OT: Fly Fishing

[Ellisville Dawg]

Started fly fishing a couple of years ago and wanting to take a trip somewhere within driving distance of Mississippi to expand what I’ve done so far. Mainly fished for small trout in the Smokies and bass and bream around here. Would love to head to Alaska or somewhere in the northwest but that’s not in the cards at this point due to just starting a new job a couple of months ago.

Any recommendations on somewhere to take long weekend trip?

 

[CoastDawg18]

I haven’t been, but aren’t there some good trout opportunities in NW Arkansas?

 

[Penndaddy]

Depends on what you want to do. If you want to hire a guide and float/drift, then there are excellent opportunities in AR on the White and the Little Red. Big browns are the real draw, but the fishing is good all around. Northern/Central part of the state. If you want to wade, I’d actually tell you to go elsewhere. Not that it can’t be done, but being tailwaters, you are at the mercy of the generating schedules. If you hire a guide, call Jamie Rouse. No better guide in the business. Check out his web page, if you want, before you call

The smokies are great, but mostly small Brookies, smaller browns, and bows are plentiful depending on the stocking schedules. Not sure where you’ve fished there but there are some beautiful spots with ample wade in opportunities. I like the south eastern part of TN for fly fishing. The Hiwassee and the Tellico are beautiful. The Tellico is way more friendly for an inexperienced wader. The Hiwassee is a tailwater, and even when not generating a ton of water, it’s dicey. The Tellico is a beautiful river and the wade in opportunities are endless. There are creeks running off the Tellico that are great fishing too.

Personally, I prefer western NC. Cherokee is a sweet fishing spot. It’s easy wading, the fishing is good, and it’s very scenic once your in the river. Pretty cool to watch Elk cross the stream 30 yards from you. There’s also the Nantahala, Oconaluftee, and Tuckasegee that are great fisheries. You can stay in Bryson City, Cullowhee, really anywhere around there and hit all of those. My favorite is the Davidson River in the Pisgah National Forest. Doesn’t get more scenic that this, and there is ample opportunity to fish for larger browns and bows, as well as getting a little more elevation for Brookies.

One other spot most people don’t know about is Broken Bow, OK. Been there twice this year. Mostly stocker bows, but there are big browns here. Just like anywhere, they’re tough to catch. Guided trips are available through Beavers Bend Fly Shop, and I’m sure others, but I just waded in DIY. Be sure to get off the road a ways. Head down Cardiac Hill and when you get to the river, head left. It’s beautiful, and not something you’d expect to see in SW OK. The hiking can be steep, but the trail is good. Find good holes, match the hatch, and let er rip.

When you are able to head out west to fish, PM me. I know guides in MT, WY, and CO that will put you on fish. Also know spots you can DIY if you want. Hope all that helps.

 

[Penndaddy]

Two more things. If you want a guide in NC, I’d call Tuck Fly Shop. Also, fly fishing for reds is lots of fun. Captain Matt Thomas is there seasonally. He lives in CO, and he guides up there during the summer hatches, then heads to Venice for reds, then to the Keys for Bones, Tarpon, Permit. Great guy that will put you on the fish.

 

[Bullldawg78]

North Georgia around blue ridge has some great options as well, smaller streams to the river, can Wade or get a guided drift boat.

 

[Ellisville Dawg]

Thanks Penn! Really good information.

I should have been a bit more specific in my original post but my preference is wading over fishing out of a drift boat. Not opposed to it but there’s nothing better than wading in a river/stream with no one else around. I don’t mind walking to get to spots away from everyone else.

Going to try out the Tellico next time we are up that way. I’ve heard of it but haven’t made a trip to fish it.

Really intrigued by the Broken Bow trip. This sounds exactly like what I’m looking for. Didn’t know that area was known for fly fishing and sounds like not many others do either.

Thanks again for the info.

 

[o_fredgarvin]

The Spring River in North Ark near Mammoth Spring is always wadable because it is not a tail water so no risk of generation. Not big trout, but plenty of them.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Penn seems to be more of a world traveler than I am... But I have fished the Little Red and Broken Bow several times. Both are fun... But nothing I have fished could compare with the San Juan in New Mexico.... Just below the Navajo dam.

I stay in Durango near a local buddy. The wife loves it and we make a week or two of it. From there we are an hour from the San Juan in New Mexico. The Animas river in Durango is good too. And the Delores is nearby. You are about 2 hours from Telluride and the San Miguel... not as good as the others for fishing, but the most beautiful views.... If you are like me and enjoy the environment as much as the results, SW Colorado is heaven.

Durango is a two day drive from Mississippi, with a lay over night in Amarillo. Duranglers is the flyshop we go to and they have a full guide service.

Not the trip you were asking for, but the trip you need to take soon.

 

[mcdawg22]

Lindsey’s Resort. Heber Springs Arkansas.

 

[NWADog]

I’ve been fly fishing for a while now in Arkansas. White, Little Red, and Norfork are all great spots. Have some pics of some monster browns we have caught in the last few years. They’re all pretty high right now. You can rent a boat for a day and go yourself there around Gastons, Stetsons, or Norfork River Resort which in my opinion is the best bang for your buck and it’s in a great location for both rivers right there.

There are some spots where you can wade now but most will be hard to get around without a boat.

Bull Shoals is another good area for the White and hit around the Cotter area.

 

[fishwater99]

Caught a couple browns on upper Colorado yesterday around Catamount.
Really good fishing on upper Colorado there.
Also the Blue River in Summit County, but the best fishing might be at Basalt where the frying pan and roaring fork merge.

Another cool spot on the Taylor river is Almont, CO. harmels.com

There are so many great places here in Colorado for flyfishing and many other things to do while you’re here.

 

[Penndaddy]

Frying Pan is a ton of fun. Full day float on the roaring fork is one of my favorite trips. Great Foy shops, great fishing, and beautiful scenery. Hard to beat the Aspen area.

 

[MeridianDog]

White River, below Bull Sholes Lake. Norfork River, below Norfork lake, Little Red River, below Heber Spings Lake, Buffalo River.

 

[Penndaddy]

Another AR option that you won’t hear much about is the Little Missouri. It’s a 6 hour drive from Starkville. All stocker rainbows, but talk about numbers. Gotta check the generation schedule and stocking dates, but I am not exaggerating when I say you can catch as many fish as you can stand. Fished it a few months ago from about 4:30 pm to dark in a pretty good rain. Must have caught 40 or so fish. No mystery there either. Pull right into the park below the dam. It’s a circle drive with restrooms and a pavilion on the river and a boat launch. Pretty neat set up. Wade down river from the pavilion about 100 yards. Stay right on the bank, as It’s pretty deep if you step out very far into the river. You’ll be right in front of somebody’s vacation home (don’t trespass). That’s called the meat hole. Smallest dries you got or a dry/dropper rig (my suggestion). Didn’t stay close, so not sure of overnight options. Murfreesboro is the closest town, and it’s tiny.

Also, another poster mentioned renting a boat on the white. Not a bad idea. Not sure what they run now, but you used to be able to get one at most of the “resorts” for bout $60/day. They’re pretty crude, but they get you to good wading areas, and more importantly, get you out safely if the water rises. Some also offer a ferry service that’s very reasonable. They’ll run you out and pick you up for about $30, I think.

Anyway, just some more thoughts on AR. Read my comments and thought it sounded like I dislike AR. Not the case at all, I just prefer NC.

 

[Ellisville Dawg]

Thanks for all the info. Plan on heading to Broken Bow when it cools off a bit and then will give a couple of these Arkansas spots a try.

ETA: Will also try Tellico in TN soon too. Just not sure when I’m headed back up that way.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Penn,

Have you ever fished Idaho? Thinking about a trip to Boise for a week around Labor Day. Any experience?

 

[rockydawg1013]

I would look no further than LA gulf coast.

 

[chained1]

Up around Nashville is Caney Fork/Creek cant remember which one. Went as a kid several times, caught good rainbows and there are some really nice browns as well...knee high water just waded out in the middle. You can also cross the river by wading and go looking for pools of water filled with trout

 

[Penndaddy]

Yeah. You can fish the Boise River right in and around town, but the fishing is better a little over an hour away in the South Fork of the Boise. Even better fishing, in my opinion, is about 2.5 hours away. You’ve got a few choices in this range. Head to Picabo to fish Silver Creek or head to Ketchum to fish Big Wood. Both great fisheries. I mean, it’s Idaho, so there’s really way more opportunities, and I’m sure there are people who would tell you I’m leaving out great fishing. If you’re feeling real froggy, you could drive a little farther and fish the Salmon. Never done it, but it’s on my list. I would def hire a float guide for that one.

Glad you asked, though, cause it reminded me that I need to book another trip to ID. Unfortunately, it’ll have to be next year. Headed to Basalt, CO first week of Sept to fish and then headed to WY the third week to hunt and fish the miracle mile. Headed to Utah to hunt in October, and there some great streams on the ranch we hunt. When I leave the ranch, I’ll drive to Northern AZ for an annual squirrel hunt, and there’s good fishing most of the way down. If my wife and kids would agree, I’d pack up and move out west tomorrow.

 

[Hugh's Burner Phone]

Yeah. You can fish the Boise River right in and around town, but the fishing is better a little over an hour away in the South Fork of the Boise. Even better fishing, in my opinion, is about 2.5 hours away. You’ve got a few choices in this range. Head to Picabo to fish Silver Creek or head to Ketchum to fish Big Wood. Both great fisheries. I mean, it’s Idaho, so there’s really way more opportunities, and I’m sure there are people who would tell you I’m leaving out great fishing. If you’re feeling real froggy, you could drive a little farther and fish the Salmon. Never done it, but it’s on my list. I would def hire a float guide for that one.

Glad you asked, though, cause it reminded me that I need to book another trip to ID. Unfortunately, it’ll have to be next year. Headed to Basalt, CO first week of Sept to fish and then headed to WY the third week to hunt and fish the miracle mile. Headed to Utah to hunt in October, and there some great streams on the ranch we hunt. When I leave the ranch, I’ll drive to Northern AZ for an annual squirrel hunt, and there’s good fishing most of the way down. If my wife and kids would agree, I’d pack up and move out west tomorrow.

This guy is living the dream. Just need to throw in a couple May storm chases in the Plains.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

...If my wife and kids would agree, I’d pack up and move out west tomorrow.

That's the purpose of the trip to Boise.... We are scouting for a potential spring/summer 2021 move. Once in a lifetime opportunity, might as well make chicken salad.

ETA. Thanks for the advice Penn. When (hopefully we get there) I really get my crap ttogether out there, you can come out and we can hit Silver Creek. They say that is where they separate the men from the boys.

 

[SirBarksalot]

Started fly fishing a couple of years ago and wanting to take a trip somewhere within driving distance of Mississippi to expand what I’ve done so far. Mainly fished for small trout in the Smokies and bass and bream around here. Would love to head to Alaska or somewhere in the northwest but that’s not in the cards at this point due to just starting a new job a couple of months ago.

Any recommendations on somewhere to take long weekend trip?

whatever you do, avoid North Georgia and “the Soque”. Unless pellet fed fish are what you’re after..

if you want a western like experience, without going out west..go to East TN. South Holston. Or Watauga.
SoHo is fantastic. Was there today (not so fantastic) . The guy that runs the South Holtson FlyShop is from Mississippi...Robert King.

ed: get a guide for at least a day or you’ll bang yourself in the head..which you’ll,probably do in any case.
but seriously, the E. Tn Tailwaters are World Class .

 

[SirBarksalot]

The smokies are great, but mostly small Brookies, smaller browns, and bows are plentiful depending on the stocking schedules. Not sure where you’ve fished there but there are some beautiful spots with ample wade in opportunities. I like the south eastern part of TN for fly fishing. The Hiwassee and the Tellico are beautiful. The Tellico is way more friendly for an inexperienced wader. The Hiwassee is a tailwater, and even when not generating a ton of water, it’s dicey. The Tellico is a beautiful river and the wade in opportunities are endless. There are creeks running off the Tellico that are great fishing too.

Personally, I prefer western NC. Cherokee is a sweet fishing spot. It’s easy wading, the fishing is good, and it’s very scenic once your in the river. Pretty cool to watch Elk cross the stream 30 yards from you. There’s also the Nantahala, Oconaluftee, and Tuckasegee that are great fisheries. You can stay in Bryson City, Cullowhee, really anywhere around there and hit all of those. My favorite is the Davidson River in the Pisgah National Forest. Doesn’t get more scenic that this, and there is ample opportunity to fish for larger browns and bows, as well as getting a little more elevation for Brookies.

Posted in a rush last night...
Just want to clarify and expound on Penndaddys post..GSMNP are 100% wild fish. It is not stocked. Ever. The last stocking was in the ‘70s I believe. There are opportunities to catch some larger fish, but he’s right, for the most part they are 12” or less. The lower elevation streams have larger fish, I,e. The little in TN, Deep Creek in NC. You might have some stockers swim up into the park from the Oconoluftee in Cherokee.

Cherokee is heavily stocked. And heavily fished, bait chuckers and all. There is a Trophy-C&R Flyfishing only section, which requires an additional permit to fish.

Bryson is absolutely a great place to home base for a fishing trip. It allows many different options and different kinds of fishing.

I guess I’d consider the Davidson my “home river” as I probably fish it more than any other place. (The fish in my avatar lives there). But it can be a complete madhouse, especially in the summer. It fishes best from Oct-May I would say. Right now it’s really too hot and fishing after noon is discouraged as it stresses the fish. There are large fish there, but they can be very very snotty. I have a serious love/hate with that river. I’ve sworn it off multiple times, but I like a,challenge so I go back.
The opportunities in NC are pretty endless and varied.

Since it’s summer, and too hot to fish a lot of places in NC, I’ve been going to the TN tailwaters I mentioned before. Longer drive for me but worth it. Water temp doesn’t vary by 10 degrees all year. Massive western style mayfly (sulphurs) hatches, 8,000+ fish per mile. Very wadable when not generating, very challenging, selective fish. Chance at a huge fish. It’s truly a hidden gem...and I hope it stays that way. The watauga is 20 minutes away and also awesome, but less wading access.
Im biased but driving from MS, Western NC is probably your best option, but I would come in Oct.-May. For trout that is..as someone mentioned LA is probably the Redfish capital of the world...but you’ll need a guide or a boat for the most part.

If you want more info on NC/E. TN, pm me and I’ll help you as much as I can. And if you get up here and want to fish, I’ll try to make that happen too.

 

[SirBarksalot]

We should turn this into the official SPS Flyfishing thread...anyone interested?

 

[FISHDAWG]

Started fly fishing a couple of years ago and wanting to take a trip somewhere within driving distance of Mississippi to expand what I’ve done so far. Mainly fished for small trout in the Smokies and bass and bream around here. Would love to head to Alaska or somewhere in the northwest but that’s not in the cards at this point due to just starting a new job a couple of months ago.

Any recommendations on somewhere to take long weekend trip?

as previously mentioned - The Tellico River in Tennessee is a beautiful spot for flyfishing and Tennessee stocks with trout at least 12" often coming across an 18" fish here or there ... If you're looking for more remote native fish you can go for Brookies in the North River that flows into the Tellico about half way up - just follow North River road. Now I'll give you one of my most cherished spots .... go over the mountains past Indian Boundary campground to the Citico river side ... it's smaller more remote and better ambiance than Tellico ... go down past Double Camp campground to the next smaller camp ground and park there - head down stream. The stream leaves the road and comes back like a horseshoe so when you come out you're back at the truck without a long uphill hike - it will take about 3-1/2 hours to fish this bend.... remote and serene and in 38 years of fishing it I have never seen another person back there....
I'm only telling you this because you're from Ellisville where I was raised and I know what it's like to want to fish for Trout when there's not a trout with-in 200 miles of there ... PM me if you want finer details and directions

ETA - if you ever get to Alaska head down the Kenai Peninsula to Soldotna ... There's a bed and breakfast lodge there (Denise Lake lodge) that is very comfortable and incredibly affordable. Sodotna is very well located on the Kenai River for fishing in many other streams as well ... Again, I could expound upon this if you're interested through PM

Or if you don't want to go to Alaska I would highly recommend the Bighorn River in Montana - absolutely amazing. I can name the lodge if you ever need it but it's a great place to kill a limit of Pheasant in the am and a limit of Trout in the pm

 

[Penndaddy]

I’m game. Love good, reliable hatches, and I love fishing dries. Silver is all of that. It is truly world class.

 

[Car Ramrod.sixpack]

One thing to keep in mind if you are looking to wade fish most "within driving distance" small streams will be too warm until late Sept. unless you are hiking to high elevations or on a tailwater. The the AR tail water will fish well thru the hottest parts of summer. A friend and I were fishing around Cotter, AR this weekend. I started out chasing blue lines but the thrill of a 30" pig after throwing streamers all day is a huge rush. Everyone needs to do a float trip at least once. I have a few guides I would recommend over in the area or any of the guides that book thru Dally's fly shop in Cotter.

http://www.risingriverguides.com/

https://www.northarkansastroutfitters.com/apf17u393mn54c92nf81o2qycdg5bc


If you want to head to MT or ID give Jake Wells a call at Yellow Dog (https://www.yellowdogflyfishing.com/). They are a booking agent that specializing in fly fishing destinations. You won't pay any more than booking direct but they have a wealth of knowledge contacts. I have booked about half a dozen trips with them to Belize and the Northern Rockies. When we head to the Northern Rockies I usually spend a week at a minimum and stay at 2 or 3 different lodges and fish 4 or 5 different rivers. I can call YD with either a time of year or general locations and a ballpark price range. They can see who has availability and work out the logistics of making at least 2 of the 3 parameters align. I had to call off a 2 lodge trip in MT this year because of the craziness but Jake was able reschedule our trip to next year rather than loosing about half my money in cancellation fees.

 

[SirBarksalot]

Wait..did you land a 30incher? You better post pic or didn’t happen.

 

[Penndaddy]

There’s a great book by Sam Johnson “Fly Fishing the Blue Ridge Parkway - North Carolina Section”. If you really want to figure things out in western NC, I’d start there, then I’d pick the river you think suits you and hire a guide. 1/2 day wade trips are pretty reasonable, and you can learn a lot in just a few hours.

As barksalot says, summer is tough in NC. Between the heat and non-fishing summer crowds, it can be very frustrating. I’d try to hit those waters fall or spring.

One more place that closer than all of these is the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior in AL. It’s a short 2 hours from Starkville. I’ve only fished it once, on my way to the Tellico. Plenty of small stocker bows. Access is easy. They’ve built metal stairs leading down to the river in several locations, so you just pull off, walk a short trail and take the stairs down to the water. Pools are deep, so careful wading too far out. There’s also a fly shop right where you turn off to head towards the dam. Can’t remember the name, but they aren’t open on Monday, so I didn’t get to go in. Seemed like a nice shop, and the owner guides around there. He was guiding that Monday, as I saw him when leaving. Make sure you have your license handy, as I did get checked by a game warden. Good thing about technology is most states have apps now, so your license is right there on your phone.

 

[FISHDAWG]

Wait..did you land a 30incher? You better post pic or didn’t happen.

lol ... maybe he's thinking of King Salmon. I've heard of 30" Rainbows in Alaska but never have seen one - even on a wall

 

[SirBarksalot]

Here’s another MS boy turned trout guide...in Arkansas.

https://theozarkflyfisher.com/guide-trips/guide-view/50

 

[Ellisville Dawg]

That's the purpose of the trip to Boise.... We are scouting for a potential spring/summer 2021 move. Once in a lifetime opportunity, might as well make chicken salad.

ETA. Thanks for the advice Penn. When (hopefully we get there) I really get my crap ttogether out there, you can come out and we can hit Silver Creek. They say that is where they separate the men from the boys.

Boise is by far my favorite “city” in the country. It may be small in terms of most cities but I love the downtown there. Plenty of places to eat and generally a good atmosphere. I’ve spent 8-10 weeks a year there the last few years and loved it. Just can’t convince my wife to move that way.

 

[Car Ramrod.sixpack]

A 30" brown is not uncommon on the white and +20" browns and rainbows are fairly common. I've never stuck a +30" but have come damn close to the mark. You have to understand throwing for pigs your not fishing with 5 weights and 6x tippet, streamer fishing is a whole different game.

 

[SirBarksalot]

lol ... maybe he's thinking of King Salmon. I've heard of 30" bows in Alaska but never have seen one - even on a wall

no, they’ve actually got them in the White. Monster browns..The million rainbows they stock...food for the browns that they don’t stock anymore.

 

[Car Ramrod.sixpack]

Here’s another MS boy turned trout guide...in Arkansas.

https://theozarkflyfisher.com/guide-trips/guide-view/50

Chad is a heck of a guide and his sluggo pattern is usually one of the first streamers I tie on.

 

[fishwater99]

If my wife and kids would agree, I’d pack up and move out west tomorrow.

Sounds like you need to take control of the situation. My wife had an opportunity to move out west with her work and we didn't think twice about leaving MS.
It did help that we had lived in Colorado 20 years before, just wish we would have made the move back sooner.

 

[Penndaddy]

Sounds like you need to take control of the situation. My wife had an opportunity to move out west with her work and we didn't think twice about leaving MS.
It did help that we had lived in Colorado 20 years before, just wish we would have made the move back sooner.

Well, I just convinced her to move to Starkville a year ago, so we wouldn’t have to drive three hours every weekend and miss most weeknight games. Be tough to dig myself out of that hole, but if they don’t get back to sports soon, we might not stay. Moving here had been the best thing we could have done. I don’t think there’s been a home football, baseball, MBB, or WBB home game that we’ve missed. I miss plenty, but the wife and kids have been able to go to every one. Now, it’s just another small town, and while nice enough, doesn’t have a big enough draw to keep us here. With all that’s going on, I’m not sure how much I really care to watch going forward anyway.

 

[InTheIttaBenaHotSun]

Spent a week in Big Sky a few years ago. We waded the Gallatin and floated the Madison....awesome trip.

 

[NWADog]

These have been caught by my friend on the White this spring/summer

 

[stateu1]

Wait..did you land a 30incher? You better post pic or didn’t happen.

https://www.5newsonline.com/article...iver/527-ef85194c-6e91-4b29-b429-85574c49bfae