North Carolina Fly Fishing Guides

Fly Fishing In North Carolina

North Carolina has much geographic diversity. The western part of the state has mountains, the central section has piedmont, and the eastern region has the coastal lands along the Atlantic Ocean. Each region offers great fly fishing, for a variety of fish.

Saltwater Fly Fishing In North Carolina

The coast of North Carolina has some fertile fishing grounds. River mouths, tidal creeks, barrier islands, shallow flats, deep pockets, and reefs provide lots of different habitats for fish, including those that can be taken on flies.

One of the most popular fish species with saltwater fly fishermen is the red drum, or redfish. A North Carolina red holds the world all-tackle record. This giant tipped the scales at an amazing 94 pounds, 2 ounces and was caught at Hatteras Island. Redfish populations declined for a while, but they’re making a comeback. For a chance to hook up with a trophy red, contact a North Carolina fly fishing charter. Another favorite with saltwater fly anglers is the bluefish. Like the redfish, the world record blue was caught in North Carolina, with a weight of 31 pounds, 12 ounces. Also like the world-record red, the giant blue was caught at Hatteras Island. There are numerous fly fishing charters in North Carolina that specialize in catching big blues.

Fly Fishing In North Carolina

Freshwater Fly Fishing In North Carolina

Trout fishing for rainbow, brown, and brook trout is a popular sport. Most of the state’s lakes, other than Nantahala, are located in the hilly and mountainous western region. These include Lake Glenville, Coffee Lake, Santeetlah Lake, Fontana Lake, Trout Lake, and Lake Chatuge. The largest rainbow trout recorded in the state weighed in at 16 pounds, 5 ounces. The largest brown trout weighed 24 pounds, 10 ounces, and the record brookie weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces. In addition to the lakes that hold trout, several streams with clear, cold mountain water are also home to trout. Among such streams are Big Horse Creek, Mud Creek, the Valley River, Big Creek, Old Fields Creek, the Watauga River, Buffalo Creek, Elk Creek, Peak Creek, Beaver Creek, Roan Creek, the New River, Big Laurel Creek, Cranberry Creek, Spillcorn Creek, Cove Creek, Stony Fork, and Deep Creek, along with numerous others. To find trout steams that experience little fishing pressure, contact North Carolina flyfishing guides.

Just about every body of water in the Tar Heel State contains bass, including some real lunkers. The state record largemouth weighed in at 15 pounds, 14 ounces, and the record 10-pound smallmouth was taken from the Hiawassee Reservoir. Some of the best bass lakes in the state that are available to the public are Lake Wylie, High Rock Lake, Lake Norman, Phelps Lake, Apalachia Lake, Lake Hickory, Fontana Lake, Kerr Lake, and Lake James. If you enjoy catching bass on the fly, find a North Carolina fly fishing guide.

Striped bass are always a challenge when hooked, especially on a fly rod. If you seek this sort of thrill, North Carolina will not disappoint. The state record striper tipped the scales at 54 pounds, 2 ounces and was landed in Hiawassee Reservoir. Other lakes in the state that have good numbers of stripers are Badin Lake, Lake Norman, Lake Tillery, Kerr Lake, Belews Lake, Lake Wylie, Lake Mattamuskeet, and Lake Chatuge.