North Carolina River Fishing

[basserdrew]

How is the smallie fishing in the French Broad river? Anyone out there care to register on this site and let me know? I am really wanting to hit that river either above or below Asheville.

[SmallieSam]

Drew,

Made a similar plea on RS.com last week as I was thinking of giving it a shot this week. Not a single reply. I figure that either I'm just too stupid not to know that it's done for the year or it's fishing so good I shouldn't have to ask. I have noticed there's not a lot of folks posting on the sites I visit about the FB, or smallie fishing in WNC for that matter. The weather has cooled a great deal with heavy frosts in the morning. It was actually snowing up here on the mountain 2 weeks ago, about the earliest I ever remember it doing that. On the other hand, the slimie fishing gets hot this time of year and maybe most guys are chasing them instead, or deer hunting.

Hope you find out, let me know how you do.
_________________
How far can you run, standing deep in the flow? FJB

[B8less]

Saw an article on Smallies by a local newswriter. Wrote him about the activity and this is what he said:
If you're on the north side of Asheville, there are some great stretches of
the French Broad River for Smallies there as well. There's a good wading
area at a County Park called "Walnut island River Park".
There's also another park you will pass on the way called "Ledges Whitewater River Park".That's not the one you want.
Walnut Island River Park has close parking by the river with picnic tables and grills right on the edge of the river and it's usually safe for wading all the way across (depending on water levels).
Directions: From Asheville take 19/23 North & immediately take the Hill
Street Exit - go left and travel .1 mile - turn right on to Riverside Drive
& travel 13.3 miles - see park on left.
To get to Sandy Bottom: From Asheville take 26 East & take Brevard Rd. Exit by Mall (Old Exit 2 I think) - go left at light on to Brevard Road & travel a few miles - you'll see a park on the left called "Bent Creek" - that's just across from the entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Sandy Bottom is past that a little ways further. The park has been closed since I wrote the article but there's still PLENTY of access to the river all along there.
There's also room to pull over on the side of the road to park... as you're
driving along that stretch of river - you will have NO shortage of places
that are calling to you to fish out some smallies. LOL
I went there 10/2 -3 , had decent luck caught a few at the public wayside just past the French Broad Campground.
Was impressed with the river over that of the James (in Va.) I usually fish due to better Smallie structure.
Good Luck and I'll watch your posts, as I too want to learn more of the FB.
_________________
Bob S

[Creekstalker]

B8less,
That is very good info. Thanks!

Sam

[basserdrew]

I talked to a fella who wrote an article as well. We emailed a few times and he was very helpful. Here is what he, Matt, wrote me.

[B8less]

Ironically , the info. I supplied was provided to me by the same author (Matt Mittan) and he is quite the reference source for fishing there.
Good Luck as I also plan to learn the French Broad.
Catch & Release ... fishing for another day>>>>>>>>>
_________________
Bob S

[SmallieSam]

I know a Matt who guides and works weekends at Diamond Brand flyshop in Asheville. I wonder if it's the same guy? He's been helpful pointing out some good stretches on the FB in the past. Although, I haven't had the opportunity to get up there but once to a spot he mentioned. It was an exploratory trip to the Walnut Island Park B8 mentioned. It was late winter, nothing doing, but the river looked great for smallies. A couple of years ago I parked and waded at Bent Creek and did pretty good, but I only fished a couple of hours.

Drew, let's get serious about hooking up there next Spring. I'd love to do that Biltmore run, but it's a long run of at least 7 or 8 miles between access points. I know another run, up around Marshal, that Matt suggested that's only 5 miles.

A good book for NC smallies rivers is "Paddling Asheville." All class II floats within an hour of Asheville. Some listings are a little misleading or innaccurate, but it's a great reference point as most of the rivers are smallie rivers.
_________________
How far can you run, standing deep in the flow? FJB

[onthefly]

Now this is a subject I actually something about. I fish and float the F. Broad several times a year and have probably spent 200 angling days there over the past 10 years. It's not my "home" river but I do fish there often.

The book all ready mentioned "Paddling Asheville" is a great source but do yourself a big favor and get a copy of the F. B. map put out by Riverlink. It's a great map with decent history of the river and shows all the public put ins.

To talk about the FB I'll split it into three sections (just for this post because it's really many more sections).

Section I From Airport to Asheville
Section II From Asheville Waste Treatment Plant to Dam in Marshall
Section III From Marshall Dam to TN Line

Most guides to the FB divide the river into several more sections but for now this will work.

Section I I've only floated from the access behind the airport (sorry I can't rember the name right off but it's on river right) down to Bent Creek nice slow float with good chances at a musky. Lots of public access along the way include Long Shoals Rd exit off of I-26 and then all along Sandy Bottoms access area. Lots of easy wading and easy access. From Bent Creek to Southern Waterways (Amboy Rd.) nice section to float, very little access. This float is thru Biltmore Estates Property, very scenic and decent fishing. From Southern Waterways down thru Asheville I have not floated, several small dams and lots of metal and debris in the water. Some easy access in downtown Asheville for wade fishing though.

Section II From Asheville Waste Treatment plant down to upper dam in Marshall. Several places to access river including two public parks (Ledges and Walnut Island - lots of kayakers in this area). The Walnut Island area offers great wading and then downstream (remember this is NORTH of Asheville) offers easy access and very little posted property.

Section III From Lower Marshall Dam to TN line This is a big section but wanted to include it here. This is not for the faint at heart... several small rapids between Marshall Dam and Bernard (Section 8 by the whitewater folks) Good access at Bernard but from Benard to Hot Springs is Section 9 the whitewater section of the river. DO NOT FLOAT THIS SECTION UNLESS YOU REALY KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING!!! I hope this gets my point across. This is serious whitewater!!! But from Hot Springs to TN and even into Newport only a few minor rapids to worry about. This is by far the best fishing on the river - bar NONE!! Below Hot Springs is an area refered to as "The Islands" in the NC Delorems ummmmmm great wading for smallies!!!

Well this should get you going or atleast get your mind to thinking about it. I'll be happy to answer any questions anyone might have. I would prefer to keep the questions on the forum and not on PM unless you really want it that way.

The French Broad is on it's way to becoming a great smallie fishery. I would bet at one time it was a world class fishery but the development and run off nearly killed the river. It's coming back strong!!!
_________________
Scott Cunningham
On The Fly Guide Service Inc.
828-659-0059
http://wnctrout.com

[SmallieSam]

Here's the link for the Riverlinks site and maps:
http://seris.info/RiverLink/main.shtml

I don't see where you can download the PDF version now. Anyone who wants it I've got it, send me a pm with your e-mail and I'll get it to you.

I was curious about the sections downriver from section 9 into TN, thanks for the info.

OK, how early next spring are we going???????
_________________
How far can you run, standing deep in the flow? FJB

[basserdrew]

Now how much do I owe you for that info?

That was some good stuff, thanks a ton!

[onthefly]

Glad to help man! Really I have no problem sharing info that I've learned over the years. If I can help in any way just let me know. You wouldn't believe the phone calls and e-mail I get asking for info. It makes me feel good to help!

As for money... I don't share info trying to get paid. I have a nice group of regular customers that take damn good care of me, also I work full time so guiding is just a part time job for me. I guide because I love to be on the water..... I share info because the earth is a big place we can all enjoy!

Lets get together next spring and hit the FB. I usually have an empty seat in the boat on my weekly Sunday floats.
_________________
Scott Cunningham
On The Fly Guide Service Inc.
828-659-0059
http://wnctrout.com

[DarrinG]

I'd also love to hook up with some guys for a day's float on the FB this spring. I've never been on the FB and have never wet a hook there but would like to learn a little about the river and how it floats/fishes, seeing I'm only about 50 minutes away.

I'll have my toon and fly rod ready if anyone wants to hook up and give it a go.....
_________________
Christian Fly Fishers



http://www.geocities.com/cff1611/index.html

[Benorthcarolina]

Sounds like Scott's info is hard to beat.

I'll agree that of the water I've fished on the FB, I was most impressed w the section just downstream of Hot Springs. I caught smallmouth, a largemouth and a walleye all in the same trip the one time I fished there.

The Biltmore section of the river is pretty too, but the fish seemed to be smaller and fewer (lots of redbreast sunnies there though, if anyone wants to take your kid on a float trip and have guaranteed action).

p.s. for Scott, is your biz linked thru WNC trout.com or NCmountainfishing.com ??? Just curious.
_________________
"That's like your opinion, man."
-the Dude

[onthefly]

Ben My biz is wnctrout.com I created it in 90 when I was the only site on the web about trout fishing in NC. Of course now their are dozens of sites.

Over the years I've changed my focus from trout to anything on the flyrod and so I've been changing wnctrout over to Western North Carolina On The Fly. If you haven't been to wnctrout lately stop by and take a look. I've added a new forum and lots of new info.
_________________
Scott Cunningham
On The Fly Guide Service Inc.
828-659-0059
http://wnctrout.com