I actually just fished exactly where you're at in this video the weekend before Christmas and had one of the best days of fishing I've ever had, caught somewhere in the 40ish range in just under 5 hours
if you go to less effected water its ok, some places the fish may never recover. stocked fisheries like where you at are bound togive false perspective as always
I know this river well enough to ID it based on the parking lot lol I won't name the river (not my video), but it has been stocked post-Helene. I fished that same pool the Friday before you were there, on 12/27. I didn't have much luck standing where you did on that bank (some river keepers I think added the rocks/limbs in place to make a little trail to that spot)... I had a lot more luck when I went into the water at the crossing and dropped right into where that tributary comes in. Post-storm, it's SUPER deep right there and I spotted a couple dozen stockers posted up right there feeding. fd Also, a CAUTION for anyone fishing there: on the inside bank of the river going around that turn there, there are a TON of leaves stuck on the bottom. DO NOT STEP ON THEM and assume there is solid ground underneath lol The river has changed a LOT since the storm and it is super deep there as well. I had a bunch of luck with white squirmy worms along the bottom. Brookies love worms, I guess lol! Just for general trout angler info, I have fished a TON from Asheville going East since that's where I live. Curtis Creek, the Catawba, Jacob's Fork and (I think it was) Henry's Fork - I have seen ZERO trout activity in those streams. I know they stocked the Catawba, and I even heard from other anglers that fished it after the stock and had a ton of action, but I had zilch. Zero trout activity observed across five different access points and miles of river. I hope it was just luck of the draw, but the Catawba seems devoid of trout activity. I have had great luck on the stream featured in this video, as well as the west fork of the pigeon, big snowbird, the nantahala and a couple other spots, though.
Thanks so much for adding this context and info! Its helpful to get a sense of whats going on in all the different streams across WNC. I have been out to the Jacobs Fork as well and saw zilch in about a mile of river. I have been to a few different spots on the Davidson as well and saw some fish lower down by the campground but only saw a few up near the hatchery.
I'm in Haywood County, arrived late 2021, and for a variety of reasons haven't gotten out since the storm, so good on you for finding time to sample the post-storm waters. I do appreciate the time you put into sharing observations about the conditions and how you rigged up, and why - as well as the adjustments you made. Well done and helpful for someone still trying to get this fishery figured out. Thanks.
Thanks for the comment! Glad this video could be helpful to you. There is great fishing around here and these fisheries will bounce back so keep getting out and trying!
Have you been out fishing since the storm? If so, how did you do?
I actually just fished exactly where you're at in this video the weekend before Christmas and had one of the best days of fishing I've ever had, caught somewhere in the 40ish range in just under 5 hours
I've been out 3 times since Helena and have done well
if you go to less effected water its ok, some places the fish may never recover. stocked fisheries like where you at are bound togive false perspective as always
I know this river well enough to ID it based on the parking lot lol
I won't name the river (not my video), but it has been stocked post-Helene.
I fished that same pool the Friday before you were there, on 12/27. I didn't have much luck standing where you did on that bank (some river keepers I think added the rocks/limbs in place to make a little trail to that spot)... I had a lot more luck when I went into the water at the crossing and dropped right into where that tributary comes in.
Post-storm, it's SUPER deep right there and I spotted a couple dozen stockers posted up right there feeding. fd
Also, a CAUTION for anyone fishing there: on the inside bank of the river going around that turn there, there are a TON of leaves stuck on the bottom. DO NOT STEP ON THEM and assume there is solid ground underneath lol The river has changed a LOT since the storm and it is super deep there as well.
I had a bunch of luck with white squirmy worms along the bottom. Brookies love worms, I guess lol!
Just for general trout angler info, I have fished a TON from Asheville going East since that's where I live.
Curtis Creek, the Catawba, Jacob's Fork and (I think it was) Henry's Fork - I have seen ZERO trout activity in those streams. I know they stocked the Catawba, and I even heard from other anglers that fished it after the stock and had a ton of action, but I had zilch. Zero trout activity observed across five different access points and miles of river.
I hope it was just luck of the draw, but the Catawba seems devoid of trout activity.
I have had great luck on the stream featured in this video, as well as the west fork of the pigeon, big snowbird, the nantahala and a couple other spots, though.
Thanks so much for adding this context and info! Its helpful to get a sense of whats going on in all the different streams across WNC. I have been out to the Jacobs Fork as well and saw zilch in about a mile of river. I have been to a few different spots on the Davidson as well and saw some fish lower down by the campground but only saw a few up near the hatchery.
I'm in Haywood County, arrived late 2021, and for a variety of reasons haven't gotten out since the storm, so good on you for finding time to sample the post-storm waters. I do appreciate the time you put into sharing observations about the conditions and how you rigged up, and why - as well as the adjustments you made. Well done and helpful for someone still trying to get this fishery figured out. Thanks.
Thanks for the comment! Glad this video could be helpful to you. There is great fishing around here and these fisheries will bounce back so keep getting out and trying!
North Mills??
Nice video. You find they are biting on dead drifting wooly buggers?
Thanks for the comment, I did not try any dead drifted woolly buggers but I bet they would work well!
Didn't you guys eat trout
This stream is delayed harvest so you cant keep any at the moment! I generally don't keep trout though unless I'm backpacking