Reports

The guides at Carolinabonefishing.com enjoy the fishing opportunities the Fall brings. The bounty,variety, cool temps and stable water barring the occasional front. Most anglers think trout after a long summer so that's where we will start.

TROUT

DH waters open Oct 1st. No all waters are stocked so be sure to check NCWRC schedule and the associated regulations. DH waters offer loads of stocked trout that are easily caught and some fish can be 20 inches or more. There is an abundance of these areas and half the fun is checking out a new stream. A few new additions are out there. My favorites are the Watauga,Wilson,Green and North Mills areas. For floating my friends at Wilson Creek Outfitters always get me in on a float trip or two down the Tuck.Granted they always get a winter redfish trip though. I must say if you have not floated the Tuck, that is some premier water fishing more like a Western River. Definitely one to try this year. Drop me a line and I will get you in touch with the "Guide" As far as wade trips go we do offer a great service including rods,boots,flies and instruction. DH waters definitely cater to beginners and kids. The Mountain Heritage Program is a great offer to check out. Dh waters are best kept simple and generic. Try a dry-dropper with a #10-12 Stimulator on top and a beaded PT or Copper John on the bottom. The key is to watch the dry. Add weight to dropper to keep dry moving the same speed as current, a piece of debris floating by or just a bubble line. Any hesitation in the Stimulator set the hook. Expect plenty of dry action. Be sure to try those great attractor patterns if you got brookies around. I like a Royal Coachmen. Egg patterns are deadly. Streamers will also work on a down across presentation and a great way for kids to get in the action. As fish become a little more wary a soft hackle dropper will work. Wild waters have less crowds this time of year and a big brown is a good possibility in the Fall. Just do your homework on where to fish.

PRIVATE WATERS

Freshly stocked with feisty rainbows action providing for both numbers and big fish is going on. We have a great terrestrial bite and this time of year a really big fish can be tempted to the surface. Streamers are another favorite drawing aggressive takes and heart felt leaps. With 10 plus miles of water strolling along fishing different spots is pleasant and enjoyable on sunny cool days. With plenty of acreage and privacy it is a great way to enjoy the day. Our biggest spot on Little River is striking with deer and turkey along the stream. Smallies are still biting. Plus Little River is big enough to support hold overs from year to year. Fish of 15lbs. and up have been caught. Little River is one of our top destinations in SW VA.

BASS

Often forgotten by anglers this time of year but many lakes have bass moving shallow and busting bait in the backs of coves and off points. Spotted bass on Norman is awesome in the right area. Move,move and move around until you find fish. Once you find them the action will stay good all day. This pattern should last into Nov. Hell,Any small white popper is fine. Just put it in front of the fish. Once hooked up a second angler can easily score a double as spots will aggressively be following behind. This trip is only 150!! For two!!! Light tackle available.

CARP

Yes the monsters are still on the flats. Pick days without alot of wind say after a front and a little later in the day when you have full sun.I use bigger flies this time of year to offer a meal. Carp can very aggressive or extremely spooky in the Fall. Great combo is am bass, pm carp. Black is the color followed by olive then brown. Yellow is great if water is stained. Lenghten that leader if needed rather than changing the pattern.Look for carp under trees dropping offerings. (HINT given)

REDS

Fish can still be found in the grass on the right tides. Low water fishing is productive along bars and grass edges. Reds are not quite schooled up in a Winter pattern as water is still dirty and bait is still present. Fish are very very active. Flounder are also a great target. Crab patterns,gurglers and sliders are all worth throwing. We do our share of red trips but we also can't cover all the water from NC to GA. Let us help you choose the right guide.

Summer Happenings.

Carp on the Dry

Every July and Aug we find carp feeding on the surface sipping mayflies,midges and even terrestrials. Many times it is even in the heat of the day. Most fish are in the 4-lb range and 4wt make for some exciting fishing. Banks with overhanging trees and points are good places to start. Black beetles and Parachute Adams work well. Look for waking fish with their orange lips breaking the surface. These fish are the easiest carp to catch and for some the biggest fish of their life on a dry fly. This time of year also offers 20-30 shots at tailing and mudding fish. Best action is early am til 1p. Flies need to be presented with precision. Check out what you need to throw in our online store.

Grass Carp tips

These silver and slender fish may lack the barbels of the common carp, but are ever bit as wary and spooky. Fish can reach 30 lbs plus. The best way to catch them is to find fish cruising and feeding on the surface. I prefer to stake out in travel zones. Concealing your self on the bank works too. As fish pass by, present flies like unweighted bonefish flies, white seed flies or yellow Woolly Worms out in front of the fish. Use very long leaders of 12-14ft. Stealth is key!!

Any extra movement,noise or vibration and you will not catch a grassie.

Catfish on the Flats

Every carp trip we catch channel cats in very skinny water. These aggressive fly eaters are close to any carp on the flats. Look for darker silhouettes behind mudding carp. Target this fish with Buggers and Clouser Swimming Nymphs. Expect very aggressive takes and a great fight.

Gar in the Coves

Yet Another favorite roughfish getting little respect, these toothy critters like baitfish patterns. Any number of rope fly patterns will do worked under the surface. Having a rod rigged and ready will improve your success when the opportunity of a passing gar presents. Be careful when releasing as a certain risk exists as you de-floss your fly from all those razor sharp teeth.

Other Possibilities

Bass fishing at night for largemouth and spotted bass is a great summer time option.

Pick the right tide and redfish will be tailing on the flats. Between tides be sure to catch blues,ladyfish and spanish. Keep a look out for Jacks and bonnethead sharks on the flats is well worth the effort. If your planning a trip to the coast let us know. We can offer gear selection, destination options and guide recommendations from NC to the Keys. We either guide for it or been with the guide who does. Go informed.

Capt. Paul Rose

Early Spring 2011
Spring fishing is dependent on rainfall and current weather conditions. Could be too much or not enough. Big cold fronts and north winds can shutdown the bite quickly but a few consistent days means it is right back on. Regardless, all of our favorite species will eat.

The key is being flexible, changing  plans from a blown out trout stream to a warmwater cove or vice-versa. All DH waters are full of fish and standard patterns are producing well. Bass are prespawn-taking streamers, big buggers and even some poppers. For bass keep moving until you find active fish. Crappie are shallow and great fun on the fly. I prefer yellow buggers with a bead or jiggy type flies from Anthony Hipps. At times using an indicator helps for detecting strikes and depth control. Fish around sunken trees and docks. Big female carp are eating and on the flats mid-day. These fish are gearing up for the spawn and the biggest  fish of the year are caught right now. I am talking 8wt stuff!! These fish are also pretty aggressive in taking the fly, unusual for carp.

Be sure to check out our proven carp flies in the online store. Reds at the coast are busting up into smaller packs and eating artificials well. Expect some tailers on big spring tides and warm days.Wind can be the biggest issue.

Upcoming events include the Va Fly Show April 16th and 17th with talks on the" Best Of Argentina."
Check out a cool interview with our friends at The Tailing Loop.com
Look for our "Carp on the Fly" podcast with Zach Matthews and the Itinerant Angler coming soon.
Remember fishing is always best on days ending in Y
Capt Paul

Trout tend to hold in slow,deep pools using little energy. Fish can really stack up in one spot. Avoid the riffles and fish slower than usually. Keep nymphs close to the bottom. Larger nymphs such as a bugger offer fish a nice meal and can be fished many different ways. Less changing of flies with cold hands is always a plus. Look for BWO or midge activity if your a hatch hunter.The Davidson and the Tuck are great winter destinations.

For bass the "hot hole" lake across the state are really good using topwaters and white streamers on busting fish feeding on shad. Water temps stay much warmer and fish stay active all day. Dreary overcast days are exceptional productive. Catching bass when the air temps are in the twenties on the fly is a special experience few think off. Head out on a afternoon and stay after dark to fish a few dock lights for a possible striper.

Redfish are schooled,the bugs are gone, and bait is scarce making flies attractive. Fish low tides 10-2p when the sun is high. Reds will move into the grass and sun themselves as the tide gets up. Well placed flies can still get eaten. Do not expect to see tails but the fish are still there. Extra stealth is required for winter reds.  

Carp on area lakes are feeding harder and harder taking flies aggressively on points, coves and channel flats. Buggers are a staple right now in black,cranberry and rust with beads and without. If the weather stays consistent the bite will last into Nov.

Plan the day around peak sun as the shadows are getting longer and longer with the shorter days. Spotted bass, a fly-rod favorite in the fall, are actively schooled chasing shad. Norman has been especially productive. Remember if you do not see bait- keep moving. Yellow buggers. white streamers, and topwaters are all working. Bigger fish are deeper under bait ball and an intermediate or sinker may get the 3-5lber's fired up.

Good numbers of fish. Catfish are active on the flats and crappie have moved shallow again, both excellent warm water targets. Reds around Charleston and Beaufort have started to school. A few tailing tides are still possible. Later in the fall low tide fishing is the ticket. Use long leaders around 12ft with light flies like a Seaducer. Trout are on drop-offs and readily take topwaters this time of year like a Gurgler. Try any creek mouths off the ICW or secondary creeks. Find one and its on. Moving falling or rising is best.

Remember we all know the DH water is stocked and it really is a no -brainer. No need to tell the experienced fly rodder the deal. DH Trips are made for beginners to be introduced to the sport. We offer a complete introduction to fly-fishing on some great water. For you veterans: Try something different this fall, something harder and maybe something bigger just one day this fall.
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Capt. Paul Rose

Early summer fly rod fishing can be some of the best of the year mainly because of the variety this time of year offers. Trout fishing on DH waters ends first part of June so anglers should focus on "wild streams." This will involve grabbing some map reference material and hiking in. The bonus is there will be less crowds and fish are responsive. Use short casts with good drift control. Avoid spooking fish using stealth in approaching likely holding areas. Small dry flies like an Adams with or without a small BH dropper is all you need. Use larger weighted Buggers for deep runs in olive and black. Any hatches encountered will easily be matched with the Adams in varying sizes.

Water temps can increase this time of year so avoid stressing trout by not fishing water with temps above 68. Private trout waters have been yielding freshwater slams of smallies,carp and trout while wading. Trout fishing should be ok thru July. Rainfall is becoming more and more scarce while water temps are climbing. With that being said warm water species like bass and carp are on the feed in all lakes across the state. Most spawning is over and bass will readily take poppers early and late around docks,timber, and points. Carp are on flats tailing and mudding taking larger nymphs.Any overcast day will keep fish active longer. Night trips for bass topwaters is improving.  This time of year also is best for floating rivers for top water smallmouth action. Deerhair bugs and sliders are very effective lures.

The salt offers blues,spanish,trout and reds from the back country,on the jetties or the beachfront. Find the bait and tie on a Clouser in chartreuse and white. Reds will take shrimp and crab patterns.Be sure to schedule trips with the tide in mind particularly if you wanting tailing redfish. For something different bonnethead sharks on the fly is as exciting as it gets and these fish can really tear off the line.

For further info contact Capt. Paul Rose at www.carolinabonefishing.com <http://www.carolinabonefishing.com/>  for trip ideas,destination directions, general fly fishing questions and gear selection.