.

Mark Bredin with a Largemouth Bass he caught on a guided Float Trip

When the water is generating at 750- 2000 crappie and white bass can be caught near the spillway.  Fish the edges of the current and seams. This June we have caught white bass on poppers, hoppers and streamers.

Anthony Lisankis with a White Bass on a Umpqua Yellow popper  on a recent Guided wading trip

Most of the larger crappie have been taken from the river fish like this are common

Some big Largemouth look like they have been threw a war!

The redbreast and bluegill are hitting a hopper and a dropper on every cast behind a rock or near sunken timber. It is outstanding action for your light fly rod weights.  Often while targeting brim you will be awarded with a small bass,crappie, or white perch. If you or a friend is new to flyfishing this is a great time to learn how to target fish, read the water and play fish.
It's been a busy guiding season so far.  With all of the rain and water releases coming out of Falls Lake from the Army Corp of Engineers wading the river has been difficult at times.  If you are interested in floating the river for some great bass fishing please contact me.

Yours in Flyfishing,

EJ

Fish Skull Baitfish Head with a Frantic Tail from Flymen Fishing Co

Fly Tackle: For Bass Orvis Helios 8 weight with Appalachian Furled Leader Company's Mono leader with 4' of 2X fluoro for streamers and mono for Poppers.
For bluegill and redbreast Orvis 4 weight Recon 8' 6" Rod, Hydros SLII Reels,  Mystic Au Sable 8' 3" 4 wt fly rods.

Dry Fly:  For bluegill and redbreast Elk hair Caddis Size 10-16, Turks Tarantula Size 10-14, Rubber legged Stimulator 12-16, Ants 14-18.
For bass Deer Hair Poppers, Hard Poppers, Dahlberg Diver, Gurglers.  Size 2/0- 4/0

Streamers: Chartreuse Frantic Tail or Zonker Strip w/ a Fish Skull Baitfish Head, Clouser, Wooly Bugger with Fish Skull Sculpin Heads in Black, Brown, Olive, White and Chartreuse Size 6- 10.  For larger bass sunfish patterns like Deerhair Sunfish or EP Bluegill patterns will become more and more important.  

Nymphs: Any nymph you cast will produce bites this time of year! Especially one with rubber legs like prince, copper john or hares ear.    

Weather:  Days are getting long! Its been a wet June with temps in the 80s and 90s.  We have been getting rain every week.  River water is in the low 80s.  Falls Lake is heating up reading 84 degrees.  

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.  

We use products from: Appalachian Furled Leader Company, Columbia Sportswear, Flymen Fishing Co,  Mystic Outdoors , Fly Craft , RIO, Umpqua Feather Merchants,