Mitchell River, NC outing

[lthrnk03]

I got out today, instead of Saturday or Sunday as I had originally planned. Also, instead of going to the Asheville area, I opted to hit the Mitchell River because its about 90 minutes less drive time which means more fishing time.

I got on the water about 745 am and it was COLD, well by southern standards anyway. The grass was crunching under foot, the air crisp and cold. The Mitchell River has high banks so I had to get in the water almost immediately. I caught a couple of Rainbows and learned a couple of lessons in the process.

1. I am glad I decided to throw on the thermal underwear. Stepping into the water was like a shock to the central nervous system. I felt the junk shrivel up and recede to something that resembled a prepubescent teen.

2. Taking photos of your fish by yourself is exponentially harder than it would seem. Nearly dropping my phone in the drink taught me this lesson.

3. Fish can and WILL laugh at you. I had trout rising all around me....LITERALLY all around me. I tried throwing multiple dry patterns (caddis, stimulators, terrestrials), wets and I think I even tied a cinder block on. They were having none of it. There was one particular fish who was performing acrobatics and during one of his routines actually looked at me and laughed.

I had my most success on a pheasant tail/bead head prince combo fishing deep pools 9-10 feet deep. Here's a couple photos.

[Hardyreels]

Beautiful place, wish I were along I spent the afternoon plowing snow again, soon I'll be able to drive on my favorite rivers

[lthrnk03]

Originally Posted by Hardyreels

Beautiful place, wish I were along I spent the afternoon plowing snow again, soon I'll be able to drive on my favorite rivers

It was a great day on the water. I caught 6 fish in my outing. Though, being the complete and total novice that I am to fly fishing, had I not caught any fish at all it still would have been a great day on the water.

[austinpynes]

I know this is an old thread....anyone have experience with the Mitchel River in NC this time of year? I am planning on taking a break tomorrow and looking for a place to go.

AustinPynes
High Point, NC

[lthrnk03]

Its been a while since I was out at the Mitchell. Its a DH stream, most times that I go out there I'm usually the only one on the water. Great little stream...I just wish it wasn't a 2hr drive for me. You're going to want to find the deep pools and use nymph patterns. CJ's, Prince Nymph's, etc. In the riffles consider throwing a Y2K(if you're not opposed to throwing egg patterns). Wooley Buggers are always producers as well. Hope this helps.

Tight Lines

-Ian

[diamond rush]

I've been out there twice this year on nice fall weekends and both times I ran into over a dozen anglers on the DH section. Caught trout both times, though. I was being a snob and only threw dry flies. 14 Parachute Adams picked up a couple browns.

[tennessee dave]

Thanks for sharing.

[cowger10]

Great pictures it looks like a great day on the water.

[Red Owl]

What size and color woolly bugger? Cast up strean and free drift or down and across with a swing? On the dry, I've had some luck with a #12 Thunderhead- easy to see.

[lthrnk03]

Originally Posted by Red Owl

What size and color woolly bugger? Cast up strean and free drift or down and across with a swing? On the dry, I've had some luck with a #12 Thunderhead- easy to see.

On that particular day....it was a chartreuse body, black tail wooley bugger, tied on a size 12 streamer hook. It was drifting. Hope this helps.

Tight Lines!

-Ian