NC Fishing Net

NC Fishing Net :: Your Source For Fishing Information and News! In fishing, trout are one of the favorite prey of most anglers. These crafty fish are abundant in North Carolina mountain waters. The habitat of these crafty fish depends on the type of trout.

For brook trout, the native habitat includes most of the smaller streams in the higher altitudes because they are most sensitive to water temperature. They are easily found throughout the Great Smokies National Park. Because they are so small, their fight is minimal and the chance of yanking the hook from their mouths, or through their mouths, is probable.

The rainbow trout is a native of the Pacific slope from Alaska to California but was introduced to North Carolina and has reproduced well. The usual sized catch is around twelve to fiftteen inches, but they fight like ten pound tarpon. This makes them quite popular with the fishermen. The rainbow is the most common catch in North Carolina and therefore is managed by the fish and wildlife commission by stocking programs, delayed harvest, and lure restrictions as well as a special trout license requirement.

On the other hand, brown trout has found its way into the waters of North Carolina and are the largest of the three species found. In fact the locals around Linville Falls, the headwaters of Lake James, advise that their catches are measured in pounds, not in inches.

In trout fishing, there are some factors that need to be considered in order to have a successful catch.

1. For trout fishing, the leader should not be greased to make it float. Even with dry flies, it will not sink far enough to cause any difficulty when picking the line from the water. But if it is allowed to float it will cast a shadow on the bottom of the stream which may scare the trout.

2. The most popular sport fishing for trout is by using the dry fly because trout will often jump clear out of the water when the bite. Remember that in North Carolina you rarely get to play Brad Pitt in "River Runs Through It" because most of the fishing streams are narrow and covered by trees. For trout, the current as well as the pools should be fished. It may sometimes be a bit difficult to keep the fly from sinking or dragging because of the various conditions of the current, but this is a matter that you will have to figure out for yourself.

3. It is not good practice when fishing for trout to fish directly upstream. The flies, line, and leader will float directly over fish and spook them. The fisherman should make the cast from the side of the stream so that only the fly will float over the fish. Keep in mind where the sun is shining when deciding which side of the stream to fish. You want to avoid causing a shadow over the target area with the leader. So fish into the sun.

4. It is important to make the first cast the best. Trout usually stay in groups, and feeding trout will usually strike the first lure presented if it is cast so that it will float over the feeding territory. You should never fail to fish the lower end of the pool first even if the trout are rising in the middle or upper end. This sounds contradictory, but if you catch the trout in the back of the group first, you can work your way to the front of the group easier.

5. If food is abundant, the trout will be very moody or selective and will try the patience of any angler. If this is the case, look at what food is floating past you or flying around you, or lift up a rock or stump from the water. Then pick out a fly that looks the most like what you found. If you can't find any insects, try the old faithful black ant. They are everywhere and are surely a staple food for trout. A good habit is to check the local report of what's hatching and what fly pattern is catching. Check out Orvis North Carolina Fly Fishing Reports

Indeed, catching trout fishes can be lots of fun. You just have to remember these five tips in order to have a happy and productive catch.

Recent NC Fishing News

Summer flounder recipes -

Flounder are a very popular fish for Carolina anglers due to their great reputation on the table. They can be caught even in the heat of summer. Flounder are a white, mild fish that fits into many recipes.
For tips on catching flounder see my book Surf and Saltwater Fishing in the Carolinas

In the northern part of their range on the Atlantic Coast, summer flounder are often known as fluke. Summer flounder range down to the Carolinas, while their slightly larger cousins the southern flounder can be found in inshore waters from the Carolinas through the Gulf Coast. Winter flounder are a smaller species that occurs only in the colder water of in the northern states.

Flounder lie on the bottom of the ocean floor and are often caught by drifting or casting live bait. As a food fish flounder are delicate and shouldn't be overcooked. Some folks prefer them to any other fish.

Carolina seafood: summer flounder recipes

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Basic fishing rigs for local ponds and lakes -

If you are going fishing in one of our many local freshwater lakes or ponds you should remember to keep things simple and use basic rigs that will help you and your family catch fish quickly. Here are the three great basic fishing rigs to use when baiting your hook with natural or live bait on local lakes and ponds:

Basic fishing rigs for local ponds and lakes

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Now this guy is a flounder fisherman! -

Here's Kyle Warren with yet another big flatfish out of the Shallotte River. It went 7 lb and was caught on mud minnows May 6. Kyle caught a 5 lb recently you can see down the blog a bit. He's starting to annoy me (jk).

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