The Yadkin River is one of the longest rivers in North Carolina and is home to 4 lakes which include W. Kerr Scott Reservoir, High Rock Lake, Badin Lake, and Lake Tillery. In addition, we reserve the right to refuse entry to anyone, for any reason. Add to Cart. For fly fishers its hard to beat squirmy worms, mops flies, and eggs. Daniel Boseman and Jordan Hughes take 1st Place On Kerr Lake, Mike Cathcart and Doug White Win on the Roanoke River. Check out this 25 bruiser our guide Jason Wilson put his client on last week. Top Guns will be conducted with minimum 65 boat field, still have $20,000 first place, and a $2,000 big fish award. Phantom Outdoors Opens TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR Brett Collins PHONE: 803.413.7521 EMAIL: catttrail1@gmail.com TOURNAMENT NEWS & UPDATES Use PHANTOMCATT15 at check out and earn 15% off your order! The spawn normally begins towards the later half of April and extends well into May. Augusta County Bass 2023 Schedule - Smith Mt Lake. Are you interested in a bass fishing club that is fun and competitive that fishes in lakes near the Raleigh / Fayetteville, NC area? All big fish must be alive throughout the weigh-in to be eligible for the big fish award. The are healthy, hard fighting fish which makes for a great day! Thats roughly the top 16% of the field. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Topwater will continue to be good the rest of the summer. Trying throwing some smaller profile flies to match the hatch. You can cancel at any time. See Skeeter Real Money official rules here: Foothills Bonus Money ($200) is available to the winner of any/all Tuesday tournaments if the winner is fishing out of a Foothills Marine purchased boat. The Titans had the top three teams and four of the top five on their home lake. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. Another productive fly has on the delayed harvest rivers has been orange sucker spawn eggs with a gold bead. Blake James: 5: 10-4: Rhea County High School - TN: 39: Carter Pjesky - JD Mcbroom: 5: 10-2: . The Catawba Angler is a full time fly fishing guide service that provides fly fishing trips 12 months out of the year. Give us a call to get in on the action this year. The guys that take us up on this guided trip are always happy at the end of the day when they have caught the biggest river smallmouth of their life. The boat must be registered to one of the team members and must have been purchased directly from Foothills Marine. Young had to leave the tourney at 2 p.m. for another event. The brook trout directly above is a stocked fish. Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S. Dead Drift Em: This method is very similar to drifting dry flies to trout. All Foothills Marine purchased boats qualify, regardless of make, model, or year. But on Lake James a notoriously difficult fishery Titan teams feasted, especially with smallmouths, which are the lakes big draw where anglers are concerned. Weve been having to run very light tippet and downsize our flies this year due to low flows and spooky fish. Actual prices are set by the dealer. We guide clients in the Pisgah National Forest for wild trout and we float the larger rivers such as the Catawba, Toe Rivers, and the Tuckaseegee Rivers for stocked trout year round. The North Carolina BASS Nation will hold 3 tournaments for the 2022 Season. Weavers 4.32-pounder was the tourneys biggest fish. If you are up for the challenge of hiking in and covering alot of ground within the gorge let me know and we will make it happen. Smallmouth will sit in these lines waiting for bugs to drift by. The Catawba Angler was one of the first bass fishing guides in North Carolina to guide on Lake James. The Tuckaseegee River always fishes well in the winter because it gets stocked in October, November, and December. $5 will go straight to our End of Year Classic tournament. The fish were hitting on top in the shallow water and fished subsurface jigs in the faster, deep water. If you dont have enough time in your schedule to join us for the entire trip, check out our 2011 itinerary (we will have the 2012 itinerary available as the event gets closer) and consider joining us for just a day or two. Pop Em: Normally the best time to pop poppers is early morning and late evening when the sun is low. We would love to have you join the Carolina Bassers fishing club. The best fishing is below Waterville dam and into East Tennessee. The Catawba, Tuckaseegee, and Toe Rivers will be receiving its first stocking of 2023, the first week of March so trout fishing here in the mountains is about to be lights out. If float fishing isnt your thing then we got some excellent wade fishing opportunities chasing stocked and wild trout. These fish have been in our creeks since God created the world. In the Championship Fish Off, the highest placed finisher in a Foothills Marine purchased boat will be awarded $1000. The reality of it is that most of the time thats not the case here in the mountains of NC. We caught most of our fish on the bottom that day which involves a more finesse style of fishing. Below are some of the biggest fish weve caught out of the Tailrace. We havent had consistent weather since early June so weve had to keep a constant eye on the weather. The Catawba Tailrace is about to get really good so dont hesitate to book a trip down there. Its our goal to provide the best bass fishing guide experience in North Carolina. The reaction bite the last two weeks has been nothing short of amazing. October is usually the month we see our biggest smallmouth hit our nets. Normally smallmouth bass fishing peaks on our WNC rivers the second week of June. Parking lot #2 in the middle of the park has 64 trailer parking spaces, while lot #3 which is closest to the launch, has 48, totaling 112 spaces for boat parking. We have had some stellar days on the delayed harvest waters. fish, but hooked up with a true trophy at the end of the day. The Catawba Angler is a fly fishing guide service that offers wade fishing trips on Curtis Creek. Some of the best fishing in western North Carolina requires a hike to get there, but there are also plenty of fly fishing opportunities easily accessible. We will get back with you as quickly as possible. The key to this fishery being successful is the survival rate of these stocked fish. 2023 *Nationally Advertised Price; actual sales price determined by dealer. The paid entry fee applies only to the very next tournament in the series and can not be carried forward past that date. Bass are a favorite target of sporting anglers, while walleye are the focus of many who are looking for table fare. Its flat out hunting for big bass on the fly. The French Broad and Nolichucky smallmouth are in their prespawn phase bulking up for the spawn. Henry says the kayak anglers are different. If you are just getting into the sport then book a guide to help accelerate your growth and have a mentor that will teach you how to do things the right way. Fish enough events to qualify for the State Championship, and finish in the Top 2 to qualify to fish in the BASS Nation National Championships High school or Junior Series! The two arms of the reservoir are joined by a canal that flows underneath N.C. 126. 2023 Strike King Bassmaster College Series at James River presented by Bass Pro Shops April 21 - 22, 2023 View Series . They fish hard from the time we push off from the put in to the time we take out. They stock some big brown, brook, and rainbow trout in Curtis so a lot of clients that we take fishing normally catch their personal best here. If, for any reason, anyone wishes to contest a fellow contestant's catch, it must be presented in writing within 15 minutes of weigh-in time. In order to fish the bottom of the river well you got to be willing to fish slowly. Logan and Hannah Roberts placed third with 13 pounds. Cole Weaver, left, and Dawson Bartlett hold up their second-place limit from Saturdays tournament on Lake James. This is the pinnacle in fly fishing. The float is 8 miles so its a full day of fishing. Cole Weaver, center, and Dawson Bartlett are interviewed after the weigh-in. The best bite has been when we get a cold front come through and the water temps get around 75 degrees again. Thanks for taking the time to read the article! Shearon Harris Lake is considered North Carolinas best lake to catch trophy bass. Lake James is the best bass fishing lake on the Catawba River chain and is home to both smallmouth and largemouth bass. The leaves are have began changing colors in the higher elevations, but expect peak color to be around the end of October. As that temp drops the fishing will continue to get better and better. The fishing is excellent and the scenery is even better. Lake Mattamuskeet is the most well known lake in North Carolina since its the largest natural lake in the state. North Carolina brown trout can get very large and attracts anglers all over the country to try to tango with one. Skeeter Performance Fishing BoatsOne Skeeter Rd, Kilgore Texas 75662. From backcountry experiences to roadside pull offs there are plenty of trout fishing opportunities for the curious angler in North Carolina. 03-18-2023 $208.00: Tournament Info Google Map Results: Foothills Marine: High Rock Lake, NC - Southmont Hwy 8 : 04-29-2023 $208.00: Tournament Info Google Map: Foothills Marine: . Dont leave the house without some sort of crankbait, swimbait, or suspending bait. We offer half day wade trips for $250 (2 anglers). Home > News > Tournament Results Yadkin Tuckertown Lake, NC April 15, 2023 . There isnt a better time than now to get out on the water and learn the sport of fly fishing. Pressure is light and the fish are eager to hit big bugs and streamers. If I could predict when the smallmouth turn on to topwater Id be a rich man. If you are on the hunt for that one big fish this is still the fishery to target. Hopefully, well see you on the water! There are clients that love indicator fishing and clients that hate it. Not surprisingly, a McDowell team also won the award for the tourneys biggest fish. The lakes in the mountain and Piedmont regions are the result of dammed rivers. The NC mountains provide year round fly fishing opportunities for trout and smallmouth bass which is great for people looking to get on the water anytime of the year. We are going to keep this simple. Smaller topwater flies dominate throughout the summer because youve got cicadas, beetles, grasshoppers, damselflies, and dragonflies. The key to catching fish in the Spring is slowing down your presentation. Another prominent river that flows through the Piedmont region is the Yadkin. The Delayed Harvest waters are full of trout and after the first Saturday in April the Hatchery Supported Waters open up. We grew up two miles from this creek so this is our home water. There is nothing better than sight casting to a feeding fish with a dry fly and landing it. Lake Rhodhiss Events 21 miles Wildcat Lake Events 27 miles Lake Lure Events 28 miles Lake Hickory Events 35 miles W. Kerr Scott Reservoir Events 43 miles Bass Lake Events 52 miles Lake Norman Events 57 miles Lake Wylie Events 66 miles JULY 2023 July 4, 2023 Independence Day (U.S.) July 16 - 22, 2023 (10:00 AM) Tennessee River 600 There are plenty of wade fishing and float fishing opportunities available on one of the many delayed harvest streams in NC. The logging operations at the turn of the century almost depleted the native brook trout populations so thats when non-native trout were introduced in NC to help bring back trout populations. The team of Hannah and Logan Roberts placed third with 11 pounds. Ty Allison, left, and Brayden Padgett step toward the scales with their limit. We offer half day trips for $300 for two anglers and full day trips for $400 for two anglers. Tournament Results Yadkin Tuckertown Lake, NC April 15, 2023. We had a great day of fishing on the Nolichucky River and Bennett reeled in a true trophy river smallmouth. The Catawba Angler offers guided fly fishing trips in Asheville, North Carolina. If youve been wanting to book a guided trip, but have been on the edge of deciding I would like to encourage you to book. The best float fishing for trout is October through the end of May. . Travis and Jordan are good buddies of mine from way back in the day when we all used be apart of collegiate track and field teams. Yes. I prefer to fish sliders when the water is super low and clear because the slider doesnt have as much of a pop when it lands. All totaled, the Foothills Marine Center Tuesday Night Trail & Championship are 100% payback. By Invitation based on past BFCS Performance, Open Registration in person at Collin's Inc, and lastly by Open Registration Online until 65 boat field is entered. Our half day floats are $300 and our full day floats are $400. Blastoff Position is Determined By Order Of Payment. Fishing has been consistent on the French Broad and Nolichucky Rivers. The river is not suitable to wade so its important to hire a guide to float you down the river to the best fishing spots. October is going to be good for trout and smallmouth. It may also contain trademarks belonging to other companies. Jeffrey travels all over the country competing in Regional and National events including the MLF Toyota Series, MLF BFL Regional Championships, and BASS Opens. These trout are not stocked and naturally reproduce in the cold water coming off the highest mountain peaks in the east. This fee helps pay for administrative costs of hosting our tournaments. The Catawba Angler offers half day and full day bass charters on the lakes and rivers of western North Carolina. The fall trout fishing in western North Carolina is something every fly angler should experience. (opens in new window), Check out the Foothills Marine Center YouTube channel! These trips are fun because we can post up on fish and use different tactics to catch them. The lake has a good population of smaller striped bass, but its not uncommon to catch 20 pound fish. We threw a lot of smaller black streamers to mimic the stoneflies and hellgramites in the river so Lisa did a good job of slowly fishing the streamers. The fish measured 19.5 inches and weighed right at 3.4lbs. I want to thank him for my wife for getting up at the crack of dawn with me before heading to the river. The NC mountains are full of cold water streams and rivers that provide many fly fishing opportunities to the wandering angler. Years ahead of his peers: McDowell's Marlee Merritt to earn associate degree at age 16, McDowell County Schools no longer looking at Dream Builders diversity and inclusion training, McDowell authorities charge two for drug possession, Morganton woman takes a spin on 'Wheel of Fortune', McDowell Commissioners recognize EMS employees, McDowell Sheriffs Office needs help finding these suspects, Walk-off hit by Spivey pushes McDowell to victory over Enka, Four women killed in head-on collision in Winston-Salem, A Winston-Salem church buys nearly $3.3 million of outstanding medical debts, easing the burden on people in three counties, McDowell deputies charge Spruce Pine man charged with drug trafficking, Marion man charged with methamphetamine possession and trespassing. Most anglers are focused on catching trout in the creeks and rivers that are stocked, but I would like to encourage you to consider chasing bronzebacks in the spring. The days we have been on the French Broad have been tough, but not impossible. July and August is excellent for catching smallmouth on topwater! Lisa and I chased red breasted sunfish, trout, and smallmouth on a local fishery and we managed to catch close to 20 fish on the fly rod. There are plenty of winter stones on the water so plenty of fish have been eating pats rubber legs in black and brown. Lake James is home to some of the biggest smallmouth bass in the state. The wild trout streams are waking up from winter and offering good fly fishing. The 2023 season will feature over $2,200,000 in guaranteed prizes and payouts with events in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, New York, North Carolina . Rainbow trout are native to the Pacific region, but were introduced to North Carolina around the 1900s. The Catawba Angler provides guided bass fishing trips on the French Broad River starting in March and wrapping up the season in the middle of November. Try this method the next time your own the water and see if it doesnt help put more fish in the net. 97 teams competing this past Sunday on Kerr Lake but Daniel Boseman and Jordan Hughes brought 16.75 pounds to the Bass Challenge scales and took 1st place honors. We should be drying out here in the mountains over the next month and the fishing on the French Broad should be excellent. Spring trout fishing means higher water flows which can offer some excellent streamer fishing opportunities on the bigger tailwaters in North Carolina. The crowds are nonexistent this time of year so come enjoy the river to yourself. The Yadkin River boasts a small population of smallmouth bass and a variety of other species. North Carolinas fisheries biologist will say Jordan Reservoir is the best lake in the state. NOTE: "Sending Money" with another team will not qualify as "participating" in that week's tournament. Below is a brown trout from a hatchery supported section we are able to float in April and May. The best fishing during the winter is going to be throughout the Delayed Harvest Stretch. Crappie are a close second for fish fry enthusiasts. We all hope for the days when the smallmouth hit on top and top and his son got just that. A lot of times Ill run wool as an indicator since it is such a delicate presentation. Ramsey Creek Park. No restrictionon boat brand, year model, or horse power designation. $14.99. Teams holding the top 35 points positions will qualify to fish the 2022 Points Championship. The fish were smacking topwater baits, but the key was to cast them a foot off the bank. The season, which began last fall, will culminate with the State Championship Tournament on Lake Norman May 21 and 22. The river through the gorge is both wild and powerful in places. If you have never experienced the smallmouth fishing or trout fishing in October then give us a call. 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