Trout Fishing Trip to North Carolina

 So since there isn`t many rainbow trout in Florida I recently took a trip to Maggie Valley, NC to take a small weekend vacation and try my luck. The days I visited where the 20^th and 21^st of September, but before I left I did my homework to see how the bite has been and to find any new places I could try that I didn’t fish the last time I was there 2 years ago. I knew I was going to be fishing Johnathan Creek which runs right beside the main strip on US 19 and then turns north to follow 276. So I looked up any YouTube videos I could find along with just seeing what was on Google. I came across  Jonathan Creek Fly Fishing on facebook and got in contact with them and told them that I lived in FL and planned on coming up to do some trout fishing and if they had any advice or if there was any hot spots. They were very helpful! Told me about the conditions and about the brown trout being in pre spawn mode, along with a few tips which never hurts.

I booked my room and after gathering all my intel, left Friday afternoon and arrived late that night. Got up Saturday morning bright and early to get my bait and fishing license, found a bait and tackle shop in neighboring Waynesville with more rooster tails I have ever seen in my life in one place. So I got my bait and gear I needed but was disappointed to find out they didn’t sell the 3 day out of state license I was wanting to get which only cost $5, but they told me I could go online and get it there.

Finally ready to fish! Went to a new spot I haven’t fished before and was using a half of a worm threaded on a small hook to lay straight, with a little spilt shot and a small cork. I would go down stream letting my bait drift in front of me, mostly targeting the deeper pools where the current ran into. The first bite I got was not really what I was wanting, I was catching sucker fish for a while until I finally caught a nice size rainbow trout in a small pool that was under some trees. Fishing was slow, so I went up stream some more hoping it would be better but only manage to get one more rainbow worth keeping, along with some other smaller ones about 6 inches.

Done fishing for the day I went back to the room and see how a couple of my local contacts did, turns out it was slow for every one with the water being lower than normal. The big trout were holding tight to cover in the deep holes. I cleaned my catch for the day and vacuumed sealed them in my food saver I brought with me so I could take them back to FL with me and cook them up at the house.

Sunday morning I went to a different creek that was in Waynesville at Vance street park. It was foggy and a little chilly which was a nice change from the heat back home. Started off catching my good ole friend the sucker fish until I went down stream just past the park and then started to catch trout. First trout I caught was a fingering rainbow which was a good sign that at least there was trout in this stream, shortly after I found a narrow stream of fast moving water along the bank, on the first pitch in, I hooked up with the first keeper rainbow of the day. I rigged back up eager to drown another worm. Wasn’t long before I had my next trout, this time is was a brown trout, but once again small enough to fit into the palm of my hand. Things slowed down as the sun got up so I headed back to Johnathan Creek and got in at a little park at the corner of Soco road and Moody farm road. Caught a 6 to 7” rainbow right at the bridge by the park and then after going down stream I hooked another small rainbow. I came to a bend in the creek where there was a very deep pool right by some ones house. I have caught some fairly big trout in this spot last time I came so I knew there would be trout there, and I was right only problem was they would not bite and I could only see them flash once in a while at the bottom as if to tease me. After trying at the deep pool for about 30 minutes I moved on down stream where I caught my second trout for the day, but he made me work for him. I let my bait drift by a small pocket where I saw him come up after my bait but did not take it, so after a couple of passes I took my cork and weight off and free lined my bait. The first past with just the worm I got him! Sad to say though that was my last keeper trout of the day.

 I spent the last of my evening playing tourist, enjoying the local shops and food, Maggie Valley had to offer. I ended up taking home only 4 trout from my trip, when I took triple that last time I visited. I guess I just got there at a bad time, but ya never know unless you go and there is always next year!