Linville Falls and Watauga River Tailwater

[joeydpga]

Well I waited too long to learn how to fly fish and now I think I'm hooked.

Wife and I headed to the mountains for the last week to clear our heads and get some time together. Hiked Grandfather, Table Rock, and Linville Gorge.







My boss let me borrow his old vest, 4wt rod, and some old equipment and flies. Spent a week practicing before and reading up on some places to go. We hiked into the gorge Wednesday. I fished 5 hours and before we headed out I caught my first trout. 6 inch rainbow that was wild. Didn't see any other people the entire day.

So excited from the day before, I convinced my 5 month pregnant wife to hike the 1800 feet down again the next day to a different spot further down the river. Had another awesome day fishing for about the same amount of time and this time found a pool where I managed not to spook any fish and caught 3. All under 8 inches but managed to improve from my technique from the day before and went with a different set up.

Took a day off and had my wife's cousin called a friend of his to take us on the Watauga. Learned so much from him that day about casting, mending, high sticking, and fly choice. We caught 26 rainbows and 1 brown before the water caught up to us. I'm hooked. Can't wait to go again. I'll be cruising the trading post for as much equipment that I can find.







Teo and I





Few cows cooling off. Water temp was 47 degrees. Stays that way year round.

[murraywader]

Damn right dude!

Y'all catch most of them high sticking?

[joeydpga]

Damn right dude!

Y'all catch most of them high sticking?

Just two. The water was so clear most of the casting had to be downstream of the boat.

[Timberman22]

I'm headed up that way in 2 weeks. Any pointers or spots to try and fish?

[joeydpga]

I'm headed up that way in 2 weeks. Any pointers or spots to try and fish?

We worked 2 rigs. One was a #20 nymph with a #28 midge tied under it. The other was a bigger stone fly with a #20 nymph under it. Both had a yarn indicator as well. I probably could have caught double the fish if I learned how to set the hook better.

In Linville gorge I fished a # 20 nymph under a really small indicator.

[Spur hunter]

Looks like a fine trip, congrats to you. The Watagua is known for big bows.

[YoungBuckTX]

nice job

[Tater]

Bream and bass in the ponds is the perfect place to refine your skills.

[joeydpga]

Bream and bass in the ponds is the perfect place to refine your skills.

Super is going to get tired of seeing me on Mondays when we are closed.

[BigBrother]

Good stuff.

Went close to there a couple weeks ago.

Bumped into the fella what owns the Toe River Lodge. Good beer. Good dude. Awesome food.

[CAMO SNOB]

I been there... That is the trophy section where you pulled theose nice ones... That's why they are hand pics and not stringer pics.

[joeydpga]

Good stuff.

Went close to there a couple weeks ago.

Bumped into the fella what owns the Toe River Lodge. Good beer. Good dude. Awesome food.

yea we drove by there a couple times but didn't get time to stop in.

[pappy]

I'm headed up that way in 2 weeks. Any pointers or spots to try and fish?

ride along to you see the signs on the side of the roads that say trout waters......stop, fish, and look for fish.....polarized glasses a plus.

[GRN HED KILR]

Watauga and Linville rivers are hard to beat. Davidson river in Brevard is also excellent.

[tailfeathers]

Joey,
what is the brand name of the boat in the picture ?

Thanks,

Tailfeathers

[mudminnow]

a lot of those guides make their own boats, that to me looks like one that was made either by that guide or someone he knows, not necessarily a brand. I could be wrong though

[2thDoc]

might be a clackacraft

[JABIII]

Not a Clacka. Maybe a Hyde.

Here is a Clacka, and I really need to sell it to someone who will use it.

[scquackaddict]

Boulder boat works out of Colorado

[mudminnow]

yep, good call quackaddict. it looks like they sell build your own kits too