This time of year, the hits really do keep coming. In spring we fish a lot on North Carolina “Delayed Harvest” waters. Through the end of May, these waters are stocked by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and are under Catch-and-Release regulation. That means great angling opportunity and a perfect environment for folks new to fly fishing, new to tenkara angling or just looking to have an action packed day. Come June things get considerably tougher so lets get out now and hone those skills!
The Red Buds are blooming, the streams are flowing and dodging rain is just part of the beauty of mother nature watering her garden for another growing season. Sorry for not posting more lately but I’ve been on the water…(so I’m not really that sorry for not posting more.) Above are some pictures of this past weekend’s fishing. What a fun bunch of tenkara folks! We caught ’em big, we caught ’em small and at Unreel Fly Fishing, we love ’em all. If you have a sharp eye you’ll notice we hiked up to some wild-trout water. April and May will continue to provide great opportunities for easy access and beginner friendly fishing. Give me a call, we’ll grab our rain jackets and go get ’em!
Especially when we’re tenkara fishing! Yesterday I was with a wonderful couple, both tenkara first-timers. You wouldn’t have known it by the way they caught fish. We were heading out of Asheville to the stream and everybody else was headed in for work. What better way to start the week? It was a chilly but otherwise perfect morning. The rain stayed off and the fish stayed on. Next time you dread going back to work on Monday, don’t! Let’s go fishing instead.
2018 was the rainiest year on record here in western North Carolina. So far in 2019, we seem to be picking up right where we left off last year. That’s all good news if you’re a fish, but mixed news if you’re a fisherman. Wade-ability and fish-ability have been a challenge but when you can get on and in the rivers, it’s definitely worth the effort. I spent the last two days with this awesome father and sons trio who toughed it out through some chilly, rainy mornings. We had a blast and as you can see, they made it payoff! Spring fishing is in full swing so grab your rain gear, give me a call and get ready for some soggy fun!
So what does a tenkara guide do when it’s too cold to fish? The answer is, get ready to fish! For me that means tying flies, taking care of administrative stuff and exploring ways to provide a more fun and safer experience to the wonderful people who support Unreel Fly Fishing. I have always maintained American Red Cross first Aid and CPR qualification. This winter I decided to upgrade to a “Wilderness First Aid” certification. It was an intense and highly informative 2-days of training on dealing with emergencies when help is some distance away. My goal is to never have to use anything more than a Spiderman band aid. That said, this training will be really helpful if you and I come across a less fortunate angler while fishing!
I love sneaking in a little pre-holiday fishing and yesterday morning we grabbed a chance to do just that. I’ll admit…it was cold when we started. Rods were freezing, we were freezing but luckily the fish weren’t freezing! We caught the trifecta of Rainbow, Brown and Brookie and by mid-morning the sun had cleared the ridge and was making things much more comfortable. That’s when this big fella decided to try one of our breakfast offerings. I’m off to celebrate Christmas with the Miko clan but back shortly after Christmas. If your 2019 resolution is to fish more, get in touch and we’ll start the new year off right. Until then, I wish the happiest of holidays to you and yours!
Here’s a little Unreel Fly Fishing pop quiz:
What should you do when you’ve got a big winter storm coming?
a. Stock up on groceries
b. Fill your car with Gas
c. Make sure you have fresh batteries in your flashlight
d. Go fishing!
The honest answer is probably “All of the above” but yesterday we started with “Go fishing!” As you can see, it was a good decision. 28 degrees doesn’t feel so cold when you’re catching amazing fish like these. We had a delightful morning and still got home in time to get ready for whatever mother nature has in store for western North Carolina this weekend.
Don’t forget that trout need to be cold and wet. That makes this a great time of year to give me a call. Let’s bundle up and go catch some!
